University of Phoenix

Ken of Des Moines, IA March 21, 2009

I attended the University of Phoenix on a probationary period requiring a 3.0 GPA after four classes. At the end of my third class my GPA was 3.8 but I struggled with my fourth class with my new position at work in Iraq and internet issues. Furthermore, I was unbelievably tired due to early kidney cancer that was fortunately diagnosed and removed. My instructor was willing to give me an incomplete but her own academic advisor did not return her phone calls. She was under pressure to post her grades so I was given an F. My academic advisor fully advised UoP of my instructor's willingness to give me an Incomplete and of my kidney cancer episode. UoP rejected that and said all grades are final and granting Incompletes had to occur before posting the grade. My new GPA is now under 3.0 and I am kicked out of school for six months.

I am out of school for six months. I am forced to pay for a class at almost 2000 per class in total costs that should have been an Incomplete.

Marie of Atlanta, GA March 19, 2009

I work for a large corporation that sponsors UOP. I enrolled for the online MBA program last summer and things seemed to be going well. Then, in January of 2009, I lost a relative to suicide because of the serious downfall of the economy and the uncertainty of the stock market. He lost everything and was worth millions. It was a Monday afternoon when I received the phone call that this had happened (at work, no less. It was the last day of the 4th week of a course I was taking at the time. All that was left to complete the 4th week was the paper. It was later that week that I contacted UOP to make them aware of my emergency. I was told that the instructor called all the shots and to contact her (which I already had at this point).

Between the grief and the traveling up and down the east coast to attend to finances and memorials, the instructor and I connected by telephone. I simply asked the instructor what my options were. She indicated that she did not grant any extensions nor would she accept any late assignments, including the paper that was in draft form from week 4. I then asked if I should withdraw from the course because I would receive a zero for the paper and then zero for the remainder of week 5 when I was attending to funeral arrangements. She said, and I quote, we all have little hiccups in life - you can pull this through. You are almost done. Even though I was somewhat surprised by her comment, I told her I would give it my best and that my family and I were still in shock over the suicide. I then made sure to tell my academic counselor all the details and proceeded to do the best I could to finish the course.

While in NY, to attend one of the two memorial services, I only attended the service and spent the remainder of the weekend in my hotel room, working on my schoolwork. I did not spend time with any of my family while in NY. Some 3 weeks after the course ended, I checked my grade. The instructor gave me a D, UOP put me on academic probation, and the entire cost of the class was to be paid out of my pocket. This is after I was told that I could pull it through. I did what my instructor told me to do and she gives me a D. I do not expect to receive any special treatment regarding the rules.

I do have a problem with an instructor giving a student incorrect instruction regarding that student's grades, when she was really setting me up to fail. I was grieving and she took advantage of that. Bottom line, I can not get anywhere with the school. The Office of Dispute Management could not so much as provide me with the Dean of Students name! What is the point of having a number to call when there is a dispute and their office does not handle that matter. I am referred to my academic counselor's supervisor's name and her reply was that she ...did not have the Dean's contact info to be able to give to me. I do not have time to continue to get the run around from UOP. As a paying student, I am entitled to this information and I expect the school's cooperation! I am not letting this one slip through the cracks. Of all the things to do to a person who is still grieving!

I can not pay for the course nor will my employer because the final grade was below a C. UOP is NOT the school for me!

Priscilla of Pearland, TX March 19, 2009

I enrolled with the University of Phoenix in March of 2008 and have not had a problem unitl now. Each course is 9 weeks, I was in the seventh week of my Environmental Science class, I already started on my final project and all of a sudden when I went to log into that class I was auto dropped for 3 weeks of non attendence, and got a email from my acedemic counslor saying I was dropped because I did not make attendence for 3 weeks.

