Sanford-Brown College - Columbus

Sanford-Brown (“SBC”) and Career Education Corporation (“CEC”) are in receipt of your letter containing the complaint from [redacted] (“Ms***”) In her complaint, Ms [redacted] alleges that 1) SBC did not appropriately handle a “situation” that got her removed from her externship site resulting in her losing hours that she had completed, and that 2) SBC provided her with an externship site that was miles from her home resulting in additional expenses related to travel CEC has reviewed Ms***’s complaint and provides this response on behalf of SBC herein According to our records, Ms [redacted] has been a student with the SBC Columbus, Ohio campus in the Cardiovascular Technology program since March 29, The Cardiovascular Technology program requires that students complete four separate Cardiovascular Sonography Externship courses Each course is five weeks in length with the expectation that the student will complete a total of hours within each of the five week courses In response to Ms***’s allegations that SBC responded unfairly to her removal from an externship site as a result of her conduct, CEC found that SBC responded in accordance with school policy based on the circumstances Ms***’s Cardiovascular Sonography Externship II (“CVS240”) course started on August 19, and ended September 22, On September 17, 2013, SBC staff was notified by the externship site that due to Ms***’s conduct on site, related to professionalism and attendance over the course of several dates, she was no longer welcome back to complete her hours SBC addressed Ms***’s behavior with her in person on September 24, At this point, the course had ended and Ms [redacted] had only completed of her required hours for CVS As a result, she received an “F” grade in her CVScourse and was rescheduled in a future module Students who receive an “F” grade at the end of a course are expected to retake and complete the full set of requirements of the course regardless of previous work completed This applies to externship hours as well In response to Ms***’s allegation that SBC provided her with an externship site that was miles from her home resulting in additional expenses related to travel It is made clear in the school catalog and Student Disclosure Form that SBC’s expectation of a student who will be participating in an externship must be prepared for travel and the expenses associated with itWhile SBC will attempt to place a student at an externship site within a certain distance of the school, it is not always possible to accommodate and is based largely on availability The allegations that Ms [redacted] has brought forward in her complaint to the Revdex.com are addressed and agreed upon during the admissions interview process prior to enrollmentSBC admissions representatives read and review the Student Disclosure Form and Enrollment Agreement with each student These forms specifically outline and inform students of several important matters that SBC wants every student to understand and acknowledge prior to starting their program Ms***’s admissions representative read the Student Disclosure and Enrollment Agreement forms and provided her with a copy of each, which is enclosed with this response Ms [redacted] acknowledged that she read and understood the following Enrollment Agreement & Catalog: I have read and received a copy of the school catalogI understand that the terms and conditions of the enrollment agreement are not subject to amendment or modification by oral agreementsAll changes must be in writing and signed by both parties Code of Conduct: Each student has the responsibility to refrain from any behavior that detracts from the reputation, safety and security of the SchoolThis requires that students cooperate and comply with the School’s policies as reflected in the School Catalog, as well as with respect to local, state and federal laws and regulations My admissions representative explained and I understand that if I fail to comply with the School’s policies and procedures or with any local, state or federal law or regulation, I may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the School Acknowledgement of Externship/Internship/Practical Experiences: Many programs offer the opportunity, and some programs require students to participate in an approved externship, internship, or practical experience at a third-party facility, in order to receive practical education and/or to earn credit towards my program The facility may be located a significant distance from my School or home, may operate hours a day, or utilize non-standard scheduling Although the School will assist me in finding such an opportunity, and my personal preferences will be considered, I acknowledge that no one at the School has made any representation or guarantee that I will be placed at any specific facility, at a specific time, or for specific working days or hours, and that I am responsible for transportation and expenses during this opportunity Ms [redacted] also received a copy of the school catalog, which provides students with additional clarification regarding the expectations of behavior while active in an externship The catalog Ms [redacted] acknowledged receiving and reading states the following regarding the externship experience: Externship Conduct: “Externship sites are professional environments where students are expected to conduct themselves in a mature, professional manner appropriate for the workplaceStudents are expected to arrive and leave on time and perform their duties in a reliable and responsible manner Students may not substitute or replace paid staff membersStudents are expected to obey the rules and regulations of the externship site and program The site has the right to remove any student who demonstrates disregard for program and/or site policies and procedures.” Externship Attendance: “If the site supervisor or school/program official determines that a student is not reliable for any reason, including absences, the student may be removed from the site and may be dismissed from the program.” “Students are required to complete 100% of required externship hours.” Externship Assignments: “Students must be prepared to travel to their externship assignmentsThe school will attempt to assign sites that are within a 60-mile radius of the School and that are convenient for the students, however, this may not always be possible.” “In such an event, the school makes no assurances as to when or if other sites will be available.” Pursuant to the findings of our review in this matter, there has been no evidence provided or discovered to support Ms***’s claims As a result, CEC is denying Ms***’s request for her previously reported hours to be reinstated If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me directly via email at [redacted] @careered.com Regards, [redacted] Compliance & Ethics Investigator Career Education Corporation

To whom it may concern:
Sanford-Brown (“SBC”) and Career Education Corporation (“CEC”) are in receipt of your letter containing the complaint from *** ***. This letter serves as an update to the Revdex.com (Revdex.com) of Central Ohio that CEC continues to
investigate the concerns expressed in the complaint at this time. CEC will respond to the Revdex.com on behalf of SBC with additional information as soon as we are able to provide a response that addresses all of the concerns.
Again, thank you for your patients with this matter

