BY AAGD STAFF
December 7, 2018
Operating five locations around the United States, Golf Academy of America will bite the dust and shutter its doors, ceasing operations after 44 years in the business of training hopeful golf professionals.
The privately held Education Corporation of America (EAC), owner of the five golf schools, made the dreaded announcement on Wednesday of this week, confirming that it would cease operating all of its roughly 80 campuses. Reasons given include continued declining student enrollment and the loss of accreditation. Company employees have been notified that their positions will be eliminated, and most of the company’s approximate 20,000 students will not be able to able to finish their programs unless they were in their final semester. Its five campuses are in Myrtle Beach, S.C., San Diego, Dallas, Orlando and Phoenix.
On its website, Golf Academy of America said it has trained more than 11,000 students, with graduates employed in the golf industry in all 50 states and around the world.
The golf programs offered students training in the business of golf, course operations, teaching, technology and mentorship. The company said each campus employed PGA of America members.
ECA had offered a variety of golf-related associate degrees, diploma/certificate courses, master’s degrees and baccalaureate degrees at its campuses, and several classes were offered online through its Brightwood Career Institute, Brightwood College, Culinard Institute of Virginia College, Ecotech Institute, Golf Academy of America and Virginia College.
Discouraging news for ECA had previously arrived on Tuesday when it received word that the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools had suspended its accreditation, Inside Higher Ed reported. With the loss of accreditation, ECA students would not be able to participate in federal student aid programs nor would the school any longer have the ability to secure capital that was necessary to operate its campuses.
MarketWatch reported that ECA had failed to meet a federal gainful-employment standard that indicates students will earn enough income after graduation to repay student loans. Students attending an ECA facility have the right to have their federal loans discharged so long as they do not complete a similar program at another institution.
Earlier this year, ECA had announced that it would close dozens of its campuses, and the company unsuccessfully sued the Department of Education to gain access to federal financial aid while in receivership. The company had struggled to meet payroll and pay rent at various campuses.
“After many years of training students for new careers, it is with a heavy heart that today we announce that Education Corporation of America is closing all its career colleges effective with the completion of the current module or term for most students,” Diane Worthington, a spokeswoman for the company, said in a written statement. “We will work with students to ensure access to their transcripts so they can complete their studies at another school.”
