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Greetings,I'd like to add to the realization that the University of Phoenix conducts unethical and unprofessional operations, which leaves a student vulnerable to rapid failure in their courses.
Let me start by acknowledging that I am presently a student of the University of Phoenix - Online Campus. I enrolled back in April 2008, as I was eager to pursue a rewarding degree in these tough economical times. My course of study is in IT.
I was lead to believe, by an enrollment counselor of the University of Phoenix/Axia College, that the course that I was interested in, deeply involved my career pursuit. I relied on my enrollment counselor to sort of "coach" me into taking the right path to substantiate my course of study and my career goals (big mistake).
After lengthy paperwork, heavy processing and identification delays, I was finally admitted. It took about a month for all of the requested paperwork to be processed, as the University of Phoenix/Axia College treated me like a criminal with a record. I was forced to go through extensive measures to prove my identity (and this was beyond normal measures of driver's license and social security card). I do understand the concern for potential fraud, but believe me when I tell you that I was very thorough in presenting my information to the University of Phoenix from the very beginning. I have always been good with organization and providing hard documentation.
Prior to my being admitted, my enrollment counselor advised me of the "financing options" of my education. I was reluctant to pay for the course up front, due to my not being able to afford it. Like most people, I took the financial aid avenue to pay for my tuition. I chose Sallie Mae as my financing option.
In conjunction to my financial aid, I was told by my enrollment counselor that I was eligible for a grant as well. The grant was said to allow me to pay for some of my schooling (books and such), as well as living expenses, since I would be attending the online campus. I figured, "Great, it could have proven financially difficult for me to sustain school otherwise." I live alone and I have no assistance from anyone. Therefore, I have been pretty much forced into a life of being independent and truly earning a living.
I explained all of this to my enrollment counselor, as she seemed to sympathize with my situation (I now realize that it was just an act to get me to enroll). The enrollment counselor assured me that they would make certain that I was properly enrolled and that I would receive the promised grant, to assist me throughout my schooling with the University of Phoenix/Axia College. I unfortunately fell for it, and things quickly began to turn around for the worst...
After my successful enrollment, I began my classes around the end of April or beginning of May. I received my first block of classes and I endured my first nine weeks of two classes that I was setup to take at a time. I was never initially consulted about my taking two classes at a time, so this was one of my first negative experiences in a series of them.
It was a struggle for me to keep up with all of the work for two classes at once...especially the classroom "Discussion Questions," that each student is "required" to participate in, or it will affect their grade. Also, the instructors were very distant with supporting me as a student and truly being there for me and my new experience with online schooling. When I sought guidance and assistance from instructors, I would be given answers that I didn't understand. When I would attempt to get clarity, I would be directed to a "course syllabus," (which many times proved to be vague) or I didn't receive a response at all. Of course, time would pass and I would end up being "hard-pressed" to get my schoolwork completed and turned in to avoid loss of points against my grade. This became a daily and typical classroom actuality. It was to my understanding, that an instructor is supposed to assist a student with understanding what the student is learning; that's the traditional student and teacher/instructor relationship. What are they really being paid for if an instructor insn't completely helping a student with learning?
I found out the hard way how non-caring and unconcerned a good majority of instructors are in connection with students. I soon discovered that all of the responsibility of understanding the class, materials, assignments, policies, etc, ultimately falls on the student. How's that for a setup of an accredited education institute? Well, at least I've been learning something of real value...The University of Phoenix/Axia College is a scam that seems to evolve only around monetary gain and playing a numbers game with students. If one student fails because of the harsh policies and procedures that are implement to work against the students of the University of Phoenix/Axia College, then there will be other unsuspecting students waiting in line to get in and the process starts all over again.
The harsh policies for students of the University of Phoenix/Axia College can easily cause a student to be "dropped" from the course, while the school still tries to hold a student liable for schooling costs for the entire cost of the course. The enrollment counselor, academic counselor and other staff then "team up" and make an extreme effort to make the student suffer a burden of responsibility, regardless of what the student may be experiencing in their real life.