Sanford-Brown (“SBC”) and Career Education Corporation (“CEC”) are in receipt of your letter containing the complaint from [redacted] (“Ms. [redacted]”).  In her complaint, Ms. [redacted] alleges that 1) SBC did not appropriately handle a “situation” that got her removed from her externship site resulting in her losing 160 hours that she had completed, and that 2) SBC provided her with an externship site that was 90 miles from her home resulting in additional expenses related to travel.  CEC has reviewed Ms. [redacted]’s complaint and provides this response on behalf of SBC herein.
According to our records, Ms. [redacted] has been a student with the SBC Columbus, Ohio campus in the Cardiovascular Technology program since March 29, 2012.  The Cardiovascular Technology program requires that students complete four separate Cardiovascular Sonography Externship courses.  Each course is five weeks in length with the expectation that the student will complete a total of 180 hours within each of the five week courses. 
In response to Ms. [redacted]’s allegations that SBC responded unfairly to her removal from an externship site as a result of her conduct, CEC found that SBC responded in accordance with school policy based on the circumstances.  Ms. [redacted]’s Cardiovascular Sonography Externship II (“CVS240”) course started on August 19, 2013 and ended September 22, 2013.  On September 17, 2013, SBC staff was notified by the externship site that due to Ms. [redacted]’s conduct on site, related to professionalism and attendance over the course of several dates, she was no longer welcome back to complete her hours.  SBC addressed Ms. [redacted]’s behavior with her in person on September 24, 2013.  At this point, the course had ended and Ms. [redacted] had only completed 160 of her 180 required hours for CVS240.  As a result, she received an “F” grade in her CVS240 course and was rescheduled in a future module.  Students who receive an “F” grade at the end of a course are expected to retake and complete the full set of requirements of the course regardless of previous work completed.  This applies to externship hours as well. 
In response to Ms. [redacted]’s allegation that SBC provided her with an externship site that was 90 miles from her home resulting in additional expenses related to travel.  It is made clear in the school catalog and Student Disclosure Form that SBC’s expectation of a student who will be participating in an externship must be prepared for travel and the expenses associated with it. While SBC will attempt to place a student at an externship site within a certain distance of the school, it is not always possible to accommodate and is based largely on availability.
The allegations that Ms. [redacted] has brought forward in her complaint to the Revdex.com are addressed and agreed upon during the admissions interview process prior to enrollment. SBC admissions representatives read and review the Student Disclosure Form and Enrollment Agreement with each student.  These forms specifically outline and inform students of several important matters that SBC wants every student to understand and acknowledge prior to starting their program.  Ms. [redacted]’s admissions representative read the Student Disclosure and Enrollment Agreement forms and provided her with a copy of each, which is enclosed with this response.  Ms. [redacted] acknowledged that she read and understood the following.
Enrollment Agreement & Catalog: I have read and received a copy of the school catalog. I understand that the terms and conditions of the enrollment agreement are not subject to amendment or modification by oral agreements. All changes must be in writing and signed by both parties.
Code of Conduct: Each student has the responsibility to refrain from any behavior that detracts from the reputation, safety and security of the School. This requires that students cooperate and comply with the School’s policies as reflected in the School Catalog, as well as with respect to local, state and federal laws and regulations.  My admissions representative explained and I understand that if I fail to comply with the School’s policies and procedures or with any local, state or federal law or regulation, I may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the School.
Acknowledgement of Externship/Internship/Practical Experiences: Many programs offer the opportunity, and some programs require students to participate in an approved externship, internship, or practical experience at a third-party facility, in order to receive practical education and/or to earn credit towards my program.  The facility may be located a significant distance from my School or home, may operate 24 hours a day, or utilize non-standard scheduling.  Although the School will assist me in finding such an opportunity, and my personal preferences will be considered, I acknowledge that no one at the School has made any representation or guarantee that I will be placed at any specific facility, at a specific time, or for specific working days or hours, and that I am responsible for transportation and expenses during this opportunity.
Ms. [redacted] also received a copy of the school catalog, which provides students with additional clarification regarding the expectations of behavior while active in an externship.  The catalog Ms. [redacted] acknowledged receiving and reading states the following regarding the externship experience:
Externship Conduct: “Externship sites are professional environments where students are expected to conduct themselves in a mature, professional manner appropriate for the workplace. Students are expected to arrive and leave on time and perform their duties in a reliable and responsible manner.  Students may not substitute or replace paid staff members. Students are expected to obey the rules and regulations of the externship site and program.  The site has the right to remove any student who demonstrates disregard for program and/or site policies and procedures.”
Externship Attendance: “If the site supervisor or school/program official determines that a student is not reliable for any reason, including absences, the student may be removed from the site and may be dismissed from the program.”
“Students are required to complete 100% of required externship hours.”
Externship Assignments: “Students must be prepared to travel to their externship assignments. The school will attempt to assign sites that are within a 60-mile radius of the School and that are convenient for the students, however, this may not always be possible.”
“In such an event, the school makes no assurances as to when or if other sites will be available.”
Pursuant to the findings of our review in this matter, there has been no evidence provided or discovered to support Ms. [redacted]’s claims.  As a result, CEC is denying Ms. [redacted]’s request for her previously reported hours to be reinstated.     
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me directly via email at [redacted]@careered.com.
Regards,
 
[redacted]
Compliance & Ethics Investigator
Career Education Corporation