Options for Maryland
Students
Maryland students affected by the Argosy and Art
Institute closure have 3 options:
1. A
transfer opportunity at a Maryland approved teach-out school – see more
information below regarding teach-out and transfer
2. Seek a federal loan discharge – see more
information below regarding federal loan discharge
3.
Students may pursue a self-chosen/determined transfer to another school
(subject to all transfer policies of the accepting school). MHEC cannot offer assistance with this
option.
If a student chooses option #1 or option #3 then the
student cannot pursue option #2. If a student chooses option #2 the student
cannot pursue a teach-out or transfer.
Teach-out
and Transfer Agreements with Maryland Institutions
Teach-out agreements
We expect
teach-out agreements to be signed in the coming weeks and will alert you
immediately when they are available for your review. A teach-out agreement
provides transparency and equity for all students impacted by a school
closure.
If a student chooses to pursue a teach-out opportunity, then the student cannot pursue
loan discharge. If a student chooses option #2 the student cannot pursue a
teach-out.
Argosy University Teach-out Agreements
Art Institute Teach-out Agreements
Students pursuing a teach-out or
transfer using VA Education Benefits
Students
using VA Education Benefits should contact the Maryland State Approving Agency
for details regarding transferring GI Bill® benefits and ensuring program
approval for the use of VA Education Benefits. Veterans with specific inquiries
may call 410-767-3301 or send an email to: vaeducationbenefits.mhec@maryland.gov.
Veterans may also call the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551.
Please
note: In order to continue your
education using your Title 38 educational benefits, you must be enrolled in a
qualified program or educational institution.
Visit the GI Bill® Comparison Tool for assistance in selecting
an alternate program or school. You can also find research information
regarding school tuition and fees, basic housing allowance rates, graduation
statistics, and loan default rates.
You
can find a complete list of qualified programs and schools on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.
For
Further Assistance:
-
Visit the GI Bill® website to access
education benefit information.
-
All questions regarding eligibility and payment of GI Bill benefits must be
directed to USDVA at 1-888-GIBILL1.
-
Complaints regarding a specific school or program should be directed to USDVA.
Information
Regarding Federal Loan Forgiveness
• You may be eligible to have your federal student
loans used to attend Argosy University or the Art Institutes discharged and any
amounts already paid on those loans reimbursed. Federal regulations provide
that students who are actively enrolled in a school that closes, or who
withdrew up to 120 days before the school closed, and were not able to complete
their program of study can apply for a Closed School Discharge of their Federal
Direct Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, or FFEL Loans used to attend the closed
school.
•To receive a Closed School Discharge, you must file
an application to your loan servicer. You can determine your current loan
servicer and check how much you currently owe in federal debt at
https://www.nslds.ed.gov. You should contact your loan servicer with questions
related to the Closed School Discharge process and to obtain an
application. You can also print this
application and submit it to your servicer (see link copied below). You can
learn more about the Closed School Discharge at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/closed-school.
• Download the Closed School Loan Discharge Form here:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/closed-school-loan-discharge-form.pdf
•Completing your program of study through another
school can disqualify you from receiving a Closed School Discharge. As such,
you should carefully consider your options and personal finances before
continuing your studies or applying for a Closed School Discharge. For some
people, having their loans discharged will be preferable to continuing their
programs of study and being obligated to repay the student loan debt accrued at
Argosy University. Students whose loans are discharged have the option of
pursuing a new degree at institutions that are less expensive, such as state
schools or community colleges.
•You can determine your current loan servicer and
check how much you currently owe in federal debt at https://nslds.ed.gov/nslds/nslds_SA/.
Should you decide to apply for a Closed School Discharge of your federal loans,
you should contact your loan servicer with any questions related to the
application and Closed School Discharge process.
•For more information on the process for applying for
a Closed School Discharge, please go to the Department of Education’s closure
website: https://StudentAid.gov/closures.
Information
Regarding Refund through Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary
Education (PPSE)
Students
that made cash payments or held a private loan to Argosy University or the Art
Institutes may be able to submit a claim to the Arizona State Board for
Private Postsecondary Education.
The
form is not online at this time but will be posted on the
PPSE homepage when
available. Please
contact Keith Blanchard at keith.blanchard@azppse.gov
for further information.
Academic
Transcript Request Form Instructions
Provided
by Arizona State Board for
Private Postsecondary Education (PPSE)
Transcripts
are available through Parchment, Inc. and the $10 fee will be waived through
July 1, 2019. Students must email the
completed Transcript Request Form to Rachel
Kierce at rachel.kierce@azppse.gov.
Diploma Requests
To request a copy of your diploma,
please send an email to ClosedCampusDiplomaRequest@dcedh.org
with your current mailing address, your name as it should appear on your
diploma, your student ID, program completed, campus attended, dates attended
and reason for your request (lost diploma, misprinted, first time request,
etc.). These requests are being processed as quickly as possible and may take up to 12 weeks to complete.
Enrollment Verifications
For third-party enrollment/degree
verification requests, please FAX the signed student authorization form, as
well as any forms that require completion, to 480-999-8980. Note: Allow a
minimum of 21 days for completion. We do not accept requests for verbal
verifications, nor follow-up status calls of previously requested
verifications.
Financial Requests
For financial requests, please send
e-mail to studentresolution@dcedh.org with
the following information:
E-Mail
Subject Line: Financial Request :
Body of
E-Mail: Include the full name used during your enrollment, the campus attended,
and a detailed description of the financial request you are making.
Account Balance Inquiries
For account balance inquiries,
please email CSSNRecovery@dcedh.org.
1098-T-Questions and Important
Information
Forms are mailed to all eligible
students by January 31 annually. To print a duplicate form, please visit https://heartland.ecsi.net/.
If you are unable to locate your 1098-T and need further assistance, please
contact Heartland ECSI at 1-866-428-1098. For information on the Taxpayer
Relief Act, as well as additional resources to assist you in understanding
higher education tax incentives visit: https://heartland.ecsi.net/index.main.html#/access/FAQtaxDocuments#understanding1098TForm.
Career Services
The Department of Career &
Professional Readiness partners with students as they explore employment
possibilities, develop job skills, and connect with potential opportunities
related to their professional endeavors. Our goal is to encourage the career
potential of students by facilitating opportunities for them to explore their
interests and gain valuable professional experience while utilizing a variety
of resources.
Students
can seek guidance in building a resume, career planning, developing job-search
strategies, preparing for an interview and evaluating potential job
opportunities. The Department of Career & Professional Readiness will also
work to plan and deliver career readiness workshops, individual or group career
planning sessions, and industry guest speakers.
For
assistance, call 1-855-855-0571 or email AUcareerreadiness@argosy.edu.
Department of Education
Information
regarding the Argosy and the Art Institutes closing can be found here.
The
Department of Education will be providing Webinars
for students from Argosy University and the Art Institutes between March 19,
2019 and March 25, 2019. Information regarding these webinars and future
webinar sessions can be found here.
