Current students will be able to graduate from the for-profit trade and career school, which has been caught up in accreditation issues and a landlord-tenant dispute.
Fortis Institute in Erie, the troubled for-profit career and trade school on West Ridge Road in Fairview Township, is closing, leaving behind more than 500 students taking courses in nursing, welding and computer technology.
Fortis’ parent company, the Baltimore-based Education Affiliates, confirmed the closing to the Erie Times-News in a statement.
It blamed a landlord-tenant dispute and not issues with the school’s accreditation, and said current students will be able to graduate. But Fortis did not say in what year those graduations will occur.
“Due to the untenable business relationship with the landlord at the Fortis Institute Erie campus, we have decided to not renew our lease with that landlord and to cease new enrollments for all programs at the campus as of July 17,” Education Affiliates said in a statement.