ITT Tech campus planned for south Springfield

Carmel, Ind.-based ITT Educational Services has applied to operate the proprietary for-profit school in Kelly Plaza, a commercial center on South National Avenue just south of Montclair Street. The proposed school would employ about 17 full-time and two part-time employees at 3216 S. National Ave., a 6,000-square-foot standalone building that already bears ITT’s signage draped in white sheets.

ITT spokeswoman Jo Minnick said the school’s policy prohibits her from commenting on the new campus until all necessary state approval is received.

According to the application, the Springfield campus would initially offer three programs for an estimated 200 students: Associate of Applied Science degrees in information technology for computer network systems and computer drafting and design; and a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice.

Tuition is listed as $80,280 for the criminal justice degree and $42,816 for each of the associate degrees, according to the application. The school expects to generate about $1.37 million in income in its first full fiscal year of operation, with expenditures of nearly $3 million.

If approved, the Springfield campus would be ITT’s fourth in Missouri. ITT already operates campuses in Kansas City and near St. Louis in Earth City and Arnold.

MDHE Assistant Commissioner Leroy Wade, who oversees proprietary school certification, said ITT frequently builds its campuses from the ground up – as it did in Arnold – although the school has opened new campuses in existing buildings.

According to the MDHE Web site, proprietary school applications are reviewed as quickly as possible, with a typical minimum evaluation time of 120 days.

“We’re working real hard to try and maintain that schedule, but the workload’s been pretty busy here, and plus, we relicense schools every year,” Wade said. “We’re just completing that process now, and then we’ll be able to turn our attention back and spend more time with new applications.”

ITT is accepting applications for several Springfield-based positions, according to online job sites www.indeed.com and www.simplyhired.com. Dean, finance director, recruitment director and registrar are among the available full-time positions posted on the sites.

ITT offers a variety of technology-oriented study programs to about 48,000 students at more than 100 institutes in 30 states, according to www.itt-tech.edu. The for-profit institution is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, according to the MDHE.