The Art Institute of Pittsburgh closes Closure effective Friday, March 8 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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PERSPECTIVE ON THIS AND HOW SOME STUDENTS ARE GETTING SOME HELP. BEAU THE SAGA SURROUNDING THE FUTURE OF THE ART INSTITUTE HAD BEEN PLAYING OUT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. A LONGTIME FACULTY MEMBER TELLS ME TONIGHT SHE WAS STILL SHOCKED TODAY WHEN THE CLOSURE WAS ANNOUNCED BECAUSE JUST YESTERDAY THE PROVOST HAD ASSURED FACULTY THE SCHOOL WOULD NOT BE CLOSING. MORE THAN 2000 STUDENTS LEARNING THIS EVENING, THAT THEIR SCHOOL HAS SHUT ITS DOORS FOR GOOD. DR. NINA PADOLF SPENT THIRTEEN YEARS AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH TEACHING AND AS LEADER OF THE ONLINE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE. >> I’M DEVASTATED BUT MOSTLY I’M SAD THAT MY STUDENTS HAD TO BE TREATED THIS WAY. BEAU: THE ART INSTITUTE WAS FOUNDED IN 1921 AND WAS MOST-RECENTLY OWNED BY THE FOR-PROFIT EDMC, AND THEN THE NON-PROFIT DREAM CENTER EDUCATION HOLDINGS. IT WAS PLACED INTO FEDERAL RECEIVERSHIP IN JANUARY, A PROCESS SIMILAR TO BANKRUPTCY, DESIGNED TO SHIELD THE SCHOOL FROM CREDITORS, WHILE WAITING FOR POSSIBLE BUYERS. >> SO IT WAS VERY CONFUSING. THAT IS HOW IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. BEAU: ON THURSDAY, THE PROVOST OF THE ART INSTITUTE EMAILED FACULTY SAYING THEY WERE WORKING WITH A VERY INTERESTED BUYER. AND THAT THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL CLOSURE AS SOME REPORTS HAVE INDICATED ON FRIDAY MARCH 8. BUT CLOSE TO 5:00 FRIDAY, AN EMAIL SENT BY THE CLEVELAND-BASED RECEIVER OF THE SCHOOL, INFORMED FACULTY THAT DESPITE EVERY EFFORT MADE, WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD AS THE TRANSACTION FOR THE ACQUISITION OF YOUR CAMPUS FELL THROUGH. THE SCHOOL HAD NO BUYERS NOW PADOLF, THE REST OF THE FACULTY HAVE NO PAYCHECKS, AND THE STUDENTS, HAVE NO SCHOOL. I HAD A CLASS THAT JUST STARTED YESTERDAY. THEY ARE ALL PROBABLY WONDERING WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO NOW. BEAU: THAT RECEIVER WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE SCHOOL RIGHT NOW RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THEY ARE WORKING WITH THEIR CREDITORS, STATE REGULATORS AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR THE STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION. THEY WILL HOLD ONLINE TRANSFER FARES FOR THEM EARLY NEXT WEEK TO PREVENT THEM WITH OPTIONS FOR CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION.

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