Ripoff Report Needs Your Help!
X  |  CLOSE
Report: #143202

Complaint Review: AIU, CTU Online American Intercontinental And Colorado Technical University - Hoffman Estates Illinois

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Downers Grove Illinois
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
  • Why?
  • AIU, CTU Online American Intercontinental And Colorado Technical University 5550 Prairie Stone Parkway Hoffman Estates, Illinois U.S.A.

AIU, CTU Online American Intercontinental And Colorado Technical University unethical behavior Ripoff Hoffman Estates Illinois

*Consumer Comment: It looks like this mle started with a complaint from a disgruntled employee and should be read as such.

*UPDATE Employee: Im sorry that you all couldn't cut it at CTU or AIU!

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Diploma Mill And Not Even A Good One

*Consumer Comment: Happy With CTU

*Consumer Comment: AIU is regionally accredited and is a GREAT school!

*Consumer Suggestion: Student at AIU

*Consumer Suggestion: AIU named one of the top Cooleges and Universities

*Consumer Suggestion: CTU Student - 2 years

*Consumer Comment: Colorado Technical University is an accredited school

*Consumer Comment: Colorado Technical University is an accredited school

*Consumer Comment: Colorado Technical University is an accredited school

*Consumer Comment: Colorado Technical University is an accredited school

*Consumer Suggestion: CTU does not have business-school accreditation

*Consumer Suggestion: CTU does not have business-school accreditation

*Consumer Suggestion: CTU does not have business-school accreditation

*Consumer Suggestion: CTU does not have business-school accreditation

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Past graduate and employed student of CTU

*Consumer Comment: I know CTU and wife has attended several years now

*Consumer Comment: Online Learning is not a rip-off!

*Consumer Suggestion: CTU us a scam school. research the corporation tha bought CTU

*Consumer Comment: Regional Accreditation

*Consumer Comment: The pro-CTU backers are way off base!!!

*Consumer Comment: The pro-CTU backers are way off base!!!

*Consumer Comment: The pro-CTU backers are way off base!!!

*Consumer Comment: The pro-CTU backers are way off base!!!

*UPDATE Employee: Wow are you wrong!!!

*Consumer Comment: Fact versus Fiction

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: CEC is crooked!

*Consumer Suggestion: Do some research

*Consumer Suggestion: Accredited university

*Consumer Suggestion: Accredited university

*Consumer Suggestion: Accredited university

*Consumer Suggestion: Accredited university

*Consumer Comment: Why are all the students of AIU/CTU getting so DEFENSIVE

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Ex-AIU grad do become employees

*Consumer Comment: Former Student

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: AIU IS A RIP OFF

*Consumer Comment: CEC School Graduates

*Consumer Comment: Not so different

*Consumer Comment: I am enrolled at CTUonline, found this as more of an intuitive way to get an education and job experience at the same time.

*Consumer Comment: To Rick from Aloha

*Consumer Comment: To Rick from Aloha

*Consumer Comment: To Rick from Aloha

*Consumer Comment: To Rick from Aloha

*Consumer Comment: I attend CTU online

*Consumer Comment: Way off base

Show customers why they should trust your business over your competitors...

Is this
Report about YOU
listed on other sites?
Those sites steal
Ripoff Report's
content.
We can get those
removed for you!
Find out more here.
How to fix
Ripoff Report
If your business is
willing to make a
commitment to
customer satisfaction
Click here now..

What can I tell you, but that AIU online (American Intercontinental University) and CTU (Colorado Technical University) are both online schools owned by the parent company Career Education Corporation (CECO is the ticker symbol for this company, which is traded on the NASDAQ).

Career Education Corporation (and hide those whom you love whenever they receive a sales/marketing call from ANY of CECO's schools, as they own many) has been under investigation by the Justice Department and the SEC. These folks are operating under a black cloud of unethical behavior in which the whole purpose is to get students into online degree programs so that they can get the federal dollars from the Department of Education. That is money for financial aid that COULD be going to students at real, bricks-and-mortar colleges and universities!

