Gibbs College

Katharine Gibbs College is a private for-profit institution of higher learning based in the United States of America, founded by Katharine Gibbs.

As the Providence School in Rhode Island, it was founded in 1911 as an institution for the career education of young women. A few years later, the institution expanded with satellite campuses in Boston and New York and was renamed for its founder. It specializes in education in industries such as design, business administration, computer technology, criminal justice, and health care. The college is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. [ [http://www.gibbspa.com/accreditation.asp Gibbs website] ] It does not have regional accreditation; thus, most regionally accredited or traditional universities and colleges are reluctant to accept its credits for transfer and many do not recognize its undergraduate degrees for entry into graduate programs. [http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/10/19/transfer "Demanding Credit", Inside Higher Education website, dated Oct. 19, 2005 by Scott Jaschik] ] [http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/02/26/transfer "Tussling Over Transfer of Credit", Inside Higher Education website, February 26, 2007 by Doug Lederman] ] [http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/education/courses/distancelearn-09.html "What is the Difference Between Regional and National Accreditation", Yahoo! Education website] ] [http://www.useducation.com.pk/stpages/typesofaccreditation.html "Types of Accreditation", Education USA website] ]

In 1997, The Career Education Corporation (CEC) acquired the Gibbs Group. CEC is a for-profit college, enrolling nearly 100,000 students in more than 80 institutions located in the United States, Canada, England, France, and the United Arab Emirates.

Locations

Gibbs College locations:
Cranston, Rhode Island •
Dunn Loring, Virginia •
Livingston, New Jersey •
Boston, Massachusetts •
Norwalk, Connecticut

Katharine Gibbs School locations:
New York, New York •
Norristown, Pennsylvania •
Piscataway, New Jersey •
Melville, New York

Academic Programs

Creative and Design *Audio Engineering *Digital Film, Video and Multimedia *Fashion Design and Merchandising *Interior Decoration *Visual Communications *Visual Communications: Digital Media *Visual Communications: Game Design and Development *Visual Communications: Graphic Design Business *Business Administration *Business Administration-Accounting *Business Administration: Financial Services *Business Administration: Management *Business Administration-Marketing *Business Administration: Retail Merchandising *Business Administration-Sports Management *Business Entertainment Management *Business Operations: Casino *Executive Assistant *Fashion Merchandising *Hotel and Restaurant Management *Office Administration: Business Concentration

Health *Health Care Management: Long Term Care *Health Information Technology *Medical Assisting *Office Administration: Medical Executive Assistant *Office Administration: Medical Computers and IT *Computer Network Operations *Computer Network Operations and Security *Computer Network Security *Computer Technical Support *Personal Computer and Network Technology *Networking and Operations Support *Information Technology: Computer Systems Security *Information Technology: Network Design and Administration

Law and Criminal Justice *Criminal Justice *Criminal Justice-Corrections *Legal Executive Assistant *Office Administration: Legal *Paralegal Studies

Controversy

In January 2007, the New York State Education Department reported deficiencies at the Katharine Gibbs New York campus. The problems related to faculty qualifications and remedial course offerings. New enrollment has been limited and the Education Department has stated it will close the college if improvements are not made. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/nyregion/31forprofit.html?scp=1&sq=gibbs+school+and+problems&st=nyt "State Finds Serious Problems at Gibbs School in Manhattan", January 31, 2007, New York Times, Karen W. Arenson] ]

Closure

In the fall of 2006, Career Education Corporation announced that the entire Gibbs College division was being put up for sale. Over the next year, no buyer could be found, so on Thursday, February 14, 2008, a decision was announced by Career Education Corporation to convert 2 of the 9 campuses in the Gibbs division to another brand and teach out the remaining 7 schools in the division. Those 7 campuses will close their doors in December 2009. The decision resulted in the cancellation of all new enrollments and a massive reduction in workforce. [ [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/02/gibbs_college_to_close_northea.html Gibbs College to close Northeast campuses, The Associated Press, February 15, 2008] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.gogibbs.com/Gibbs College website]
* [http://www.graphic-arts-schools.com/new_york/new_york_city_gibbs_college.php Gibbs College Enrollment Information]
* [http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=87390&p=IROL-NewsText&t=Regular&id=931417& Career Education Corporation Announces Plans for Strategic Divestitures of Selected Schools]