April 13, 2023

Betsy Wickham, Bureau Chief
State Approving Agency
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Via email

David Salgado, Director
Veterans Education Program
Texas Veterans Commission
Via email

Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director
Education Service
Veteran Benefits Administration
Via email

Re: Florida Career College

Dear Director Garcia, Ms. Wickham, and Mr. Salgado,

We write to bring to your attention the urgent information that the US Department of Education has “notified Florida Career College that the school will no longer be allowed to participate in federal student aid programs.” According to the Department of Education, Florida Career College (FCC) can “delay the end of its federal student aid program participation until September 30, 2023, if the school agrees to certain conditions…[but] new students will not be able to receive student aid to attend FCC, even if FCC accepts” the Department’s conditions.1 If the school does not accept the Department’s conditions, then its participation will end April 30, 2023.

The termination of FCC’s participation in Title IV of the Higher Education Act will require you to disapprove FCC’s programs to receive VA educational assistance.2 One condition of approval for accredited programs under 38 USC § 3675(b)(4) is a finding that the “educational institution is approved and participates in a program under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.§1070 et seq)….” Pursuant to 38 USC § 3679(a), “any course approved for the purposes of this chapter which fails to meet any of the requirements of this chapter…shall be immediately disapproved by the Secretary or the appropriate State approving agency.”

We urge you to take all necessary action to protect student veterans enrolled at FCC or who may be considering enrolling in the school. Currently enrolled student veterans should be informed about their options in view of the Department of Education’s decision and any pending program disapproval by the Department of Veterans Affairs or 2 Because the Department of Education’s determination appears to involve findings relating to deceptive practices by the institution, the VA and SAAs are also authorized to suspend or revoke the approval of FCC under 38 USC §§ 3679(f)(2) and (4)(A). 1 U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid, Important Information for Students Attending Florida Career College located at https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/florida-career-college (last accessed 4/12/23) the SAAs. Also, FCC should be removed as an eligible program on the GI Bill Comparison Tool as soon as the Department of Education finalizes the school’s removal from Title IV eligibility. More immediately, please add a caution flag on the GI Bill Comparison Tool so that veterans are warned about FCC’s standing with the Department of Education and with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Della M. Justice
Vice President for Legal Affairs

1 U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid, Important Information for Students Attending Florida Career College located at https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/florida-career-college (last accessed 4/12/23)
2 Because the Department of Education’s determination appears to involve findings relating to deceptive practices by the institution, the VA and SAAs are also authorized to suspend or revoke the approval of FCC under 38 USC §§ 3679(f)(2) and (4)(A).

cc: NASAA
Florida Career College Memo VES April 13 2023.docx