IMPORTANT STUDENT NOTICE

Dear Georgia Career Institutes Students, Staff, & Friends,

On September 16, 2026, Georgia Career Institute (GCI) received a letter from the Council on Occupational Education (COE), stating that the Council has taken action to drop GCI from accredited status. The Council’s stated reason for dropping GCI from accredited status was the school’s failure to demonstrate compliance with COE’s accreditation standards with respect to financial resources. The notice letter provides GCI with an opportunity to appeal the Council’s decision no later than October 6, 2026. However, after carefully reviewing the available options and the financial requirements associated with an appeal and continued operations, GCI has determined that it is unable to pursue an appeal and must proceed with closure.

It is with tremendous sadness that we share this news. After nearly 40 years of serving students and preparing graduates for careers in the beauty industry, this is an incredibly difficult moment for our institution and, most importantly, our students.

Although this is not the outcome we hoped for, our commitment to our students remains our highest priority. Our focus now is to make the closure and transfer process as organized and supportive as possible.

Final Dates of Instruction and Closure

Georgia Career Institute’s last date of student instruction will be October 1, 2026. Students may continue attending and earning applicable clock hours through this date.

Between now and October 1, 2026, students may resume their normal class schedules, subject to instructor availability. Due to the closure process and available faculty coverage, class schedules may be consolidated or adjusted as necessary. GCI will make every reasonable effort to provide continued instructional opportunities through the final date of instruction and will communicate any schedule changes as they occur.

October 2, 2026, will be the final reporting day for faculty. There will be no student instruction on October 2. Faculty will use this day to finalize student grades, completed clock hours, credits, practical requirements, and academic records to ensure each student’s record accurately reflects their status as of the final date of instruction.

The institution will continue its administrative closure responsibilities following the final date of instruction.

Teach-Out Providers and Transfer Options

GCI has worked to establish formal teach-out arrangements with receiving institutions to provide students with options to complete their education with as little disruption as possible.
Under the applicable teach-out agreements, receiving institutions have agreed to accept 100% of verified clock hours and practical applications successfully completed at GCI, as documented on the student’s official certified academic record. The agreements also provide for the waiver of standard residency requirements for students transferring under the teach-out.
Under the agreements, teach-out students will not be charged additional tuition beyond the tuition originally contracted under their GCI Enrollment Agreement for completion of their remaining training. For students utilizing Federal Title IV financial aid, the receiving institution will determine and process remaining financial aid eligibility for the student’s remaining program under the receiving institution’s own financial aid processes.
The receiving institutions will also provide students with information regarding tuition and fees, the clock hours they will accept, and any differences in requirements before enrollment.
Our current teach-out providers are:

• Empire Beauty School (Cosmetology Only)- Contact: Tarecha Blackburn TBlackburn@empire.edu
• Morrow Campus
• Atlanta Campus
• Lawrenceville Campus
• Elaine Sterling Institute (All programs)- Contact: admissions@elainesterling.com

  (470) 524-7095

• Atlanta-Buckhead Campus
• Dunwoody Campus
  • Additionally, Elaine Sterling currently offers a transportation assistance program for current students through Uber vouchers to help with travel to and from campus. Students interested in transferring to Elaine Sterling may complete an application for transportation assistance, with eligibility determined based on student need.
• Proway Hair School (Cosmetology Only)- Contact: admissions@prowayhairschool.com

  (404) 299-5156

GCI is actively pursuing additional teach-out arrangements and will update this list as additional teach-out providers become available.

On-Site Teach-Out Provider Visits

GCI is scheduling on-site visits with our teach-out providers prior to the final date of instruction.

These visits will provide students an opportunity to meet representatives from the receiving institutions, learn more about their campuses and programs, and ask questions regarding schedules, financial aid, remaining hours, program requirements, enrollment, and the transfer process.

We recognize that transferring to another institution can feel overwhelming. We want students to have an opportunity to speak directly with our teach-out providers and become as comfortable as possible with their options before deciding.

Dates and times for these visits will be communicated as soon as they are confirmed.

You Have a Choice

Students are not required to select one of GCI’s designated teach-out providers. You are encouraged to select the institution that best meets your individual educational and personal needs.

Other institutions may choose to accept clock hours earned at GCI and may agree to comparable financial arrangements; however, acceptance of clock hours, tuition arrangements, financial aid eligibility, and other transfer terms outside of GCI’s formal teach-out agreements will be determined by the receiving institution.

Student Election Required

Every student must complete one of the following forms so that GCI can document your decision and properly process your academic and financial aid records.

Student Teach-Out Election Form

Complete this form if you intend to participate in the teach-out/transfer process and identify your preferred option.

Decline Teach-Out Form

Complete this form if you are declining the available teach-out options.

Students who do not complete either form will be automatically withdrawn from Georgia Career Institute on October 2, 2026. GCI will then process the student’s academic and financial aid records based upon the student’s status and completed hours as of the final date of instruction.

Please complete the appropriate form as soon as possible so that GCI can begin coordinating your records and transition.

Student Records and Transfer Documentation

Following the final date of instruction, GCI will finalize each student’s academic record.

For students participating in a teach-out, GCI will provide applicable academic and financial documentation to facilitate the student’s transfer at no cost to the student. GCI will also prepare academic and financial aid files to facilitate the student’s transition to the receiving institution.

Financial Aid, Return of Title IV Funds, and Refunds

GCI will complete all required federal financial aid closure processes, including applicable Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculations and required documentation.

Each student’s account will be reviewed individually. The Institute will calculate and process any applicable refunds in accordance with institutional policy and applicable state and federal requirements.

The Institute will not restrict or impair a student’s ability to transfer to another institution due to an outstanding balance owed to GCI. Additionally, GCI will not pursue collection efforts for any remaining student account balance following the Institution’s closure.

Because each student’s completed clock hours, account balance, enrollment status, and financial aid history are different, individual financial outcomes may vary.

For students utilizing federal financial aid who transfer to a participating teach-out provider, the receiving institution will determine and process the student’s remaining financial aid eligibility for the remaining portion of the program.

GCI will also provide potentially eligible students with information regarding federal closed-school loan discharge.

Students should understand that participating in a teach-out and applying for a federal closed-school loan discharge are separate options and may have different consequences for federal student loans and continued enrollment.

Students should carefully review their individual circumstances and the information provided before making an election.

Our Commitment to You

We recognize that this announcement brings uncertainty, questions, disappointment, and sadness. We share that sadness.

For nearly four decades, students have trusted Georgia Career Institute with their education and career goals. We are deeply grateful for every student, graduate, instructor, and family who has been part of GCI.

Our responsibility to our students remains our priority throughout this closure. Between now and our final date of instruction, and throughout the administrative closure process, GCI will be focused on finalizing your hours and academic records, completing required financial aid processes, coordinating with receiving institutions, processing applicable refunds, and helping you understand the options available to continue your education.

While we cannot change the circumstances that have brought us to this point, we can remain committed to completing this process responsibly and doing everything within our ability to support each student through this transition.

Additional information, including the schedule for on-site teach-out provider visits and additional closure instructions, will be provided as it becomes available.

Sincerely,
Georgia Career Institute