I encountered some unfortunate events in my life, which caused my Internet to be turned-off for a considerable amount of time, I oftentimes had trouble with the virtual classroom (i.e. applications not opening, student assignment and research sites being inoperative, instructors not responding to posted threads and all types of other things). On top of everything, I worked full-time. There was even a death in the family most recently, that was treated by my enrollment counselor, academic counselor and other staff, as if they could care less and that I still needed to maintain my classes and assignments, or be "failed." It seems that no room was even being allowed to mourn for the loss of a loved one. It has been horrible...
These circumstances are not supposed to be held against a student. However, it is most likely somewhere "worded" in their policies that a student has to accept all of the responsibility of such occurances. Therefore, no matter what a student reports, to justify a late assignment, PC downtime, faulty assignment applications, a death in the family or whatever, the University of Phoenix/Axia College will still try to make the student take all of the responsibility. I find this to be one of the worse scams out there.
After lengthy battles with my enrollment counselor, academic counselor and even instructors, they all seemed to know how to come together and support each other to ultimately "blame" me, even though I experienced poor treatment, continous frustration due to lack of support and my potential failure of class. I again found out the hard way, that there is no real support once a person becomes and official student of the University of Phoenix. The rules and policies of the University of Phoenix/Axia College are setup to completely "abandon" a student once they are enrolled. The sad part is students that are enrolled are paying thousands of dollars of tuition fees and book costs (even though it's all online), only to be abandoned.
Another reality, is that once these con-artists have all of a student's personal information, they try to take advantage of a student. They use threats of the student potentially being dropped from their course and still having to pay back the student loans. They also use threats of the student potentially not being allow to apply for financial aid again in the future, or for a considerable amount of time (years).
I honestly wish I never got involved with the University of Phoenix/Axia College. The staff of the University of Phoenix have proven to be focused only on getting their money from a student and they do not care if the student fails.
The bottom-line is, they've done their job by fooling a student into enrolling, and once this is accomplished, they can potentially manipulate any of the students' issues, concerns or problems to their financial gain and advantage.
I'm sure I am not the only one who has experienced the University of Phoenix/Axia College scam. Hopefully, others can read this and learn from the experiences of myself, and others, who fell for this scam. I urge a potential student to stay away from the University of Phoenix/Axia College, as they do not truly care about their students, nor do they really care about the success of their students. I say this with confidence, and even though there may be some good staff or maybe even good operations of the University of Phoenix, their predominant operation is to make money off of a student and move on to the next.
I hope to take part in a class-action law suit against the University of Phoenix/Axia College, to get my life back from the University of Phoenix. I made an unwise investment into their scam. I simply want out of the University of Phoenix/Axia College, without the loss of my financial aid (or future financial aid), and definately without any penalty or financial loss against me.
I will be initiating an email mini-broadcast to some of the executives of the University of Phoenix/Axia College. My email will address my concerns and it will request immediate resolve. If I come across anything worthwhile for others, who have experienced this scam, I will gladly update you on this site.
Consequences:
The emotional damage that I have suffered as a student of the University of Phoenix/Axia College, and potential financial damage that I could suffer from the student loans that are tied to my foolishly schooling with the University of Phoenix/Axia College, has been overwhelming. Now the student loans show on my credit report and could potentially affect my credit if it's not resolved properly. This is how many companies, institutions, etc, attempt to control individuals. No one wants bad credit, and unfortunately, the credit system is a system that is pitting economical difficulty against consumers. The credit system is becoming more and more popular with controlling and labeling consumers.
