I attended American Intercontinental University (AIU) Los Angeles camps back in I was shown the campus and given reading material that reflected AIU's student success rate and was also told AIU worked hard and diligently on assisting students with job placements as well as offering "hands on" training. I was given a contract that explained these things. Never did it mention nor was I told this "School" had the right to increase tuition at any time and as many times as they wanted. I took classes and maintained a high GPA. The school was placed on accademic probation and I was very concerned because after all - every student that attended this place knows how hight the tuition fees are. I did not want to pay for courses taken at a school that was borderline losing accreditation. I immediatley went to the president of accademics to explain to them that I wanted to take classes at a community college during the time the school was on probation. They refused to release my transcripts and stated I could not transfer anywhere. They then began to try to calm me down while they looked through my then current courses and grades and realized I had been given the wrong course types 2 quarted in a row. I -before beginning the classes - realized this as well and spoke to my counselor—an AIU counselor— only to be told the classes I was taking were the exact ones I needed. After I was told I was correct by the vice president of accademics I grew even more upset. It was then that the vice president of accademics apologized and offered me $5k worth in free classes IF I STAYED. I felt extremeley uncomfortable and walked out. I registered at a community college and proceeded to take the remaining classes I had to take and I was waiting for the probation status to be cleared. One year later the school's accademic probation was not removed—but extended.
A year later the inevitable happened—AIU announced they would be closing the AIU - Los Angeles campus. Existing students were allowed to stay and obtain their "Degree". But no new enrollments would be accepted.instead of AIU resolving all accademic issues, they decided it was best to dodge all lawsuits and close the school.
I was then faced with calls from Sallie Mae, the loans I took out to pay for AIU classes were almost due and I had not yet obtained my degree. These circumstances not only affected me emotionally and financially but my health was now deterriorating. I had severe anxiety attacks, insomnia, and depression. Before attending AIU I was extremely goal oriented and was looking forward to a great career, but as more time elapsed and as I spoke to more and more affected students reality struck. I would be faced with enourmous debt caused by AIU and I would have to pay that as well as take all classes again—which meant accumulating more debt and most importantly I would have to face the fact that all 3 years I spent at AIU had gone to waste. I have made many atempts to speak to anyone at AIU and get an explanation not only for myself, but for other students affected as well. I have been to the L. A campus recently only to have to wait for hours and later be told no one is avaialable to speak with me. I have called Sallie Mae to explain my situaltion— after all, AIU did reach a $12 million dollar settlement with students admitting they lied to lure them in. Sallie Mae had not comments.
I looked over the settlement paperwork—because I was part of this lawsuit—but I Opted out. Why? Because after 4 years of bieng lied to and bieng taken advantage of by this institution I did not feel it was best for me to settle for whatever they thought I deserved. I spoke to the attourneys that handled the case and was told I would probably get $1000 at the most because I was not a current student. After explaining my situation and what had prompted me to leave the school I was told by the attourney herself that I would probably not get anything back at all.
This is what I have had to deal with for 4 years. Through all of the turmoil, I have decided to not stop fighting for what is rightfully mine&but I am not working for myself only. I am working with many former AIU students.
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