Some of the losers who enroll in degree programs with AIU online or CTU online couldn't even make it into a "real" college or university, and every reputable HR department in America is aware of that fact. So, guess what? While the rest of us are getting real degrees that are marketable, the schmucks in an AIU/CTU online program are facing an uphill battle once they try to shop that degree around town. With the scandal surrounding the parent company, who knows if this degree mill will even be in business 10 years, maybe even 5 years, down the road?

Another creepy thing that this company does is to utilize temporary staffing agencies to lure lots of people into these huge, cattle calls where the temp/staffing agencies send job-seekers to a group meeting with the University people. It is there at the group meeting that a Senior Admissions Advisor (translation: spinmeister) informs everyone that they may be candidates for a degree program with the school. Not everyone is hired to be an Admissions Advisor! This is all mostly a cattle call to get potential new students enrolled in online programs. One such temp agency is PDQ Staffing of Glendale Heights, Illinois and another firm called Mentor 4.

IF you get a call from anyone at Career Education Corporation, or you respond to an ad on Career Builder for an Admissions Advisor job through a temp-to-hire ad through PDQ Staffing or Mentor 4, then be warned that what is going on is highly unethical. Do you really want to be involved with a company that is under SEC investigation or with a staffing firm that knows that their client is under such a black cloud?

CECO's stock has also plummeted due to the scandal, so if you see a lot of ads looking for new Admissions Advisors, it is because they are having a lot of trouble once everyone gets hip to the whole scam, so that's why they are hiring new advisors in addition to just trying to get people to show up for the interview to try to turn them into students of the online university.

Scandal scandal scandal! Beware.

Alexis
Downers Grove, Illinois
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 05/18/2005 11:48 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/aiu-ctu-online-american-intercontinental-and-colorado-technical-university/hoffman-estates-illinois/aiu-ctu-online-american-intercontinental-and-colorado-technical-university-unethical-beha-143202. 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

Search for additional reports

If you would like to see more Rip-off Reports on this company/individual, search here:

Report & Rebuttal
Respond to this report!
What's this?
Also a victim?
What's this?
Repair Your Reputation!
What's this?

Updates & Rebuttals

REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
46Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#46 Consumer Comment

It looks like this mle started with a complaint from a disgruntled employee and should be read as such.

AUTHOR: Stone - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, July 10, 2010

It looks like this mle started with a complaint from a disgruntled employee and should be read as such.

AIU is accredited by SACS:

AdvancED is creating a global accreditation system throughout the United States, the Navajo Nation, Department of Defense Schools, and in 65 countries around the world. AdvancED is delivering unified quality standards for education through its accreditation divisions - North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). (Paragraph information taken from web

http://www.advanc-ed.org/accreditation/ ) These are the same governing bodies whose accreditation allows State and private colleges and Universities throughout the country to operate as an accredited school. The process is rigorous and every member school must prove up their accreditation every ten years. AIU is approved by the same standards that are required by the Ivey league schools and state school. If there is a question of the of any school or programs credibility, it is posted on the SACS website. http://www.sacscasi.org/

Last time I looked AIU is in good standing. Is AIU the only school you have worked for? Even Bricks and mortor schools have the same cattle calls for students and vie for the same funding. I have ten years of working for nonprofit schools, and I think coming into the real business world could help both imporve the quality and lower the costs of education.

I have worked for physically established, a college and university that have been through the SACS accreditation process.  Working in education I can tell you every school has glitches and yes, I had loans to finish like everybody else.

Personally, I was able to enter a Masters Program at SMU with no problem after graduating from AIU.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#45 UPDATE Employee

Im sorry that you all couldn't cut it at CTU or AIU!

