Star Career Academy shuts down leaving students in lurch

The Star Career Academy has closed down all of its campuses across the tristate area, leaving hundreds of students wondering what will happen with their careers. Star Career Academy staffers say they

News 12 Staff

Nov 16, 2016, 9:15 AM

Updated 2,981 days ago

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The Star Career Academy has closed down all of its campuses across the tristate area, leaving hundreds of students wondering what will happen with their careers.
Star Career Academy staffers say they were told they were out of a job and needed to pack up their belongings when they came into work Tuesday. Students were told classes were canceled for good via text message.
"I don't know where I go from here I'm left out in the cold," says former student Jessica Viglone, who was studying for her dialysis technicians' certification.
Star Career Academy has campuses in Brick, Newark, Egg Harbor and Clifton. News 12 New Jersey spoke to some students at the Brick campus. News 12 New Jersey is told that just over 100 students attended classes there and were working for certification in careers such as surgical techs or medical assistants.
"I felt like I woke up to a nightmare," says former student Dan Sutphin, who was also working towards a dialysis technicians' certification.
A school spokesperson says in a statement, "Star Career Academy's closing is the result of the negative financial impact of a continued declining student population while operating in the challenging for-profit post-secondary school industry."
Some of the students were close to finishing their education and are now worried about their career prospects.
"I am on month 13. I have 3 weeks left of school," says former student Rebecca Ornstein. "I can apply for jobs and hope I get hired with no certification given to me."
The students are also out of a lot of money due to student loans.
The school's website states that students can begin the process for a loan discharge in the next 30 days. But when it comes to any kind of tuition refund, nothing was mentioned.
Students say they are planning a protest against the school's closing Wednesday morning in Clifton.