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Higher Education Coordination Commission

Updates and Consumer Alerts

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) Office of Academic Policy and Authorization: Private Postsecondary Education team is committed to student and consumer protection. On this page, you can find important updates on the regulatory status of private postsecondary colleges and institutions serving Oregonians, including school closures. We play a supporting role in the event of sudden school closures.

Click on the school name or topic below for the most recent update.

You can find a list of closed institutions and guidance on transcript requests here.

Last updated
10/9/2025
Type of Update or Consumer Alert
Consumer Alert
Description

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Consumer Alert
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UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services (“DMV") has stopped issuing all limited-term Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) and limited-term Commercial Learner's Permits (CLP) in compliance with federal guidance.
 

Please contact ODOT-DMV for any questions regarding: limited-term CLP/limited-term CDL exam eligibility & scheduling, timeline for resuming DMV operations and services, permit and license issuance, renewal, and revocation. Other helpful resources:

​STUDENTS know your rights:

  • You can access your student file that includes the enrollment agreement which includes terms you agreed to.
  • School refund policies must comply with (OAR 715-045-0036(11)).
  • You can request your transcript even if you have not graduated or owe a debt to the school (OAR 715-045-0018)(10)(f)(A)).
  • If you have a complaint, after exhausting your school's internal grievance process, you can file complaints with HECC at complaints@hecc.oregon.gov.
  • Your school should have policies regarding return of books and supplies separate from refunds for tuition costs.  Schools are not required to refund the cost of books or supplies.  Check your school's refund policy. 
  • Your student file should contain a schedule of any fees owed, payments made, as well as receipts (OAR 715-045-0018)(6)(f)).

 SCHOOLS must remain in compliance:

  • If the new regulations have changed the type of student who can benefit from the program, those changes must be reflected in enrollment materials, including enrollment requirements listed in school catalogs, as well as integrated into staff enrollment practices. For example, if a certain domicile status impacts the ability for a student to become a licensed CDL driver, then those factors must be reflected in materials and enrollment. As a reminder, OAR 715-045-0060(2)(b) prohibits a school from enrolling a person who will not succeed or benefit from the program.  Schools should not enroll students who are currently ineligible to obtain a commercial drivers license. 
     
  • Notify students regarding how current changes may impact those who already have obtained a limited-term CLP. Include information regarding how changes may impact their participation in your program. Note: the DMV has stated that they will not actively cancel issued permits but that they are required to if they become aware of a person's ineligibility.

  • A student who elects to disenroll due to the changes, triggers refund policies detailed under OAR 715-045-0036(11). Refunds are the responsibility of the school. The provisions of the Tuition Protection Fund (TPF) do not apply since the  TPF is intended for school closures (OAR 715-045-0029(1)).

 HECC will provide additional information when it becomes available. Please continue to check this page for updates. 


Last updated
2025
Type of Update or Consumer Alert
School Closing/End of Instruction
Description

​On May 7, 2025 Skyline CDL School Portland, LLC informed HECC it planned to close. The school will complete instruction for students on 5/23/2025.  In the event of closures, the HECC Private Career School licensing staff work with schools on their closure plan (learn more on requirements here).​

On May 12, HECC additionally suspended the school owners, Pavel Terpay and Vitaliy Velikiy. Based on information made available, HECC determined the owners violated OAR 715-045-0012(10)(b) and (c), OAR 715-045-0012(11) (a) (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) and OAR 715-045-0012(12) (a), (b), and (c).

On May 13, 2025 HECC suspended the private career school license of Skyline CDL School Portland, LLC, effective immediately, under OAR 715-045-0012(13)(a)(C) and OAR 715-045-0065(5). A licensee whose license is suspended is prohibited from advertising, recruiting or enrolling students but may remain in operation to complete training of students enrolled on the effective date of the suspension (ORS 345.120 (6)).

Skyline CDLS School Portland, LLC has informed HECC the school is working with ODOT-DMV for CDL exam scheduling. For exam schedules or transcripts, students should contact the school directly : Phone: (253) -220-7873; E-mail: portland@skylinecdlschool.com.

We will provide any further relevant updates on our HECC updates and Consumer Alerts Webpage​.

Last updated
2025
Type of Update or Consumer Alert
School Closing/End of Instruction
Description

​On January 21, 2024 Phagans' Beauty School - Medford informed the Higher Education Coordinating Commission that the school plans to close and would starting the school closure process. Phagans' Beauty School - Medfod is currently teaching out their current students and the school is working closely with their currently enrolled students to help them graduate. Phagans' Beauty School - Medford has stated that the school located in Medford, Oregon will close February 28, 2025.

For questions or to address concerns, please contact the school directly at the following email:

studentservices@phagans-schools.com​

Further updates will be posted to the HECC Consumer Alerts webpage.

Last updated
2025
Type of Update or Consumer Alert
School Closing/End of Instruction
Description

On December 13, 2024, Alma Institute informed the Higher Education Coordinating Commission that they plan to close their school and that they wish to start the school closure process. Alma Institute stated they will not enroll any new students. Please note that their school license has expired, and the school may not enroll or advertise without a current private career school license. If you have any questions, please contact HECC specialist Peter Gertenrich at peter.gertenrich@hecc.oregon.gov

Students needing to request a transcript:

  • ​Please contact Rebecca Martinez for student transcripts: Rebecca Martinez email: rebecca@almatraining.org or rebecca@coracenter.org
We will provide any further relevant updates on our HECC Updates and Consumer Alerts Webpage.


Last updated
2024
Type of Update or Consumer Alert
Closure – August 31, 2024
Description

In May 2023, the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) located at 75 NW Couch St., Portland Oregon 97068 announced to the HECC Office of Degree Authorization (ODA) that they would be closing as of August 31, 2024. PARCHMENT became the custodian of records and transcripts and the HECC ODA will also have a copy of all transcripts. An agreement was signed between OCOM and the Natural University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Oregon for students in the Master of Acupuncture, Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, and Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine programs to transfer to complete their degrees. An agreement was signed between OCOM and Five Branches University (FBU) in California for students in the

Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program to transfer to complete their degrees.​



Other Resources for Students of Private Institutions

In addition to consumer alerts, we offer numerous other services for private institution students. We provide basic information on approved schools, intervene when a crisis occurs (for example, a sudden school closure), secure transcripts from closed schools, investigate student concerns that are not resolved at the institutional level, and more.

Public Hearings on Proposed Administrative Rule Changes

Many of our responsibilities are detailed in Oregon Statute or in Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs). When our agency proposes changes to OARs, we welcome input at public hearings.




 

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