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Report: #251835

Complaint Review: AIU Online - Hoffman Estates Illinois

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  • Reported By: Hartselle Alabama
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  • AIU Online aiu-online.com Hoffman Estates, Illinois U.S.A.

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I worked with an advsior from this school on getting enrolled in the AA in Business Administration program for about a month and was "reminded" several times that they were "fully accredited by SACS". Luckily for me, I decided one day about 2 weeks ago that I wanted to do a little research to see what previous students thought of their time with AIU. Needless to say, what I found was not good. There were a few students who say that they have no complaints but for the most part the reviews were very bad. This site is actually what led me to find out that their accreditation is actually on probabtion. I made the decision then to withdraw from their school before classes started. I have talked to 4 different people (including my oh so helpful advisor) and was assured by all 4, (after trying to convince me that they are 100% sure that their accreditation will be fully reinstated in December), that I would be completely with drawn from their system with 24 hours and would NOT be liable for any charges. The first time I was told this was about a week and a half ago. I am still receiving e-mails from them stating that I should "Be ready to start class" on June 3rd. That is tomorrow. I have spoken with them again today (5th time) and was once again assured that it would all be taken care of and the I would be withdrawn within 24 hours. 24 hours from when???? I also informed the lady that I spoke with today that if it is not taken care of, I will be contacting SACS as well as my lawyer. My advice to anyone considering this school is to STAY AWAY!!! FAR AWAY!!! They are crooked and dishonest. I will be doing a lot more research before I make a decision as to what school I will be going to in the future. I was just lucky enough that I found out before actually starting classes. Some people have not been.

Cindy
Hartselle, Alabama
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 06/02/2007 09:19 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/aiu-online/hoffman-estates-illinois/aiu-online-american-intercontinental-university-online-dishonest-pracitces-did-not-inf-251835. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
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#9 Consumer Suggestion

(CEC owns AIU) CEC representaives clog ripoffreport with rebutals that have no merit. read the CBS investigation into CEC

AUTHOR: Chuck Heinsberg - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, December 10, 2007

CEC which owns AIU is being investigated by news stations, educational department, federal government and being sued by their students and faculy.

What dependable college get sued by their students and facult???

CEC schools including AIU are traded on the NASDAQ under CECo. What college wants their future riding on the NYSE?

This isn't a good thing to say the least. CEC has been ripping students off for years now and they are walking a fine line which looks to be breaking.

Check out the CBS investigation we have into CEC and many other investigations and reports from prior students. These reports you can't rebute and clog with with nonsense from CEC representatives. CEC schools are running for profit chopshops.

(All these reports can't lie)

facebook: (((link redacted)))

myspace: (((link redacted)))

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

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#8 UPDATE Employee

American InterContinental University...Sound Off!!

AUTHOR: Sharon - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, October 30, 2007

My comments about AIU are simply this school is NOT a SCAM!!!! They care about trying to help people who want to go to school and can not go to a physical campus either because the nearest school is far away, or their schedule would not permit or maybe a person did poorly in school and would not be able to go to an IVY League school or a BIG TEN school because of poor grades or poor choices in their past. The Advisors call because they received a request . If you are home and they call several times a day then wouldn't make since to pick up the phone and find out why they are calling? If they are calling and asking for someone else that does not live there, instead of getting angry with the advisor, some person thought it was funny to put a fake name and your number in their system and submit it to the school. They do not call people at random to bother them; they call because they were given information to call a person who requested info on the school. The only way I know to stop a ringing phone is to pick it up...if you can not really talk, tell them. If there is a better time for them to reach you...tell them. Here's an idea...take their name and number and call them back so they can get out the information to you. It is call being proactive with your education!

Also, AIU has sister schools that uses the same numbers as AIU, so please be aware, you may think you are talking with AIU or being contacted by AIU and it could be CTU calling as well using the same phone lines. Also, they have several campuses and other school sites might call as well. This might have changed because the schools are always trying to update their system. I hope this helps.

