In 2006, I began a Master's of Arts in Elementary Education Program with the University of Phoenix Online. The program was suppose to take only two years, but with continual changing in academic counselors, financial aid advisors, and lose of my student files, I have yet to complete the program.
It has seemed as though whenever I was near completing the program, or thought I was near completing the program, something else came up; there was another class to take, more loans to take out, more paperwork to complete and fax, etc. And to this day, May 3, 2010, I still have not finished the program.
I have been student teaching since January 23, 2010. My end date was April 29, 2010. Today I was told by the Corporate Education Liason that as a result of collaboration that had taken place between my cooperating teacher and faculty supervisor as my field placement, I would have to retake the student teaching portion of the program.
How this decision came about still boggles me. With my livelihood now threatened and my family experiencing financial and emotional distress, I have been left lost and very confused. In 4 years, I have taken out nearly, if not more, than $40,000 in loans.
The University of Phoenix wants me to complete the program in the Spring of 2011. What does this mean? More loans and perhaps another or more classes that I will have to take. $40,000 worth of loans and now possibly more to complete a program that promised I would be done in 2 years!!!!! Teachers are being rifted all over the country and many make $40,000 or less.
Anyone have any legal advice or an attorney that could assist me? I am starting to smell a dirty rat somewhere in all of this!!!!!I have been patient witht the school and now this!!!!! I have a wife and two daughters to think about. Somebody please help me and my family!!!!!
