American College of Medical Technology

The American College of Medical Technology is located in Gardena, California. It is a for-profit non-degree-granting occupational institution preparing mainly ethnic minority students for technical employment in the health care industry. As of 2005 there were 435 students enrolled.

The college was founded in 1974 as the American School of X-Ray by Donald Harrison. In July 1996, Daniel Dorim Kim purchased the school and changed the name to the American College of Medical Technology (ACMT).

Instruction and accreditation

ACMT offers courses four days per week, both in the daytime and the evening. They offer courses in MRI, X-Ray, Medical Laboratory Assisting, Medical Clinic Assisting, and Medical Office Management. The college obtained accreditation through the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, [ [http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp US DoE Office of Postsecondary Education (search)] ] (but, as of March 2006, is on probation [ [http://www.accsct.org/Content/CommissionActions/ACCSCT%20Schools%20on%20Probation%20as%20of%20March%203%20Web.pdf#xml=http://www.accsct.org/SiteSearchResults.aspx?cmd=pdfhits&DocId=83&Index=D%3a%5cDTS%5fIndex%5cACCSCT%5fWEB&HitCount=5&hits=16+17+18+19+1a+&hc=35&req=American+College+of+Medical+Technology ACCSCT Schools on Probation as of March 3, 2006] ] ) According the terms of its accreditation it is non-degree-granting institution.

ACMT's accreditation was revoked in April 2007. You can confirm its non-accredited status by contacting ACCSCT at 703-247-4212.

Community service

In February 2005 the school received a certificate of appreciation from the City of Los Angeles which contains a proclamation from mayor James Hahn stating, “As mayor of the City of Los Angeles, I am pleased to recognize your outstanding efforts and accomplishments at American College of Medical Technology which have been of great benefit to the Korean-American community and to the greater Los Angeles community.”Fact|date=April 2007 In February 2006 ACMT received a commendation from the County of Los Angeles for outstanding community service.Fact|date=April 2007

Controversy

On March 1, 2005, the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce held hearings on "Enforcement of Federal Anti-Fraud Laws in For-Profit Education". During these hearings, Representative Maxine Waters cited ACMT as a "problem school in my district". Prior to confirming any basis for her arguments, she nonetheless stated that students of the school "have not been given any hands on experience with the appropriate machinery for their field", "were given textbooks that covered different material than that for the course of instruction in which they enrolled", and "had instructors that were unable to answer the simplest of questions related to the material". She noted that at least two lawsuits had been filed by disgruntled students, and capped her statement with the opinion that the school's MRI program "does not meet the minimum completion/placement rules under California law". [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060427071919/http://edworkforce.house.gov/hearings/109th/fc/60minutes030105/waters.htm My Interest in Proprietary Trade Schools] , Maxine Waters]

Kim uses the title "Dr." and the qualification "Ed. D." on the school's website and publicity, but fails to note that the doctorate is an honorary one from an unaccredited institution specialising in religious, not general or technical education.

The school claims that founder Donald Harrison was owner of American X-Ray Company. This should not be confused with the [http://www.amxray.com American X-Ray Corporation] whose founder and president is Leland Huffaker.

References

External links

* [http://www.acmt.ac/ American College of Medical Technology]