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Hair Design Institute

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Hair Design Institute Reviews (1)

Review: Promises of small classes, hands on education, premium goldwell products, and a nice learning environment. None of these things actually exist at HDI. Classes are uncomfortably full; overcrowded. Students are pushed out of the upstairs classrooms, down to the salon floor prematurely (with inadequate hours, unprepared) to make room for hoards of new students. Most of these students have never even learned how to do basic haircuts. Speaking of haircuts, several students (and friends of mine) have nearly 500 hours and still do not know how to cut hair. When seen struggling, they've been made fun of by teachers, in front of other students. No help offered. I have personally asked for help with my haircuts on many occasions and still have received no help. I've been attending school since November. The only things I have learned, in fact, have been off of YOUTUBE TUTORIALS in the privacy of my own home. For free. Actually, it is quite common for a teacher to tell you to "look it up on YouTube" as a response to questions regarding doing hair. Is that what they are charging us 13,000 dollars for? So someone can tell us to learn on our own? Off of the Internet? Interesting. I have been made to feel inadequate on more occasions than I can count by teachers here. I have been embarrassed in front of other students. It gets to the point that I am so discouraged that I don't even want to come to school. I'm not the only one. I've seen girls cry out of frustration and humiliation many times. We students who come at night are mostly all hard workers; have difficult jobs, family problems, children. Many of us have a difficult time even making it to school, but we make our best efforts, despite any road blocks. To arrive at school and be taught literally NOTHING makes us feel angry, disappointed, discouraged, and most of all: RIPPED OFF. Just the other day, I got out of work (in manhattan) late and in order to make it to class on time, I took the train directly to school. I did not have time to stop home and change into my uniform. I was wearing all black, besides my dark blue denim jeans. I was told I cannot come to class because my pants were not black. Although I am aware of the "all black" clothing policy, I asked if an exception could be made, as I always abide by the dress code and had a long day and did my best to make it to class. I was told to "buy pants across the street." Well, I am a broke student struggling just to get by, so I did not have money for pants. I went home. Someone needs to speak up and I am not afraid to! Next, I will move on to inappropriate staff remarks. One day, as I was sitting in class, a staff member came upstairs and addressed our class stating: "You girls are much better looking than the girls at the other school." I asked him if he thought that was appropriate to say. He didn't seem to have a problem with it, but I felt like I was living in 1940. Was this supposed to be flattering? I felt uncomfortable at my own school, where I come to LEARN. But really, I never do. I just come and get aggravated. Do your research before signing up for this program. As soon as they get your money, they treat you like a mere body that they push through the course as quickly as possible, with absolutely no regard for quality of education. No one respects you, values you as a student, or encourages you... Hell, they barely even teach you!Desired Settlement: I no longer wish to go to this school and deal with [redacted] & [redacted]. On top of everything: the school falsely advertised many things to get me to sign up and delivered on NONE! I am not getting what I paid for, therefore I want a refund!

Business

Response:

We are in receipt of the above-referenced complaint. We unfortunately cannot go into specific details regarding the educational experience of the above referenced complainant for privacy reasons. We are a nationally-accredited, state approved institution, and therefore we are bound not to release private information, as it would be a violation of the Family Educational Rights To Privacy Act (FERPA). However, we would like to generally address some of the concerns in the complaint.

The allegation that our classes are overcrowded, and not in-line with our advertising regarding "small classes" are false. As an accredited and state-licensed institution we are required to comply with New York State "Quarters Approval" and student-to-teacher ratios. Our student body numbers are constantly monitored to ensure that we comply with these thresholds.

The assertion that specific product lines used in advertising are not used are blatantly false. One would only need to walk into our Student Salon area to see the products in use on any given day. That being said, those products are used on the Student Salon floor, whereas in a classroom setting, those products and others are used to demonstrate the differences in product lines. In addition, many times basic products are used in a classroom setting to teach our students the basics of Cosmetology, before moving on to more advanced product lines, that have a more select purpose.

To address the concern regarding being encouraged to seek supplemental training on the students' own time is of course true. We promise to educate students who are actively engaged in the program in the basics of Cosmetology, in order for them to pass the state licensure examination in Cosmetology. We also provide advanced training in a myriad of other areas. We absolutely encourage students to seek whatever extra training the desire to find on their own time. The educators at the Hair Design Institute are constantly engaging in continuing education activities in pedagogy, classroom management, and many other teaching techniques. We maintain that our level of education is terrific...proof of that lies in the fact that we are monitored on our rates of licensure by our accrediting agency, and the US Department of Education. The Hair Design Institute has always met the required threshold for Licensure (which says that 70% of our graduates who take the state exami nation must pass it). I might mention that our numbers well exceed that threshold in every given reporting year. Those numbers are reported by the state, and therefore verified by an external source.

With regard to inappropriate comments made by a staff member: The identity of the staff member who allegedly made these comments was not divulged so specific investigation cannot occur. However, the Hair Design Institute has a specific policy against [redacted], which is signed off on by every employee. The employees regularly are reminded of this (and all of the other policies) adopted by the school. This occurs in staff meeting trainings and other personal and employee improvement seminars. Should the identity be divulged by the complainant, and more thorough investigation will take place, and disciplinary action taken, if necessary. This is not something that the Hair Design Institute takes lightly.

Finally we would like to address the issues with regard to student uniforms. I would like to say formally that our school has reported to New York State, the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (our Accrediting Agency), and the US Department of Education that we have a uniform policy. That uniform policy is approved by all three of those oversight agencies. That policy is presented to students PRIOR to ENROLLMENT. Prior to enrollment, each student signs a form stating that they have read, acknowledged, and agree to those policies. Adhering to those policies is what keeps us in compliance...essentially following the law. Despite the fact that I feel for a student who has difficulties with some of the policies due to unforeseen personal circumstances, I am also happy to hear that we are complying with our published policies. We are not able to make exceptions as the complainant unfairly demands, as that would be breaking our policy, and ult imately being non-compliant.

In closing, I would like to remind the complainant that the Hair Design Institute is an Adult Education Program. No one is forced to attend HDI. A student can discontinue their education at any time, and a refund may be issued in accordance with our Refund Policy. That refund policy is also signed off on by the student prior to enrollment. Each of the above issues appears have more to do with the student having issues with their personal life that they cannot reconcile in order to be prepared for their education. Unfortunately, we cannot delve into the personal lives of students. We do maintain however, that our curriculum and education do exactly what they set out to do. If they did not, we would not be able to meet our required rates of Completion, Placement, and Licensure of our Graduates. In addition, it should be noted that a great number of our students enroll because they were referred to HDI by previous graduates of our program. Surely, that would not be the case if we were running a program that was even remotely similar to the assertions in this complaint.

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Description: SCHOOLS-GENERAL INTEREST

Address: 2289 E Semoran Blvd, Apopka, Florida, United States, 32703-5713

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