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Argosy University’s closure leaves students scrambling, threatens broader impacts for govt

Argosy University, Hawaii campus
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Hawaii News Now is reporting Argosy University ceased operations at campuses across the state of Hawaii Friday, abandoning hundreds of Hawaii students mid-semester.

And students aren’t the only ones who will see the fallout, according to the Hawaii news site.

Experts say Argosy’s closure could leave the state struggling without enough licensed psychologists given their unique ― and popular clinical psychology doctoral program.

Argosy has campuses nationwide, including one in Downtown Honolulu and classes on several Neighbor Islands as well as overseeing the American Samoa campus.

On Friday, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and other members of Congress urged the U.S. Department of Education to offer support to students left in the lurch as Argosy University ceases operations Friday.

In a letter to the U.S. Education Department, Schatz and 12 other senators said the federal government should take “immediate action to assist students."

The senators said the U.S. Education Department should offer students borrower defense, semester debt cancellation, assistance with transferring to other schools and other help.

Argosy Hawai’i oversees the American Samoa branch and there’s been no official statement from the institution specifically to local students, many of them ASG workers, including several teachers seeking higher degrees, which in turn will up their pay.

“We have been working day and night since the institution entered into receivership to find the best path forward for students at Argosy University, Hawaii and are doing everything that we can to save the campus,” Dottore said in a response to Samoa News emailed inquiries on specifics regarding Argosy Hawaii students, including American Samoa.

“If the campus is not acquired by another higher education institution, or another institution does not agree to teach out the programs, upon court approval, it will close on Friday, March 8, 2019,” he said early Thursday morning.

“We are working with students, accreditors, state regulators and the U.S. Department of Education to provide as many options as possible for students, to include transfer to another higher education institution or student loan discharge,” he added.

News outlets in Honolulu reported the shutdown of Argosy Hawaii, whose website - as of Thursday morning - now has new information, such as, Argosy Hawaii “is no longer accepting new students”.

It states that currently enrolled students can find out more about the campus on a link to the Argosy University Catalog and another link for Argosy Hawaii alumnus to obtain additional information at: www.alumni.argosy.edu.

Other new information provided on the page gives details on how to obtain academic transcripts.

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga’s executive assistant, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira, who was in Honolulu Thursday morning enroute to the territory following off island meetings, acknowledged being made aware of Argosy Hawaii’s closure as reported by news outlets in Hawaii.

“But the impact on our students is obvious and pervasive. While we don't have the statistics on the number of Argosy graduates, anecdotal data particularly in the number of government employees who have obtained bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees is significant,” said Iulogologo in response to Samoa News inquiries.

He pointed out that the increase in enrollment at Argosy “is fueled” by the Governor's established policy, setting the beginning salary threshold at $23,000 and $27,000 for a bachelor’s and master’s degree holder, respectively.

“The Governor's overall vision is to upgrade the skills sets for the American Samoa Government and private sector workforces,” he said. “Further, having the program on-island avails the opportunity to young couples who cannot leave for off-island education because of family responsibilities, thus, the appeal for this distance learning opportunity with actual presence on-island is apparent.”

Iulogologo said he is sure that the American Samoa Community College will reach out and see how it can accommodate the needs of the affected students.

“It is possible as well that the University of Hawaii and Wayland [University] will reach out to these students to determine doable pathways forward,” he said. “What is needed now is to find out clearly the issues that we need to address to help the affected students.”

FEDERAL COURT FILINGS

In filings on Wednesday, Dottore sought the court’s approval “to sell, transition or close” Argosy University campuses and Art Institutes campuses - both are entities of California-based Dream Center Education Holdings and under Receivership.

The Receiver’s motion notes that since the USDOE’s Feb. 27th decision to cut off all Title IV financial aid funding to Argosy, the Receiver is left with over 10,000 students in the middle of their studies and virtually no money.

“Without these critical funds, Argosy is unable to continue educating students and the university is failing,” according to the motion, which noted that since the receipt of the USDOE letter, the Receiver has worked around the clock to locate parties interested in acquiring Argosy students or locations.

The Receiver’s goal is to transition students to new situations in the most efficient way possible.

“If a buyer does not acquire the campus, the Receiver proposes to close this Friday, March 8 and students will be provided information about transfer partners that are willing to assist them in reaching their educational goals,” the motion said.

“The Receiver is partnering with schools and organizations to provide resources to help students make informed choices,” it says, adding that every campus was to host yesterday and today, an informational fair, and email messages to students will provide the times for the fairs. The court was informed that students who need a copy of their official academic transcripts may request them from their registrar. “All holds have been removed.

“The Receiver is doing everything he can do in the short time available to him to help the students navigate this course,” the motion says. “This is devastating news for all of the students and faculty, but the Receiver will continue to work to militate against further disruptions.”

Hawaii News Now reporting contributed to this report.