The problem is that I didn't miss class, I only turned in an assignment 2 days late due to my work schedule. A few days later I recieved a letter from my financial counslor stating that I withdrew from that same class after making attendence and that I an liable for out of pocket cost. Now im stuck in the middle with no scheduled classes for this block waiting to see what happens next. This school says it is for working adults, but there are so many papers to write that require research that I would have been better off attending a real school. I work odd hours, at least 50+ hours per week.

My enrollment counslor told me that this would be no problem and that this school would allow me to work the long hours and get my degree in Criminal Justice at the same time, I'm beginning to find that almost impossible especially now that Im getting further behind making this whole online ordeal even longer since I was dropped two weeks before the class ended. I was strongly advised against this school by a lot of people but enrolled anyway. If anyone is considering UOP please think twice, I only wanted to better my education and now I have this problem and I don't know what Im going to have to go through to get this resolved. If I drop out of this school now I am stuck with thousands of dollars in student loans and tuition.

Leah of Alexandria, VA March 18, 2009

I failed a class because my final was in late. they have taken out loans that i didnt asks for. They allow the teachers to do as they please at the expense of the student Im having a problem with one of my teachers and no one will call me back no one will help me she is giving bad grades for no reason she. Its so much when you make a mistake the crusify you for it but when the teachers do wrong no one seems to care. Even when the university does wrong no one seem to care. They policy and there curriculm policy dont seem quite right please help me. Know that I am almost finish all these problems seem to accure.

I feel like i did all this work for nothing. Know I have to come up with 995.00 for the class they failed me in that I worked hard on because the final wasnt in by 12 midnight. please I feel like im losing my mind I cant afford the problems that they are creating I just cant afford it

Franklin of Lugoff, SC March 15, 2009

I origingally signed up for UOP's business program in February 08'. I am prior military so I was directed to a military advisor that would be handling my enrollment. I told them everything they needed to know about my prior military career so that my Montgomery GI Bill could be used to pay for my edcuation. Got enrolled thought everything was doing fine, then I was moving to the country. It was going to take us at least 2 to 3 weeks to get phone or internet service out to our new house. I needed to take a leave of abscence. I spoke to the appropriate people stating why I needed the leave and everything was supposivley fine. Then I get a call before my leave is over saying that I failed my class for not attending!

So I ended up speaking to about 25 different people getting the situation straightened out and was finally able to get to redo the class when the new session began. Ok great! We'll I am in class for at least 2 sessions all was well. And I need another leave, this time for emergency purposes...and it happens again! I fail a class before my break is even halfway over.

So this time I was extremly mad and spoke to the highest official that I could get ahold of and explained the situation. They pull up my records and low and behold, this entire time I was enrolled at UOP my Montgomery GI bill was never touched. They took out several student loans and grants to pay for my schooling. What the hell, what was the point of speaking to a military advisor? I have been calling UOP daily for weeks now with not one return call. My lawyer will be getting involved and I will never enroll with another online school ever again.

The damage that resulted was now I have thousands of dollars in student loans that I never applied for. I have 30,000 in GI money why would I need a student loan?

Whitney of Medway, OH March 10, 2009

I attended the school for 2 quarters. Good grades until finals.Finals did not attach,I was not told of this for 2 weeks. At that point it was too late and I failed.then i was told to pay out of pocket for the classes, I did that and then I could not register for classes. I then started to get bills in the mail for classes that they can not tell me what are for!

I was billed for 1,900.00 for classes I already payed for.Now it is in collections and my credit is suffering.

Earthlynn of Honolulu, HI March 7, 2009

I am not happy with the class curriculum, I was told my financial aid would arrive by the first week of class, which was over 2 weeks ago, and I cant get a straight answer about why I cant switch to online classes when I was first told it would be no problem to switch to online. I have been researching how many complaints are on this site, and I will also complain to the BBB and Attourney Generals office. I have numerous emails proving how many times I have to ask a question, and I get no reponse to my concerns.

