I graduated from AIU Online on 3/11 with a 4.0 average. I hardly feel it was worth it because the classes (Bachelor's in IT) were a joke. Some of my books are still in their plastic wrappers.
Among my experiences there were the high pressure sales tactics, lying by admissions advisors, extending the graduation date, harassment by another student, harassment by the financial aid office, dishonest professors, and every time I discovered one of my group members cheating I was chastised. AIU Online truly is a diploma factory and a cash cow for its owners.
To their (very mild) credit some admissions advisors told me to write a report on my experience and submit it for investigation. The official response was a joke. Fortunately, I have *almost everything* documented in email and I intend to turn it over to SACS. My only real advocate there has disappeared after telling me that in his opinion the official response was a joke and he was going to protest in writing. I am assuming he quit, was fired or was intimidated.
But like I said I have documentation that contradicts their official investigation. Its interesting to note that the official investigation letter contains a threat to implicate me in the cheating that I was responsible for catching in the group projects, presumably to silence me. I don't response well to threats.
Some less intelligent manager in the boiler room admissions call center bungled a mass mailing and mailed an internal document to some of the student body. I was one of the lucky recipients. Here is the body of the message:
"Good morning X - Factors, Attached you will find your call report from yesterday. This will show you exactly where you ended the day, and help you to better plan for today. Today's challenge will be for each rep to get 2 cows and increase our talk time to four plus hours per day. Acceptance meetings will be at three and six today. I look forward to seeing everyone there. Let's make it a huge day today. I know we can do it!!!
Karen Kizer
Director of Admissions
Colorado Technical University On-Line
4435 N. Chestnut Street Suite E
Colorado Springs, Co. 80907
800-416-8904 x 70093
kkizer@ctuonline. Edu"
I found it highly amusing that at some point along the way I was referred to as a "cow" by the admissions staff. I was told by my advocate (who has vanished) that cow stands for "contract on the way" though that doesn't make me feel any better. I will be submitting this document along with my other documentation to SACS.
Before I began the grievance process within AIU Online I did not know it was already on probation. I'm glad to see that SACS has recognized there is a problem and I'm hopeful they will take me seriously.
Unlike AIU Online.
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