AUTHOR: Nina - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, July 02, 2010

I am an employee and student at CTU online and I am also a mother of one sweet little boy. I want to state that I donot normally post on this website, I actually created an account to defend these two greatly established schools. I am an Advisor so I can tell you that these are NOT by any means rip-off schools. These schools are designed for individuals who cannot incorporate a "traditional" school into their busy schedules. These programs are designed at an accelerated pace to provide the accurate information and learning environment for those who are SERIOUS about pursuing their goals. I read the ex-employee's posting above and what I donot understand is if you had finished your 2 weeks of training and still did not grasp the information that they had given you to perform your role then I am guessing you were fired for not abiding by the rules. We donot provide any financial information because that is based completely off of the credits that you may have earned at another school and also depends on your circumstance. We donot push any prosepective student to enroll, we donot lie about the price per credit hour, and we donot lie about the programs length... now this could change if you choose to fail your classes which costs additionally to retake the class, just like any other school. We need to follow specific guidelines to ensure that you are not misleading students. I am not even going to go into too much detail on my employement side with CTU because I feel those of you who are ex-employees' lost your jobs for a reason!

As for my student prospective I can say that this school is definately well accredited and does teach you the tools you need to succeed. I have seen that employers' respect individuals with online degree's more so because of the disciplin it takes to remain active and positive. As far as teachers go, I have had wonderful teachers and have not found one that attended either college... im guessing the one posting by the ex-teacher just couldn't cut it? Well I must say that I have had positive experiences on both ends and I apologize to those of you who have been thrown off by these negative postings from these irrate people.

If you give these schools a try I am sure you would not become regretful, that is if you DO remain involved and pay attention like you would at any other college.

 

Happy Learning!

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#44 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Diploma Mill And Not Even A Good One

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

POSTED: Sunday, March 29, 2009

I just recently quit teaching at CTU Online. The practices there of passing students as long as they submit anything no matter how bad and the poor quality of the cookie-cutter courses which the school posts on its site had been wearing on me for a while. It seems like the only requirement to go there is that you are dumb enough or desperate enough to sign up for a student loan. The sad emails that students would send me about how they wanted to drop a class but their "advisor" had told them to hang on no matter how bad their situation was were, after a while, sickening. After being there for some time, I began to see that many of my "colleagues" there at CTU - that "excellent faculty of working professionals" - were often CTU graduates themselves - the inmates are running the assylum! So they know nothing and go to CTU, they graduate from CTU and still know little, then they turn around and are hired by CTU.

I was doing this just to add some extra income to my real job at a real university, but this was just too much. I quit. And, hopefully, now you've been warned.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#43 Consumer Comment

Happy With CTU

AUTHOR: Larry W. Powell - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, January 31, 2009

Like any large institution there are those that like them and those that don't like them. However, I being a 50 year old man have been afforded the opportunity to completed my degree online through CTU online. I take exception to the the comments that were left by the elitist person that began this report. It sure sounds like someone has a case of the "I am better than you" syndrome. No matter what school you attend there are always going to be those that tout those as better. I believe that education is what you make of it, if you chose to just skate by and not learn but the minimum then that is your choice. I have a niece that attends Southern Illinois University and makes Cs and Ds but will have a degree. I guarantee my degree with a high GPA will be worth more than that degree, because I will have knowledge. There are many that are not excepting of online schools due the fact that they do not understand what the schools have to go through to be accredited regionally.

Regional accreditation is the strictest of the accreditation. Did you know that CTU is accredited by PMI the largest and strictest accrediting organization for project management in the world ? They have so many restrictions and so many regulations to follow to remain accredited. They are not on probation with these agencies and are audited on a regular basis. We are held to strict standards as students and the only reason that most people can get into CTU is that there is room, and many, many fail the classes because they are too difficult. I was an A student in Junior College, and maintain a 3.84 average at CTU. We are held responsible for every piece of material presented, we create projects twice a week that will total 5000 words, I bet you don't do that at your "real school". I will put my education up against yours anytime and I am thankful for the opportunity to go to school via the online environment.

By the way I live near the University of Illinois, and they offer online classes and part time MBA work, so your "real school" is likely not a tier 1 school and there are many online school formats that are legitimate. You sound like someone that is disgruntled and unhappy. Leave school alone and quit insulting the students !! We are as much students and will graduate with a degree that will carry as much weight as yours. No it will not be a Tier 1 degree, but it will be an accredited degree.