The classes are going way too slow for my pace, and we are not advancing through the material because the teacher takes too much time explaining things to a student who is having a very hard time keeping up with the course. i should not have to suffer because someone else is not up to graduate level work, and the syllabus is lacking, compared to what my sister is taking to get her MBA at U of M in Ann Arbor right now.

I am willing to finish out this block, but I want to finish it online and have this 6 week kblock refunded to me in full, which is 1895. I will continue to take the class, but online only. I have written emails expressing my concern, and I am being misinformed and treated like a second-class citizen. I know my rights and I am trying to locate the CEO of Apollo Group

I am losing out financially due to the lack of service I have received up to this point. Since I have not learned anything in the first 2 classes, I want to switch to online at no charge, and have fees for this first 6 week blocked WAIVED due to the lack of organization by the instructor, and the slow pace of the class, and the lack f correct info being given to the students in the class. Too much confusion and wasting time

Terry of Saint Paul, MN March 6, 2009

A teacher was harassing me and i had to quit And now they say I owe 1243.00 and I do not owe nothing in my book

I'm mentally disable and they took advated of me.

Sheri of Costa Mesa, CA March 5, 2009

I know a lot of people who have gone through UoP so, I didn't think twice when I signed up. However, I quickly discovered that many of the complaints on this website appear to be true. I signed up for the bachelor's of nursing program which is very expensive ... nearly 500 per credit. However, I figured it was worth the expense since I could start right away and get my degree faster than traditional university online programs. They did say the student loans might not cover all expenses but, they don't really tell you what those expenses are. However, it became clear very quickly that those expenses could be a major issue.

For instance, I was told that two textbooks would not be required for the first course and, therefore, I would not have to pay for them. However, the textbooks were required and I could not do one of the assignments without them. The reason this bothered me so much is that my husband attends CTU Online, another private college where tuition for an associate degree is nearly half of what UoP charges at only 250 per credit. While my husband does pay a 55 monthly fee ... the cost of all of his books and materials are covered.

At nearly 500 per credit with UoP, why should I have to worry about books and other expenses? I realized that I better step back and further research what I was getting into. So I decided to withdraw from UoP after just four days. Unlike traditional college, there is no drop period where you can withdraw from a course without charges. While UoP was trying to convince me to stay in the program, they also informed me that I will charged 375 just for those four days. This confirmed my decision to get out ASAP.

Online colleges tell you exactly what you're going to pay up front. UoP doesn't tell you about specific charges until you're already on the hook for the money. For the same money that UoP is charging I can attend a reputable university like Penn State and not have to worry about them constantly trying to profit from me. I've learned my lesson: there are no short cuts. If there are, there's usually a price to pay. Yes, it will take longer to get my degree but it's much better to do it through a reputable university.

375 withdrawal charge.

Denise of Fresno, CA March 4, 2009

I am enrolled in the Phoenix of University (UOP), Fresno. I was unaware of the Universities absence policy and exceed the number of absences for a six-week course. My academic counselor ignored my plea that the course syballus was missing course and university guidelines. I filed a complaint with their Dispute Dept, but they did nothing but forward my complaint back to my academic counselor. I am planning to sue in small claims court; however, I would like to join a group lawsuit against the university if there is such a group. Then there is the issue with my enrollment counselor who never returns my call unless I contact his supervisor.

I was attending University of Phoenix(UOP) when someone from the University informed the VA I was no longer attending the university. Well, to make a long story short my counselor forgot to tell me I was dropped from the university causing me to appeal the VA for mistaken enrollment. Something I believe my counselor should be doing since I was dropped. Then there is the issue with online offline courses.

I am now on a leave of absence for I don't know how long and I don't know my graduation date. My counselor stated I could take an online course without a break and now he tells me while on a break that he did not know how to enroll me in online courses. As of today, I am just sitting and waiting to hear back from my counselor who never returns my phone calls and in hopes of still graduating.

Repeated course and a missed expected graduation date.

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