I am very disappointed and hurt because of the treatment I recently received from AU.
I attended Ashford University (AU) and graduated with honors on January 09. I recently discovered several advisors had been misleading me at AU concerning the money in my account ($1170.). Vital information was kept from me and I was lied to concerning the issues and problems I recently received from AU. I have never been so disappointed, hurt, and shocked to learn this evening I will not receive my ABS Diploma after I sent the Student Records Department at Ashford University a $150.00 money order for my graduation fee. Last year I doubled
up on a class and the cost for that class came out of my disbursement. I was not advised the cost would come out of
my disbursement until I received my disbursement and I was short the cost of the class ($1170).
AU received funds on December 13th from my Federal Loans and Pell Grant.
Earlier this week Ms Johnson said I should receive the $1170.00 up to 30 days after January 17th because that was the day my graduation was verified but instead I was lied to and mislead to believe more lies several times by Nichole Johnson.
Mr. Lopex was off before our winter break began that is the only reason I spoke with several other financial advisors within the same department (some were nice but most were rude, and I received a different answer to my question about the $1170) advising me about Title IV and all the money would be sent to me but one female advisor stated I did not earn the money in my account and all the money would be sent back. I asked if I would receive my money from my college account before Christmas so I could purchase presents for my daughter; that is when another young man said he spent many Christmas without presents. On December 21st I received $771.00 that allowed me to pay some bills, buy food, and my daughter a few presents.
One week before my graduation date Ms Johnson took over my college accounts for Adrian Lopez as my financial and Nicole Fenkler my academic counselor. Less than a month before my graduation AU received funds on December 13th from my Federal Loans and Pell Grant. Again I was told I would receive the $1170.00 40-45 days after my graduation date. I was sent $771.00 on December, 21 that allowed me to pay some bills, buy food, and my daughter a few Christmas presents. I did not understand why I did not receive the $1170. Therefore, I called leaving
messages with the people Mr Lopex left on his answering machine his clients could contact while he was gone. I left
messages for the advisors but never received reply. The next day I began calling the finance department but hung up if I got an answering machine because of the winter break beginning I kept calling until I reached a person instead of an answering machine. I spoke with some people that could not answer my questions and other AU employees that answered my questions spoke rude and unprofessionally. I received a phone call from Loren Flinker informing how many times I called AU in one day trying to obtain answers to why my disbursement was short $1170.00. Also I was told by Loran Flenker that Mr. Lopez would straighten my student account when he returned from his vacation and I would receive the money I was short from my student account if I spent over 40 weeks in class in 2011. However, when the winter break was over I discovered Adrian Lopez and Loran Flenker were no longer my advisors that I had only one Ms Nichole Johnson.
In December I was told by Mr. Lopex and late December I was told by Ms Johnson I would receive a check in the mail in the amount of $1170.00 after I paid my $150.00 graduation fee and three days after the graduation fee was posted in my account at AU. The graduation fee was to be used to verify I met all the requirements to graduate including spending 40 hours or more in class without any unscheduled break (s) to receive the funds in my student account. Ms Johnson spoke to me personally on the phone informing me I spent over 40 hrs in class the past year. That is when Ms Johnson told me I could expect to receive my $1170.00,30 days after January 17th because I did earn it. Yesterday afternoon I was told I owed Ashford $803.00. However, I do not understand because legally the $150.00 graduation fee should not have been accepted by AU if I owed Ashford University $803.00. (I should have been
told then I owed $953.00). Ms Johnson advised me to send a money order to Student Records/Graduation. I asked about sending the money electronically transferring the money from my bank account (that would have only taken minutes) to my account at AU but was told to mail it.
I take my education very seriously and studied very hard to achieve my degree and maintain good grades while I kept a high GPA to ensure I am accepted by a professional college to earn my masters. The unprofessionalism and unethical practices at Ashford University will hinder enrollment date to begin earning my masters. The $1170.00 was going to be used to purchase books, office supplies and a new laptop to ensure my success in achieving my master degree.
This should not happen to me or other students because AU made the mistakes and has the audacity insisting I pay for $803.00 for their mistake and the $1170.00 will be sent back to my lenders. I cannot afford to take food off my table to pay for Ashfords $803.00 mistake.
I have learned a valuable lesson dealing with unprofessional people. I hope these issues and problems can be resolved without seeking the advice of my personal attorney, the WV Attorney General, and if these issues and problem cannot be solved I plan to go public to the national and international media with the documentation I have been keeping because I do not believe it is fare for future students and current students to be mistreated like I am.
Ashford Universitys enrollment counselors, all advisors, and superiors use positive psychology and sales pitches to pump potential new students; calling and constantly emailing prospects forgetting to disclose hidden fees, rules, and regulations.
All enrollment counselors should be honest and ethical to students online while the student taking classes because it is easier to mislead and lie to people on the phone and emails. I understand everyone has a bad day and we are all human and make mistakes but to cover up the mistakes AU made on student account was not because someone had a
bad day. Example, letting students know what to expect instead of misguiding them.AU should have advised me weeks before my graduation date about any and all changes (policy, rules, and regulations) changes when I was enrolled. It is unethical and unprofessional for my advisor/counselor Ms Johnson to wait after I graduated to advise me about AUs
mistake. The truth concerning my account as I was not treated professionally and ethically, therefore, I was lied to
about my account. I understand this is the week end and my issue will not be addressed soon as I would like. However, if I was advised about this change and mistake up front I would know what to expect eliminating theses problems and issues. I am up front with my intentions and will be contacting the WV Attorney General Monday February 6th.in addition I would like a quick response because I share my issues and problems with the international and
national media. I hope a professional from Bridgeport Education to can handle my dispute.
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