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NH Higher Education Commission Suspends Career School License
Trigram Education Partners nursing program license suspended and Commission directs department of education to assists students to initiate claims against surety bond
CONCORD - Today the New Hampshire Higher Education Commission approved an emergency suspension of the career school license of Trigram Education Partners, LLC d/b/a American School of Nursing (“Trigram”). In its Order, the Commission found that, in accordance with RSA 541-A:30 III, Trigram’s continued licensure posed a threat to the welfare of New Hampshire’s citizens, as Trigram has “demonstrated itself unable to faithfully perform the terms and conditions of contracts for tuition and other instructional fees entered into between itself and its students and to comply with the statutory obligations of NH career schools.”
Trigram, which purchased the Manchester-based American School of Nursing in June, has not conducted classes since mid-October, around the time when it was evicted from its campus. The Commission’s Order alleges that Trigram has not secured an alternative campus and that a recent inspection of its former campus revealed that Trigram has effectively abandoned a significant amount of equipment, suggesting a lack of intent to continue school operations. The school also had its Board of Nursing licensure suspended on an emergency basis this fall and the Accrediting Council for Continued Education and Training (ACCET), a regional accrediting agency, has initiated an action to revoke Trigram’s accreditation.
The Order also indicates that Trigram sent an email on December 4, alerting some students to their right to receive a refund of tuition, but since that time Trigram has indicated that it may lack the funds to make appropriate repayments.
The Commission also directed the Department of Education to assist students to initiate claims against Trigram’s $1.3 million surety bond, which New Hampshire statute required the career school to maintain to guarantee their financial obligations to students. The Department has already contacted the surety company and will provide details to impacted students regarding submission of tuition claims as soon as they become available. The Department is also working with its federal partners regarding relief for students with federal loans, as students who paid tuition through a federal loan programs may have recourse separate from the surety bond.
More information about the tuition recovery process for all students will follow from the Department of Education in the coming days.