 Comments (26) |  |
| 1. Written by brandon, on 03-11-2009 04:57 anyone who has gone to UOP/axia online....have you recieved the extra grant money in a check like they say you do? I need to know asap |
| 2. Written by Nada Zahr, on 28-10-2009 21:19 I had a Master's Degree from the University of Phoenix with a GPA of 4.0 and they were the most supportive, and helpful people I have ever dealt with. Thank you UOP! |
| 3. Written by Bayou Man, on 27-10-2009 17:07 It is sad that people are taken in by the hype that Phoenix generates about earning a degree on line in a few years. Trust me, although you may learn something by taking their courses, this is not college. Do not expect a business or an accredited university to recognize the degree or even grant credit for any of their courses. |
| 4. Written by Katherine, on 27-10-2009 13:25 This is really so funny, obviously this isn't a real school... the funny part is that only people who are so dumb and undereducated would fall for something like this |
| 5. Written by Bridget, on 18-10-2009 13:07 I am currently enrolled at the University of Phoenix-axia also, I have attended about 10 days. I was wondering if anyone knows if I am able to get out? I got concerned after my friend told me that no companies accept the degree from this "University". Am I able to get out of this without owing money? I am experiencing the same thing with trying to withdrawl, I have let them know I want to withdrawl and nobody is getting back to me. Not to mention, their tuition is more than a great 4 year college. My sister went to KU and didnt spend this much per year! |
| 6. Written by Angel, on 29-07-2009 14:43 The university of phoenix is an awesome experience, however only for those actually wating to learn, what kind of idiot thinks they can get by with taking only one class at a time using financail aid? The governement is helping you, you have to do your part. And as it is for any college it is the students repsonsibility to handle thier own. We are adults now, we dont need someone to hold our hand. At least I would assume every one signing into college is an adult. If you cant take repsonisbility for your own paperwork and classes maybe you should ask mommy to hold your hand. |
| 7. Written by wrkngirl, on 26-07-2009 13:58 The classes did not really brother myself: however when I was checking on line classes I was straight up with as they like to say my coach and councilor, I have a muscle disablity and on S.S.I I was able to do what the doctors said never could be done which was get out of the wheel chair and off the many strong medicines. I wanted classed for a crises social worker. I was told straight out if I had a relaspe and had to take time off it would not effect my attendance, grades, or finicial ad since it was a disablity. This was a total lie, for a year my grades were above adverage and I was doing great till my muscles started reacting negatively and affected my work, I was in the hospital which resulted in two failing grades plus I had to drop my next two classes which they are now tring to make me pay for I am seeking legal advise if they can not work with someone on disablity they should not be able to accept anyone who is on S.S.I. |
| 8. Written by wrkngirl, on 26-07-2009 13:58 The classes did not really brother myself: however when I was checking on line classes I was straight up with as they like to say my coach and councilor, I have a muscle disablity and on S.S.I I was able to do what the doctors said never could be done which was get out of the wheel chair and off the many strong medicines. I wanted classed for a crises social worker. I was told straight out if I had a relaspe and had to take time off it would not effect my attendance, grades, or finicial ad since it was a disablity. This was a total lie, for a year my grades were above adverage and I was doing great till my muscles started reacting negatively and affected my work, I was in the hospital which resulted in two failing grades plus I had to drop my next two classes which they are now tring to make me pay for I am seeking legal advise if they can not work with someone on disablity they should not be able to accept anyone who is on S.S.I. |
| 9. Written by Fair guy, on 28-06-2009 01:02 Smcleo1982 and Steve-O You people are really sick! |
| 10. Written by Liz, on 31-05-2009 12:25 I don't totally agree with with UOP does, but people let's be honest with ourselves. Any school that you go to you are going to have to work hard as *** to earn that degree. I went to a state school and had to take 6 classes one semester and 5 every other semester. I was writing 20-30 page papers at 19 or 20 years old, and my professors didn't give a *** what happened in my life, I just better had turned my assignment in. Many universities are incorporating learning teams into their cirriculums because of the nature of today's workplace environment. To the original poster, if your student loans are on your credit report, you need to contact your lender, Sallie Mae. Their number is 888-272-5543. They put that on your credit, not the school. I'm sorry about your experience, but we can't blame other people for when we don't read policies and procedures. The complaint that you were rushed thru the policies will not hold up in any court of law. Many of the people on this website have illegitimate issues. People want to blame the school for their lack of follow-up. You're an adult now, you have to take some responsibility for your won actions, or lack thereof. I wish you better luck next time, but remember that you need to read ALL literature that your signature goes on. Whoever is sitting there with you can wait until you fully understand what you are doing. Call Sallie Mae and see if you can get an economic hardship deferment, or a forbearance. For the loans being on your credit report, your beef is with Sallie Mae, not the school. Now the school was wrong for not telling you everything, but keep in mind that all of that was in the forms that you signed electronically. I'm sorry. |
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