Students stunned to find school closed

(6/05/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- They spent thousands of dollars on tuition and books only to find their college is closing its doors. Now hundreds of students at a local trade school are now left wondering what will happen next.

MTI College of Business and Technology in east Houston has been around for 27 years, teaching things like medical coding and offering associate degrees in business. The school has two campuses -- one on the east side and one at Regency Square. Both are closed, students are locked out and being told to call state officials for help.

MTI student Kim Davis told Eyewitness News, "I'm up here trying to get my transcripts and find out what's going on. Am I going to be able to finish school or what? I'm trying to find out what's going on with the school because I'm just in shock."

All day students of MTI College of Business and Technology have been coming by to see for themselves if the rumor is true. According to officials with the Texas Work force commission, school owners notified the state this morning that the school is shutting down, a victim of declining enrollment.

Students say they spent thousands of dollars for courses here and some of them are just weeks away from graduation.

"I am disappointed," said student Kasey Thompson. "I mean, this was a lot of struggling for school, and I hope I can continue my education, go somewhere else if not (here). It's a let-down. It's just depressing."

The school released a statement:

"In recent months the decline in student enrollments has affected the ability of the school to continue its operation."

We spoke briefly to an employee of the school who says even workers did not know this was coming and now after 15 years, he has to find a new job.

Students have two options -- the state is going to try to place them in another school so they can finish their degrees. If that is impossible, the state has a fund to reimburse students at least a portion of the cost of tuition.

If you were a student of MTI, we have information on who you will want to call on The Consumer Blog.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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