Home > Lawsuits > Western Culinary Institute Mislead Students Class Action
Western Culinary Institute
March 6 2008
A lawsuit against Western Culinary Institute has been approved by a judge for class action status. The lawsuit was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland against Western and its Hoffman Estates, IL based parent, Career Education Corp., alleging violation of Oregon's unlawful trade practices act and unjust enrichment. The class action was filed on behalf of nearly 3,000 current and former students alleging the institute misled students with sales pitches and did not properly prepare them for the workforce.
The class action claims Western Culinary Institute failed to warn students that upon their graduation, their tuition would exceed their ability to pay off their federal loans. The suit claims the school misrepresented its job placement rate and failed to disclose that students would not obtain material benefit from the course of study.
Jennifer Adams, the named plaintiff in the lawsuit, alleges that the majority of graduates from the school wind up working in low-wage, prep and line-cook jobs, earning less than $22,500 a year. Tuition at the Institute, according to The Oregonian (December 7, 2009) is $18,000 to $41,000 for either 30-week or 60-week culinary and hospitality programs. The class action lawsuit covers students who have attended the Western Culinary Institute since March, 2006.
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Decades ago I attended WCI, not a a student but as a patron. I had the very best lunches in my life for a song and a dance. At that time the students and instructors were simply OUTSTANDING!!! I am sorry to say that the school went straight downhill full speed ahead when le Cordon Bleu took over. You could not get reservations, the food was awful and so were the students----the complete opposite of the way it started off. The students should win this one because they certainly were not getting the education they paid for. Me? I still miss the original school with every ounce of my being!
Posted by Lois Major
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I went to the Western Culinary School years ago. It was when it was first opened. Our classes were wonderful. Our Chefs were great and as excited as the students. We all worked hard to get where we did. I found really good Culinary jobs. I will always be greatful to the Academy. I am not longer a chef, but I love cooking for family and friends. My sons are great cooks too, and all of this was because of the Western Culinary Institute. We all enjoy cooking. I thank the Institute for this.
Posted by Stan McDonald
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I went to that place in 2001.I lasted for 4 months, before I realized that it was a total scam. 2 week courses that barely scratched the surface.The schools main focus was making money off of its students from 2 sources...government loans and student labor for the schools restaurants. Every single dime of my student loans went to the school. I never saw a dime and there was nothing left over for expenses. It was set up to maximize profit off of government loans.There was no housing,no parking,no resources,no support.I should have been alerted to this by my 1st contact in inquiring about the school. I was contacted almost immediately by a sales person and let me tell you these people were trained to sell. As a matter of fact there was a whole floor dedicated to the sales force and they worked off of commission.it was like a spider and a web. I am so glad to hear of this law suite and I hope that they lose.This was not a school. it was conveyor belt for government money.
Posted by Dori
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Will there be an option for students who attended before 2006? I graduated in 2002 and was told a bunch of lies about graduation rates and job placement.
Posted by ajs7806
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The knowledge was useful the certificate totally worthless. Phillips Colleges was sued by the Dept. of Education for fraud. No culinary school prepares you for the real world experience of dealing with alcoholics, drug addicts, and the like you find in kitchens.
Posted by Washington
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I was nearly evicted from my residence and defaulted on my student loan payments.
Posted by Oregon
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I as a student was not properly trained for a real kitchen experience. After months of unemployment, and no kitchens wanting to hire me because they thought my diploma was a joke, I was able to obtain a job washing dishes and preping food. 40 thousand dollar degree got me a dish washing job.
Posted by Idaho
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No job placement help for receiving a job after graduation.
The hospitality and restaurant management degree has provided no help in finding jobs within the field or other fields.
Currently paying back the $30,000 cost of attending while earning the same amount of money I was making before attending school.
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