Oh and by the way, the school's Accreditation is through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) one of the nations oldest Accredited Body. And it is Regional. Also, please go to the SACS site and or recent articles about the school, yes, we are on probation, however, SACS do not have any further reccommendations for AIU to take action on, so your advisor was telling you the truth when they said, "we feel confident we will be off of probation." In addition to the comment about the emails, they are automated, as advisors we do not have control over all emails that are sent to the student, the system will send emails automatically... I know it can be a pain to receive emails from the school, but trust me...your advisor does not have control over most emails being sent to you and probably not aware they are being sent until you let them know. My students tell me about emails, sent from the school with my name and number attached that I am not aware of because the system is set up to do that. It is only to keep in mind that even though you did not pursuit your education at that time it is not too late and we are willing to work with you... that's all. I hope that added some clarity.

In addtion, I have read about our school using scripts...yes, we do. This industry is highly regulated and to prevent an advisor going off and telling the student or the applicant the wrong thing and just make up stuff, we have scripts to keep us on track and as a tool and guide so we know how to assist our students the best way while staying in compliance with regulations. I don't hide anything from my students! Before we have our second interview, I tell them to do their research, so I can address their questions and concerns the best student is an educated student. I am confident AIU will come off probation! It is a great company to work for and they really want to help people get an education that might have not been available before. I am very proud of the work we do, and it is a very, very hard job. I am an admissions advisor, not a sales person. Old culture was more sales, new culture is service and providing the best service to help people with their educational and career goals.

My students love going to school and what they learn and how they learn. I am an advisor and I truly care about my students, and they value their education as I value their education along with them. I call people day in and day out not to be screamed at, cursed out or even hung up onI call because there is a single mom who have no way out of their financial situation but to go to school and want to ear their degree on their time and still spend time with their family. I call men who have seen their promotions slip through their hands again because they do not have a degree. I call young men and women in the military who are serving our country and can not earn their degree at a physical campus while in Iraq but want the degree before getting out. My job is very hard, and sometimes unforgivingbut if I can help someone earn their degree in a shorter time than it took me (8 years without an advisor) and the smiles and gratitude that now they qualify for that new job or they are doing what they always wanted to do because they have their degree or just having the confidence they have achieved something to be proud of; Then I can say it is worth it. For all that read this and would like to contact me to get enrolled into school, my number is 1-877-701-3800 x27181. I look forward to helping you make your goals and dreams come true.

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#7 Author of original report

FYI Geoff

AUTHOR: Cindy - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, September 20, 2007

I did look at the SACS and BBB websites and neither one had any information pertaining to AIU to make me change my impression of the school. As a matter of fact, the SACS website was the first place I went after I heard that the accreditation was on probation. I wanted to make sure it wasn't just a rumor started by a disgruntled ex student or employee. There it was in black in white. All true. They may very well be removed from probabtion in December but I for one am not at all willing to take the chance that they won't.

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#6 Author of original report

Enrollment cancelled FINALLY

AUTHOR: Cindy - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, September 20, 2007

I finally received notice that my enrollment with AIU online had been cancelled completely about 2 weeks ago. It's about time!! I was informed by the "Advisor" that I spoke with that I would not owe the school anything and would not be bothered. Well, as of today, they have kept their word. Time will tell if the continues to be true. I thought I would NEVER get them to stop calling to find out why I had decided to withdraw form their school and had to threaten harrasment charges to get the point across to them that I didn't want them to call. Anyway, hopefully my AIU nightmare is finally over.

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#5 Author of original report

Enrollment cancelled FINALLY

AUTHOR: Cindy - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, September 20, 2007

I finally received notice that my enrollment with AIU online had been cancelled completely about 2 weeks ago. It's about time!! I was informed by the "Advisor" that I spoke with that I would not owe the school anything and would not be bothered. Well, as of today, they have kept their word. Time will tell if the continues to be true. I thought I would NEVER get them to stop calling to find out why I had decided to withdraw form their school and had to threaten harrasment charges to get the point across to them that I didn't want them to call. Anyway, hopefully my AIU nightmare is finally over.

