Regency Beauty Institute’s Abrupt Closure Affects 5 Michigan Schools

Minnesota-based Regency Beauty Institute abruptly permanently shuttered all 79 of its locations in 19 states, including five in Michigan, according to an announcement on its website.

The beauty institute, which has taught the basics of cosmetology to beauticians and stylists for 50 years, closed effective Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Students were notified via an automated phone call on Wednesday night, and some who’d been in class that same day had no idea the school was closing.

Regency posted this statement to its website:

“This is incredibly difficult news for everyone affected: especially our students, teachers, and staff. We recognize that some of you may be finding this out for the first time by reading this. We are truly sorry for the abrupt nature of this information.”

The cosmetology school operated in Sterling Heights, Southgate, Flint, Lansing and Grand Rapids.

The closure of Regency Beauty Institute comes just weeks after ITT Technical Institute closed all of its 130 campuses after the Department of Education denied ITT access to federal financial aid funding.

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Although not in the same financial position as ITT, Regency officials said in a statement that that they’d simply run out of money, coupled with declining numbers of cosmetology students nationwide, a negative characterization of for-profit education by regulators and politicians that continues and an inability to obtain continued financing.

“We held ourselves to high educational and ethical standards. The environment is simply not one that allows us to remain open. We diligently explored a range of strategic options that would benefit our students, teachers, and staff — and allow us to remain open. Unfortunately, those efforts were not successful.”

The school will be working with its accreditor and state boards for students to finish their programs.
Students will be allowed to pick up personal items on Sept. 29, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sept. 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to the website.

Regency Beauty Institute also has locations in Minnesota, Ohio, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, and Virginia.

Written by Bryan Kirk, Patch editor
Photo via Shutterstock