DUBOIS – DuBois Business College has announced it is permanently closing all four of its campus locations effective Sept. 22.
The following statement was issued by DuBois Business College on Tuesday:
“The Board of Directors of DuBois Business College has made the difficult decision to close all of the college’s four campus locations in DuBois, Huntingdon, Oil City and Philipsburg. This will happen at the end of the current term, effective Sept. 22.
“Current DBC students will be provided assistance in finding another institution where their credits will be recognized, and they will be able to complete their college studies.
“DBC administration has developed formal teach-out plans with South Hills School of Business and Technology in State College, Altoona and Lewistown as well as with Pittsburgh Technical College (which has online options) and with Laurel Business Institute in Meadville.
“The DBC teach-out plan assures that DBC students will be immediately welcomed at these institutions. Butler County Community College has also offered assistance.
“The closing of DuBois Business College follows the Aug. 24 closing of Cambria-Rowe Business College. Both DuBois Business College and Cambria-Rowe were accredited through the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).
“DBC is taking this final action now because of issues with the accrediting agency ACICS and its role within the government bureaus that regulate student financial aid.”
According to Jackie Syktich, DBC president and chief executive officer, “We are a small private business college with an extraordinary personal dedication to our students. We have a proud history, with more than 130 years of service to students and employers in western Pennsylvania.
“Our main campus in DuBois has been in operation since 1885. Over the decades as a private college, DBC has educated many of this region’s most respected business leaders and entrepreneurs.
“Employers throughout the area looked to DBC as a source for highly qualified employees in fields such as accounting and office management, computers, IT maintenance and security, administrative and clinical medical assisting, legal assisting, graphic/web design and more. Our graduates have built businesses, created jobs and contributed much to our local communities.
“We know DBC’s closing will have a significant economic impact on our local economy. We employed approximately 50 faculty and staff, many of whom have worked at DBC for several decades.
“We express sincere gratitude to the thousands of students as well as the hundreds of employers who have relied on DuBois Business College and have been a part of our extended family for the last 131 years.”
Thompson Statement on Closing of DuBois Business College
U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-5) today issued the following statement, upon learning that the DuBois Business College (DBC) will soon close its doors after 131 years of serving students and employers.
In addition to the DBC main campus in DuBois, the school operates branch campuses in Huntingdon, Oil City and Philipsburg.
“DuBois Business College has served as a valuable resource that has aligned students with careers for more than a century. Today’s announcement is troubling, yet I have been reassured that students will be welcomed at other local institutions, in order to finish their studies.
“Situations like this are often complicated by over burdensome federal regulations that have been making it harder and harder for schools like DuBois Business College to operate.
“In addition to reigning in federal overreach, my commitment remains to closing the skills gap through workforce training and I stand ready to assist the community in identifying the best ways to provide quality educational opportunities for students, job-seekers and those looking to better their lives.”