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#4 Author of original report

Enrollment cancelled FINALLY

AUTHOR: Cindy - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, September 20, 2007

I finally received notice that my enrollment with AIU online had been cancelled completely about 2 weeks ago. It's about time!! I was informed by the "Advisor" that I spoke with that I would not owe the school anything and would not be bothered. Well, as of today, they have kept their word. Time will tell if the continues to be true. I thought I would NEVER get them to stop calling to find out why I had decided to withdraw form their school and had to threaten harrasment charges to get the point across to them that I didn't want them to call. Anyway, hopefully my AIU nightmare is finally over.

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#3 Author of original report

Enrollment cancelled FINALLY

AUTHOR: Cindy - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, September 20, 2007

I finally received notice that my enrollment with AIU online had been cancelled completely about 2 weeks ago. It's about time!! I was informed by the "Advisor" that I spoke with that I would not owe the school anything and would not be bothered. Well, as of today, they have kept their word. Time will tell if the continues to be true. I thought I would NEVER get them to stop calling to find out why I had decided to withdraw form their school and had to threaten harrasment charges to get the point across to them that I didn't want them to call. Anyway, hopefully my AIU nightmare is finally over.

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#2 UPDATE Employee

Do complete research, don't just read one website

AUTHOR: Geoff - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, June 20, 2007

I am an employee and a student of AIU. I will be the first to say that some of the issues from 2004 and previous were probably an exaggeration, but at least close to the truth. There is a reason our institution was put on probation and continued to stay there. The one thing I will say is that probation has created many changes for AIU that are meant to be positive for the student.

Many people complaining on this website are doing so because they are upset, but unlike sources like SACS and the BBB there is no monitoring here. Anyone can post anything and it will stick. Therefore I suggest that BEFORE you get upset and make a rash decision that you look at the SACS website, the Better Business Bureau, and the Department of Education website.

We don't advertise our probation, but we do remain accredited during our probationary status which means degrees earned in that time are not worthless as some misinformed individuals would have you believe. Most of my students that have learned of our probationary status and have done their due research have decided to stay with AIU, so do the same so that you can make an intelligent and informed decision.

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#1 Consumer Suggestion

Suggestion of other Online University

AUTHOR: Lisa - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, June 03, 2007

I am currently a student at AIU and I have had no problems with them. I am positive their accreditation will be taken off probation due to all the changes they are making. SACS will visit AIU in Dec. 2007 to determine the decision about further accreditation. I have a sister who is part of the credible source itself, which is the accrediation organization SACS. My sister-in-law began working for SACS about a year ago and I have been asking her many questions.

Hearing that AIU is on probabation definately drives away students from enrolling and decreases the confidence in the university. The personal complaints on this site are enough for someone to change their mind about enrolling at AIU. Although this site is not a credible source to rely on for information, you could have found the info about their accreditation probation on a credible source, which is the SACS website itself.

Since I am assuming you will continue to look into other universities that offer all classes online, may I suggest Davenport University. They are a brick and mortar university based in Michigan. Why am I suggesting them? I attended Davenport University, well, I mean I earned my associates degree online from Davenport University. I had no problems with them either. You are probably wondering why I didn't continue attending Davenport to earn my bachelor's degree. My only motive was to earn my bachelor's degree a little quicker and that is my reason for enrolling at AIU Online. Davenport is still accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and they offer more degree majors than AIU (one of the reasons why AIU was put on probation which was not enough majors or concentrations offered). Their classes are 7-weeks or 10-weeks long compared to 5-weeks. Their total tuition cost is a little less than AIU. I have to say the coursework at AIU is more intense than Davenport though, then again my courses at AIU are bachelor level courses vs. associate level. Well I am sure you can read more about their online program on their website. Anyways good luck.

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