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CAREER COLLEGE Abdill fined, put on probation for state violations Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 8, 2016 at 4:51 PM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 8, 2016 at 4:51 PM » Social News Abdill Career College in Medford violated state rules by allowing a student to teach a class and requiring students to take tests for their national certifications only at Abdill, a state commission has found. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission has placed Abdill on probation, fined it $500 and given it 20 days to remedy issues detailed in a dozen-page decision issued June 30. Failure to comply could cost the school its state license. The commission began an investigation of Abdill because of a complaint filed in February by Central Point resident Sydney Galligan, who alleged school officials retaliated against her during her pregnancy and provided misinformation to her and other students about school policies and fees charged by the school. School officials said they are appealing the commission's decision and requesting a hearing. Galligan was one of 18 students who lost their certifications after Abdill announced in June that the tests were administered by an instructor who no longer worked at the school and through a national agency with which Abdill had no affiliation. Abdill declined to name the former instructor. Galligan said students, some of whom have lost jobs, are trying to get clarification on how to remedy issues related to their certification. She said the testing issue should not have been discussed publicly until the HECC investigation was done and had "affected the lives and livelihoods of students." "All the students that took the test, we all got our certifications revoked when our teacher proctored the test because she was trying to save us from what was going on at the school. We worked really hard for those certifications," Galligan said. "Why would we have risked our tests? A teacher knows there are legalities involved. She wouldn't risk her livelihood. The students that got their certifications revoked, oddly enough, are the ones who spoke against the school and the investigation." The students tested under the National Certification Career Association, which Abdill officials said is not an accepted proctor for the school. The HECC said in its findings that Abdill "cannot require students to pay only Abdill College for the national exam fee, nor can it require the student to complete the exam before a student would receive a certificate of completion for the program from Abdill College." The commission said it would now require the school to give students the choice of taking the certification exam at Abdill College or taking the national exam directly through the national exam provider. "The school agreed to remove the requirement of requiring all students to take any national exam through Abdill College only and to update policies accordingly," the HECC decision states. School owner Ki, her legal name, said the school disagrees with the commission's findings, which she said were based on misinformation from students and ex-employees. The school has filed an appeal to have the matter heard by an independent administrative law judge, she said. "The independent administrative law judge has the power to subpoena witnesses and require testimony under oath, subject to cross-examination." The HECC fined Abdill $500 for allowing a student to teach a class, which violates state law. Other parts of the decision state that the school did not effectively approach Galligan and attempt to understand her medical circumstances before "implementing the school’s student conduct policy" and that "multiple students" observed Galligan being verbally reprimanded in front of other students. Galligan stated that Ki approached her to discuss her complaint, at one point, while she was using the restroom; Ki said the encounter was unplanned. The commission ruling states, "The school admitted that this was a wrong place to discuss school policy and agreed to create new school protocol which would require staff to discuss student affairs only in an appropriate location within the school." The commission was unable to substantiate Galligan's claims of retaliation, noting, "Ms. Galligan may have felt threatened, but valid proof that the school will retaliate or has retaliated could not be substantiated." HECC officials were unable to respond to phone calls because the investigation is ongoing and issued an e-mail statement from investigator Juan Baez-Arevalo saying the case could warrant follow-up action by the commission. "The Commission continues to receive calls of concern and may be required to conduct additional investigations, as needed, to respond to both formal complaints and any additional concerns discovered as a result of the current investigation," the HECC stated in its finding. Galligan said her experience with the school had caused her a great deal of stress as a new mother. She returned to school three days after having her daughter "because I was afraid I would lose everything I had put in," she said. "I honestly feel kind of upset by the (commission decision) because it feels like it was a slap on the hand. I'm not a rebellious student who didn't want to follow the dress code. I'm a student that was being harassed." Reach freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected]. By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 8, 2016 at 4:51 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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