BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The above video aired in June.
Students of Paier College in Bridgeport will have to find somewhere else to go for the fall semester. The Connecticut Office of Higher Education announced on Monday that it was denying the for-profit art school's application for renewal of authorization.
The denial comes after two authorization extensions to allow the school to complete its application and submit to a review. Based on a review conducted by the OHE, Paier failed to meet eight separate approval standards.
The OHE has now requested that the school submit an updated closure plan that "addresses how the institution will manage student records, provide a continuity of education for enrolled students and administer refunds."
The school has 10 days to appeal the decision.
Paier College was owned by Joe Bierbaum, who also owned the now-disgraced Stone Academy which had allegedly scammed nursing students out of tuition money. Earlier this year, Beirbaum sold Paier and stepped down as President.
Students who spoke to FOX61 in June said that the school lacked air conditioning, and photos showed mold growth and water damage. A 20-page report issued by the school's accreditor showed low graduation rates and a lack of experience for educators. The school, meanwhile, continued to recruit new students even as it lacked faculty to teach them.
Representatives for the school promised to file an appeal and issued the following statement ahead of Monday's decision:
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Tomorrow we anticipate receiving official communication related to the reauthorization of Paier College from the CT Office of Higher Education.
Our intent is to immediately appeal any instances of non-compliance as we are aware of many areas of feedback that were a direct result of the agency not requesting documents to be available for the visit and the College not being informed of the agenda for the visit until the day prior.
As Paier College was fully operating its approved curriculum through the end of the last semester, we are prepared to provide a significant amount of additional documentation to the agency for their review. This would parallel the information provided to our accreditor through numerous responses over the past year.
Paier College remains committed to its mission and looks to follow the trajectory that it set many years ago.
I appreciate your understanding and will provide you with additional updates as we move forward.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Williams
President
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