I was employed at BCTI for a little over 7 months.in Fife and in Tacoma. Things were noticably "different" right away. I thought it was a cult at first what, with all the talk of 80% of the employees all attending the same church, including one of the owners. I also noticed the convincing nature of the employees. They try to almost immediately frame your mind around the "mission" and how enrollments equal keeping your job.
I worked as a Funding Specialist and saw students come in on a daily basis who could not afford to attend BCTI. If the Federal Loan system wasn't so forgiving and willing to work with students I would not have reccomended the program for anyone. BCTI was/is good at convincing the "good" employees (non-church members) that the students who didn't make it into a career didn't put out the proper effort. I am sorry I ever half way believed in that school. I did think we were making a difference.
I actually got repremanded for being too personal with the students and caring beyond my duty. What do they expect? I wasn't going to lie to them. If I didn't feel the program was a good fit for them then or ever I told them. Just before I was "transitioned out" BCTI started to faulter in lue of the ever flowing rumors. BCTI started to enroll other than ideal students... And for me to say that compared to who they already enrolled is difficult. The final draw for me was the LEVEL 3 CHILD SEX OFFENDER. It is the law that the students, staff and employees be notified of such an offender being on the premises. I was told by another Funding Specialist because I have a child who visited me at work occassionally. She said she was told not to disscuss it with anyone but that she had a right to tell me.
I thanked her and was extremly upset about the betrayal for numbers! At the next Wednesday "huttle" I exploded. Someone mentioned his name and they were having problems recalling who he was... I blurted out the molester. I was told that we were not going to disscuss this any further and that I was not to worry about it. They said he had rights to be there. Not even concerened about my rights or the rights of the students and staff, especially when students sometimes bring in their children to class.
One week later I was "transitioned out" their words. Regrettably and it was a very hard decsion and even a tear in his eye??? Yea, I think the decsion would have been somewhat easier if I had kept my mouth shut. Their were four funders at BCTI. One worked her but off and couldn't keep up because she was taken advantage of... So I worked my butt off to cover my work and what ever she needed help with so noone could talk bad about her. One who thought the world revolved around him (church memeber) and was allowed to do his college work at work instead of helping the rest of us who were working so hard. He was never available (always an excuse to go home) he wasn't faithfull (at least two job interviews attended on company time, not to mention using office resources to apply for jobs ie: fax, computer etc) he wasn't trustworthy (lied right to our faces about changes coming that he knew of) He wasn't teachable cuz he is always right! He wasn't enjoyable (he never wanted to do any work after all the attention shifted away from him) and responsible? Not unless it made him look good. Of course all of this was ok and made it a "hard decsion" who to "transition out".
The real kick in the face was when the unemployment office (w/out dening my benefits, nice try BCTI jerks) sent me a copy of the letter about my release of employment. They said I was discharged for not perfoming as expected or up to their expectations... Wonder if those were the VP's words who also told me when she moved me from Fife to Tacoma that I was doing so well I was like the top NBA draft pick? I guess after more closly observing me I wasn't quiet the "mission" driven saint she thought? I had a real hard time putting on a false face ever morning and playing their game.
Don't get me wrong I had plenty of opportunities to "come to church".in fact even had a sit down about how the "church" could maybe help my situation in life. Subliminal message perhaps? Boy was I blind.
I really feel sorry for the students who would confide in me on a daily basis and one day I was just gone. I think I made a difference in more than one of their lives and I hope that they are all doing well. I hope they know that their were people at BCTI who weren't fake and who did care for them. When they let you go at BCTI they try to usher you out like all of a sudden you don't have the right to be there and I wouldn't let them. Maybe that is why they sent the bad report to the UE office. I have a lot of questions I'm sure will never get answered
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