Marinello Schools of Beauty, a national for-profit chain of beautician schools with six locations throughout Connecticut, including one in Fairfield, closed all of its locations earlier this month following a federal investigation and action that has cut off federal loans and grants due to a wide range of alleged records violations.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Marinello was knowingly requesting federal aid for students based on invalid high school diplomas, awarding Title IV (federal) aid to students, charging students for excessive overtime and engaging in other acts of misrepresentation.
Marinello said the federal actions were unfounded.
Department of Education Undersecretary Ted Mitchell referred to the company as an “unscrupulous” institution using questionable business practices or lying to both students and the federal government.
The chain, which operates 56 locations across California, Connecticut, Kansas, Nevada and Utah, called the U.S. Departments actions against it unprecedented and unfounded.
In a letter to students posted on the company”™s website, chairman and CEO Rashed Elyas said the department”™s actions left the school with no choice but to close its locations.
In a Feb. 1 statement the Department of Education stated it was denying pending recertification applications for five Marinello locations covering 23 campuses in five cities and enrolling about 2,100 active students, predominately in California with some locations also located in Nevada.
The company opened its Fairfield location at 500 King”™s Highway in July 2013.
In Marinello”™s five Connecticut locations 467 students were enrolled in its cosmetology, esthetics and barbering programs, according to the Connecticut Office of Higher Education.
According to the department of education Marinello will have until Feb. 16 to submit factual evidence to dispute the findings.
If submitted evidence causes the department to change its determination, the schools could be able to continue participating in the federal financial aid programs, according to the department”™s statement.
Marinello told its students it would hold meetings on its campuses so students can receive necessary paperwork as well as information to help them continue their educations either through Marinello partnerships with other schools or another channel.
They were not at there napa campus to provide any answers whatsoever! Marinello never informed the studends on leave of absence they closed ! So many may lose out on their gear!!