What’s New
After years of administrative churn, falling enrollment, and flagging finances, Pittsburgh Technical College is in danger of losing its accreditation and faces “imminent closure,” according to an announcement from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The commission placed the college on a “show cause” status on Thursday, giving the institution until June 28 to “to demonstrate why its accreditation should not be withdrawn.”
Without accreditation, the college would be unable to access federal student loans or Pell Grants — a death knell at an institution where nearly all students receive financial aid.
The accreditor’s action is the latest in a long list of challenges the college has faced under the leadership of Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, who has faced numerous allegations of misconduct and poor management since she became president in 2019.
The Details
The college has been under increased scrutiny from the accreditor, as well as the U.S. Department of Education, since last fall. Middle States has expressed concern about whether the college is complying with its standards on ethics and integrity, planning and resources, and governance and leadership.
In February, the Education Department placed the college on warning about its finances, restricted its access to federal student aid — a status known as “heightened cash monitoring” — and required the institution to secure a letter of credit to cover any money that would be lost in the event the college closed.
The accreditor put the institution on probation in March. Middle States asked for evidence that Pittsburgh Tech was financially viable and for a “teach-out” plan that would provide options for students to complete their degrees at other colleges if the institution closed. The college also had to describe how it would create “a climate that fosters respect among students, faculty, staff, and administration.”
In May the commission again asked for more information about the college’s financial status after the Education Department further restricted access to federal student aid.
This week the accreditor rejected the college’s latest report because it “provided limited responses to requested information and did not present evidence and analysis in a manner conducive to commission review.”
The commission also rejected the college’s teach-out plan because “the quality and substance … were insufficient.”
The Backdrop
Numerous other small colleges are facing similar financial challenges, given a long-term decline in enrollment nationally — exacerbated by the pandemic — and a growing skepticism about the value of higher education. Philadelphia’s University of the Arts just recently gave a week’s notice that it would be closing its doors.
Pittsburgh Tech faces another hurdle: ongoing questions about Harvey-Smith, the president. Her tenure has been marred by allegations of misconduct, as well as frequent turnover among top administrators and the Board of Trustees.
Last year, faculty overwhelmingly approved a no-confidence vote after a group of whistle-blowers at the college alleged that Harvey-Smith had mishandled college money and contracts.
An independent investigation by a law firm affirmed that some of the whistle-blower complaints may have been misconduct. At the root of the problem, the investigation concluded, was that Harvey-Smith’s leadership style “blurred the line between herself and the college.”
In response, Harvey-Smith’s lawyer disputed that interpretation and said her actions were within her authority as president.
What’s Next
After the college submits its response to the commission at the end of this month, the accreditor will decide whether to revoke or maintain the college’s accreditation.
Even if Pittsburgh Tech remains accredited, Middle States could require some policy and process changes as well as more reports and campus visits.
If the commission revokes accreditation, the college could try and continue to operate without access to federal aid dollars, but many institutions close as a result.
Jay Glaus, a faculty member and program coordinator for Pittsburgh Tech’s robotics and computer-aided design programs, said he thought the institution would survive. “I do have faith in this college in its ability to educate and place students in the workforce,” he wrote in an email, “and I also believe in our president and her ability to steer the ship through the storm.”
Harvey-Smith did not respond directly to a request for comment. Through a spokesperson, she provided a written response, saying the college “remains actively engaged with” the accreditor “and continues to comply with all related requests for information.”
“Amidst ongoing challenges,” she added, “PTC remains focused on its students and making decisions to support the best path forward for the college.”
The commission has a different view. In a news release, the accreditor said the “institution has demonstrated a lack of integrity, truthfulness, or responsibility, and … believes that students may be harmed.”
