APA is working with regional accrediting bodies, state higher education authorizers and the U.S. Department of Education, among others, to ensure that Argosy University students are able to receive quality education and training in health service psychology now that the school has shut its doors due to financial troubles.
Argosy officially closedopens in new window on March 8, leaving thousands students across all areas of study with incomplete degrees and, for many, substantial educational debt. APA accredited 10 psychology doctoral programs at Argosy campuses.
The association and its accrediting body, the Committee on Accreditation , are both doing everything they can to facilitate the transition of psychology doctoral students into other APA-accredited programs.
“Our No. 1 concern is that these students and their teachers are not further penalized by the rapid demise and closing of the Argosy campuses,” says APA President Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD. “Some of these students were months away from graduating and entering the workforce to provide mental health care and other vital contributions to society. The top priority for the Department of Education and institutions around the country must be to ensure that the futures of and the investments by these students are not jeopardized.”
Several programs that are APA-accredited have expressed willingness or intent to accept transfer students, and in some cases, faculty and resources from Argosy programs.
Since it became clear that Argosy's sale or closure was imminent, APA has been taking steps to assist students in its accredited programs, including:
- Creating a FAQs page to help those affected by the closure.
- Sending a Mar. 1, 2019 letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos urging her to immediately establish a real-time response center to address concerns from affected Argosy students and to provide timely, helpful updates and guidance.
- Contacting key congressional offices to enlist their assistance. (A letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, spearheaded by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott and the Democratic Caucus, calls for immediate action by the Department of Education to mitigate the damage to students and faculty alike. The letter specifically mentions APA's recommendation that the department create a real-time response center. In addition, 13 senators, led by Sen. Dick Durbin, sent a letter to Secretary DeVos on March 8, advocating for immediate action to help the Argosy students.)
- Taking concerns from members of the Argosy community directly to their elected officials via Psychology Advocacy Network.
- Responding to calls and emails from affected students, faculty and other concerned parties. APA established a Psychology Student Action Center at (202) 336-6014 to direct members of the Argosy community to resources.
- Hosting an hour-long webinaropens in new window on records and credentials banking for Argosy University's psychology graduate students and alumni in light of the school's closure.
“We want to emphasize that the students are the biggest victims of this crisis, through no fault of their own,” Davis said. “This is a Main Street issue. Local and state communities lose if these students don't graduate and enter the workforce. We must do all that we can to ensure that they are able to finish their degrees in accredited programs and go on to serve their communities.”
APA will continue to update members as this situation progresses.