Art Institute of Seattle to close Friday

SEATTLE — The Art Institute of Seattle informed the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) on Wednesday that it will close on Friday, March 8 -- two weeks before the end of the winter quarter.

"We strongly disagree with the decision to close before this quarter is over,"  WSAC Deputy Director Don Bennett said in a news release.

“It’s incredibly frustrating and distressing to students and it completely disrupts their education.”

Seattle’s Art Institute was at one point one of 31 campuses trimmed down to 18 amid declining enrollment.

In January, the Washington Student Achievement Council was notified by the organization owning the school that it was on the verge of financial insolvency.

But now, the sudden decision to close is sending shockwaves through the campus and the state.

“For 3 years to just go away after so much hard work, it really tears you apart,” Art Institute student Erik Seward told KIRO 7’s Jessica Oh.

The closure puts international students in a particularly tough position.

“I have 60 days with the government to get accepted in a different school or get sent back home after six years with no degree… nothing,” Abdul Aziz Alshareef said.

To help students impacted by the closure, the Washington Student Achievement Council is holding information fairs at the Art Institute of Seattle campus on March 12 and March 13. Click here for more information.

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