I began thinking about going back to college in March. I was browsing the University of Phoenix web site and decided to inquire. That very night I received a phone call from an enrollment counselor, a very nice and helpful man, who answered all my questions and took all my information. The next day the enrollment counselor walked me through filing my fafsa online and my student loan applications. Great service for someone just getting started who was a little hazy on exactly what to do I thought.
It was a total of 3 days from my initial online inquiry until I was a registered student at the University of Phoenix. I did not find out until after my first courses were beginning that I was actually attending Axia College and not the University of Phoenix, but I blew that off because everyone had been so nice and so helpful.
I have not had a terribly difficult time in the last two years with the instituation as a whole. I had some courses that I felt were extremely easy and some that I felt were difficult. I have had instructors who clearly did not even read my assignments as demonstrated by the fact that I knew what mistakes I had made and yet still received all the possible points. I had instructors who fine-tooth-combed each and every assignment, nailing me on every possible error, and even one instructor who issued me failing grades on opinion based assignments when she did not agree with my opinion. I chalked up this up to the college experience because some teachers and courses are always going to be more difficult than others. Call me naive... I have not experienced any technical difficulties in my two years; I have never had to contact technical support. I have handled my work load, my full-time job, and my sons' many activities all in stride knowing that one day I will have a diploma in hand and that it will better my life and my sons' life.
Currently I hold a 3.2 GPA, not outstanding, but I worked hard for that in at least 2/3 of my courses; and I am three weeks from my graduation date. The problem? Well, three weeks ago the university made a decision to make two of the COM courses that I have already completed equivalent to each other meaning that I will not get the 3 credit hours I earned for them, yet I am still out the 9 weeks of my life and the $885.00 I paid for the course. I submitted a letter of appeal to my academic counselor, who seemed genuinely sorry for what was happening to me. I waited approximately a week and sent a follow up email to which I received an automatic response informing me that she was no longer my academic counselor and who to contact. Ok... Now I am a bit concerned but I email the person indicated and send him a copy of my appeals letter along with the auto response I got from my previous counselor urging me to contact him. I wait a few days, nothing. I call and leave 2 voice mails, nothing. Finally I send a strongly worded email to both counselors letting them know that even though the decision was not theirs', I deserved, and expected to be communicated with. The next day I received communication from both of them in the form of emails assuring me that my appeals letter is being processed and that they will inform me as soon as a decision is reached.
It has been a week since the email correspondance and I have heard nothing. I emailed both couselors again and let them know that I will not tolerate being strung along by the appeals committee unitl after my graduation date has passed and that I wanted the name of the Affirmative Action Representative for the University. I assured them that I appreciate the efforts that they may be making on my behalf and that my displeasure was not with them, but that I now wish to go over them to the Affirmative Action Representative so that I can receive the credits I worked for and graduate on time. Today I received an email from the first counselor, the one who is no longer my counselor, saying that she knows how important this is to me that it be settled in a timely manner and assuring me that appeals decisions can take a few weeks but she will let me know as soon as she hears anything. Ironically ommitting the information I specifically requested... A name. I don't hate Axia or UoP, I don't want refunds or to slander anyone. What I want is to graduate. I have earned it! I fulfilled my requirements based on the program I entered into and I do not deserve to suffer for recent decisions made by the University. If they take those credits away from me I have no choice but to take another course thereby extracting another thousand dollars and two months out of my life. There are laws that protect students from program changes this close to graduation and I need any information I can get on what those might be.
I am seeking the name of the Affirmative Action Representative currently on staff for Axia College of University of Phoenix as well as current student rights laws. Any information would be greatly appreciated. I just want to finish up and get out of this program as I realize that I have wasted two years of my life on a degree that will most likely be laughable to my potential employers, but nonetheless, I worked for it and I refuse to be stopped short.
God's Richest Blessings,
Christina
Mineral Wells, Texas
U.S.A.
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