University Of Phoenix, Honolulu Campus
I wasn't given a midterm, received an incomplete final evaluation, and was flunked for not speaking loudly during student teaching

Throughout my longer than anticipated and convoluted experience at the University of Phoenix, I had several strange, less than professional incidents occur with various administrative, teaching, and financial staff at the UoP; Honolulu Campus. One example of an experience with the financial department: I had been waiting for word from my academic advisor as to whether I would be required to take an upcoming course (so that I would know if I needed to pay for the course or not). One day before the course began, the financial dept. Threatened to report me to the Credit Bureau if I did not pay immediately. Not wanting UoP to give me bad credit, I paid the $1,500.

The following day I learned that I did not need the course. I asked for my money to be refunded. UoP replied they could not do that since I was enrolled and proceeded to give me an F for a course that I never attended and was not even required to attend. But this, the fact that I did about 90% of the work for my learning team (teachers dismissed my concerns re: this matter), and other incidents pale in comparison to my final experience with UoP as I worked toward my Masters in Elementary Education.

I went through my student teaching experience an unprecedented three times (Spring Fall and Fall 2007). My first Cooperating Teacher had raging hormones due to a recent hysterectomy - my supervisor ignored my concerns re: this very strange, unprofessional experience. My teacher PROMISED that I could complete my seminar with her if I ended this stressful student teaching experience. She said that she had connections as she had taught at UoP for a long time. I believed her, and the following Monday I was promptly dropped, given an F, and told I had to retake the seminar and re-do my student teaching in the fall semester.

My second Cooperating Teacher wanted to quit teaching, had me write papers for her portfolio on a nightly basis so that she could get another job, and offered me No feedback/learning experience. My supervisor shrugged this off when I told her. However, after a meeting with the Chairperson of the Education Dept., President of UoP; Honolulu Campus, and my supervisor it was decided I would be given a chance to re-do my student teaching the following semester. (Extending this to one and a half years of student teaching - should be done in 10 weeks.) During my final student teaching practicum experience, the chairperson acted as my supervisor. She did not at any time give me a midterm evaluation, did not review much of the detailed work that a student teacher is obligated to perform, and her final evaluation of me was incomplete.

With 37 credits completed, and two weeks left until my graduation date, the chairperson / supervisor dismissed me from the University of Phoenix! She flunked me on the grounds that I did not speak loudly, surmising that all of my students were not engaged in all of my lessons. I admit that I was very nervous when she was there as I had developed a sinking feeling about this school.in fact, it is safe to say that I have never experienced more anxiety in a school situation than during this time with the University of Phoenix. However, her assessment was ridiculous. If this supervisor had only looked at my students work, noted their responses to my questions, reviewed all of my work, she would not have been able to make such assertions.

I filed a letter with the UoPs appeals board. They simply stated that since I did not finish my student teaching, I flunked. What are they talking about? I flunked because this supervisor refused to assess me completely and accurately. After receiving their response, I spoke with the president of UoP; Honolulu Campus. He reiterated the supervisors negative comments, told me that I couldnt take criticism, but most importantly, gave me no clear answers as to why my supervisor was not required to follow standard procedures and assess me accurately. I would think the heads of an education department would be concerned with accurate assessment.

After $25,000, an A - average (and that includes the three Fs thrown my way the two Fs mentioned above plus the F that I received for failing my third student teaching practicum), two weeks left until my MAED should have been completed, I am back to substitute teaching, wondering how the Department of Education feels about qualified teachers being thrown away. Time to write a letter to the Higher Learning Commission, Department of Education, the Attorney Generals Office, and other consumer organizations, and make certain that I join class action lawsuits against the University of Phoenix. Hopefully, we will be able to retrieve our expenses and shed some light on the horrendous actions being made at this school so that others are not treated as shabbily as those of us that have experienced the ineptitude of the University of Phoenix.

Leah
Honolulu, Hawaii
U.S.A.

Company: University Of Phoenix, Honolulu Campus
Country: USA
State: Hawaii
City: Honolulu
Address: 1188 Fort Street Mall
Phone: 8085362686

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