I enrolled in the University of Phoenix about 2 months ago. I decided to enroll in a BA program that would take about 3 years. I figured this was my only option given I live in a city that does not have a major university nearby, and I'm also on a tight income.
I also own a Mac computer, I for one have been tired of the problems of PC's, and having to deal with the headaches of all the issues with PC's. I know that some things are not compatible with a Mac, and I asked my enrollment counselor named "Steve" I believe his name was, and he told me that it was not going to be a problem. Mac was compatible with their systems, and I also owned a brand new iMac which has OSX, and everything is current.
Come to find out about a week into the courses I took, it was not compatible. The Mac systems could not access the sylabus, or anything related to the course materials area of each class' web area. I made a complaint, and Steve said he'd just e-mail me everything that I needed. I asked why I could access it, and then to find out, Steve went back on what he told me, and that tech support was also on the line to tell me that it was not compatible after all... But that it soon would be, or when they had some system that went back down or they had issues with was going to come back up.
For the 9 weeks, I managed to bounce between my computer, and my roommate's computer which is Windows based. I was able to complete discussions over my computer, and post to the newsgroups where the assignments are due. Anything that required PDF reading required me to access my roommate's windows based computer because the course materials are in a seperate section that do not open if you are using a Mac. There were cases of assignments that would not post in the proper areas, and there was once where my post was not even made, and my instructor told me that I was going to be failed on the assignment. When I assured her that I did it, I posted it once more. I made a post from my roommate's computer into a private newsgroup that ended up going into a public newsgroup instead. I also noticed that accessing certain assignments I posted through my roommate's computer would not show up on my Mac, or vice versa.
At the end of the 9 weeks, a term paper was due. I completed the term paper as per the university's requirements, and it was due on 6/18. I had done a majority of the writing of my report on my roommate's computer, and backed it up to a CD-R with each revision that I made. The paper was one that took several weeks to write, and one that I worked very hard on utilizing the university's library, and draining myself finding the resources on. I posted the assignment as I was told on 6/18. And I had another paper due in my other class which also got posted.
On Monday 6/19, I went in during the evening to check and see if anything was posted yet. I got told by my instructor that the paper did not post, and that I failed the assignment. I was also not allowed to hand it in because she would not accept it beyond the due date.
After many choice words got screamed into the air, I went back on my roommate's computer, and posted it once more explaining the situation. My instructor refused to help me, and told me to contact my academic advisor.
I called tech support, but as I learned before, they are pretty much worthless. And then I called my advisor as of this morning 6/20, and I was told that I can't even file a grade appeal, that my failing grade after not turning in the assignment would mean that I'd have to take the course over again. I pretty much knew that also means that I'd also have to pay for the failed course because the government who gave me my student loan will not cover it. I got to hear a lot of the "S" word, sorry.
Because of this college's technical problems, and because of they refuse to do anything to help me, I'm out 700-900 dollars, and my hard work through 9 weeks is not accounted for all because of a stupid computer glitch, and the fact I was told that their systems are reliable, and would support my own computer.
After being told about this website, I was shocked to see that other people have been screwed by the University as well. And I guess it's safe to say that if you know anyone that wants to attend this University, tell them to save their money... Because this university seems to want to tell you anything to get you in, even to the point where their admissions counselors lie. When I told my admissions counselor that I wasn't happy about the fact I was lied to, all he could offer was an apology. The same with my academic advisor who told me she was sorry. They're full of sorry, but with no action afterward, leaving you screwed.
Brian
Desert Hot Springs, California
U.S.A.
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