To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing this letter as a concerned student and a 100% disabled veteran who was recently removed from I.O.T. Clovis school under circumstances that I believe were unjust and discriminatory.
During my time at the school, I observed several troubling incidents that I feel compelled to bring to your attention. One of the most concerning involved a staff member, Mrs. R, who brought her personal dog—not a service animal—into the salon area and even allowed the dog onto the barber chairs. When I inquired whether I could bring my own service dog, I was told “no,” despite my legal right as a disabled veteran. I did not complain at the time, but this double standard was both disheartening and discriminatory.
I also witnessed unprofessional and inappropriate behavior from faculty. Ms. Dana, a salon teacher, made repeated suggestive remarks to students, including stating she would “spank them with a towel.” This, in my view, constitutes sexual harassment, yet no actions were taken to address it.
In terms of hygiene and state board compliance, the salon often fails to meet basic standards. Workstations are not properly sanitized between clients, and hair accumulates under chairs, indicating a lack of cleanliness that is unacceptable in a professional training environment. Mr. Leal, in particular, does not make students clean at all—his class is by far the dirtiest, which reflects a serious lack of professionalism and accountability.
Additionally, I believe there is grade and assignment manipulation occurring within the program. Students are often given credit for state board-required operations they did not perform, while others are unfairly graded based on favoritism or personal bias.
Another serious issue involves Mr. Leal, who has engaged in unprofessional conduct by speaking negatively about students with other students. He also failed to intervene when a student made a deeply offensive comment about my deceased mother. Despite being present and hearing the comment, Mr. Leal allowed the student to remain in class and did not report the incident to HR.
On one occasion, a student made a disrespectful comment regarding the weight of two female students. It was not until I stepped in to defend these individuals that the school even acknowledged the situation. Only after I spoke up did the school initiate an investigation. However, the student who made the inappropriate comment was still allowed to remain on campus, despite this behavior clearly violating the school’s own conduct codes and regulations.
I ultimately removed myself from a volatile situation that could have escalated had I not shown restraint. Instead of being acknowledged for handling the matter with maturity, I was removed from the school. As a disabled veteran, I expected to be treated with respect and fairness—not punished for doing the right thing.
This is not only a concern for the public, but also for all my fellow veterans who are being taken advantage of by not receiving the proper training required under state board regulations. Veterans deserve better when using their educational benefits and placing their trust in an institution that claims to support their career goals.
It is my belief that this institution, in its current condition, is not providing a safe, professional, or compliant environment for students. I urge you to investigate these matters thoroughly to protect the integrity of the program and the well-being of its students.
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I just wrapped up my nursing program at IOT, and I can honestly say it’s been a wild ride! Like any journey, it had its ups and downs, but looking back, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
The classes were tough but engaging, and I loved how the instructors really cared about our success. They were always there to lend a helping hand or offer advice, which made a huge difference during those stressful moments. You could really feel the passion they had for teaching and nursing.
The hands on clinical experiences were definitely the highlight for me. Being able to work with real patients and apply what I learned in class was both intimidating and exhilarating. Those moments solidified my decision to pursue nursing, and I feel so much more confident now.
Of course, there were late nights and moments of doubt, but the support from my classmates turned those challenges into shared experiences. We formed a tight knit community, cheering each other on and celebrating our victories together.
Overall , IOT’s nursing program has given me the tools and confidence I need to step into this rewarding field. If you’re considering it, go for it! You won’t regret the journey! Did I mentioned I passed my Nclex my first try, along with my classmates! I wish you well on your journey at IOT!
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I cannot believe they try to claim their barbering program is that hands on. I took a tour of IOT Clovis, and while you can get financial aid via Pell grant at this school, it is a 12 month program and they only allow you to go on campus 2 days a week at most for this barber program. When I went to the classroom, it appears the process which you learn is very traditional, like mostly online classwork (reminds me of high school/college testing) and you're required to either complete this much or if not then they may drop you from the class, and didn't look like you would get much help at all. The demos also seem lackluster, I have only seen manequins in the demos and while it is typically the way you're taught to blend, I would say it doesn't accurately represent giving an actual client a fade or taper etc; or other haircuts that bald out to skin, since manequins won't even bald to skin. If I heard correctly, they also require you to get your barber license before you can even consider cutting a person's hair. If anything, their barber program seems a lot more sedentary, overall.
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