Now as far as business practices, I have had run ins with the people at CTU and felt that some of their policies were out of line. However, I went all the way to the Chancellor Dr. Wallace Pond and it was resolved in due process. All private schools want to make money, maybe this one is too aggressive, but don't trash us as students because you are unhappy with your ex-employer.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#42 Consumer Comment

AIU is regionally accredited and is a GREAT school!

AUTHOR: Jw2008 - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, January 16, 2009

I have read several negative comments about AIU online, This is ridiculous! The comments all come from people who quit going to school (including AIU), never went to the school or is a ex-grunt led employee of the school. AIU is a great school, AIU participates in the Federal student aid programs, is regionally accredited by the SACS also known as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, In addition, The University is currently migrating the Accreditation to the Higher learning commission of North Central Association of Schools and Colleges as well as having SEVERAL campuses worldwide (Atlanta, Houston, Florida, London etc.). AIU was founded in Georgia, and has been there for many years. Now however, students that are enrolled there also enroll online. There are currently approx over 184 online accredited colleges and universities now have strictly online schools. See http://www.elearners.com/colleges/?tsource=it&tid=68147.

So are ALL these colleges ripoffs? Including the Government? I don't think there is such mass conspiracy. I think only individual bias and excuses for not continuing your education or staying employed at a particular company. The sad thing is that people are reading (and believing) these unfounded, personal bias 'Ripoff' stories and not continuing their education as the should. The credits are transferable to any College of your choice subject to college rules rules regarding transfer credits.


References:
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/faq003.htm
https://mycampus.aiu-online.com/Schools/5/pdf/AIUAccreditationStudentLetter.pdf
http://www.aiuonline.edu/
http://www.elearners.com/colleges/?tsource=it&tid=68147

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#41 Consumer Suggestion

Student at AIU

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

POSTED: Thursday, July 10, 2008

I think that most of the people who actually "enrolled" in the school and failed, were either not academically up to par in the first place, and/or were expecting an "easy" degree! AIU is an accredited university, point blank! If it were not, you could not attend school with federally funded money. Technology is a wonderful thing, you can order a pizza over the internet, meet your future wife and plan a summer vacation all within an hour! It is only the next step we offer education in this same way? Our troops have been using distance learning for years, are they too being ripped off? If so, don't you think the governemnt would have responded by now?
Secondly to all the women and men whom got their degrees and can't find a job, tuff luck! You only get back what you put in, and a degree alone does not gaurantee timely employment for anyone, no university does that! And as far as the system being for-profit, I have news for you....everything in America comes down to money! Try getting into any of the Browns and Harvards...you will find out quite quickly how much more your cash matters then your academic history. Have we all forgotten that the President of the US attended a top university, and he's the biggest idiot in the free world! Don't be so quick to label 1000's of students as fools because your experience was not what you expected, or you couldnt cut the mustard and dropped out!
Online school is VERY challenging, doing well in an academic environment where there is no face to face interaction, and where asking a question is likely to take 24 hours vs a second shows a lot about a person! Bottom line, you can be a failure with a degree from ANY place, it's up to you to take what you have learned, apply it, and become succesful. Get with the program people, online education is here to stay and I think it's wonderful that people who were held back by families, work, and living situations finally have a way to level the playing field and prove to the world that just because we go to work in steel plants doesnt mean we are not intelligent capable intellectual contributors to the world we live in. Get off your high horses and respect the fact people WANT an education in the first place! And if you are thinking about going to school online, RESEARCH, make sure its accredited, and understand that in many ways its more difficult than traditional education...and be ready to study your butt off and better yourself and your life.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#40 Consumer Suggestion

AIU named one of the top Cooleges and Universities

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

POSTED: Monday, June 30, 2008

To the naysayers CTU and AIU was named one of the top Universities by KMI Media and Military Advanced Education. Go to website: http://www.military-advanced-education.com/article.cfm?DocID=2294

Additionally, to the poster that wanted a cogent reply about regional accreditation, quality or education, etc. I only reply that regional accreditation is among the highest level for any school. As far as quality of education, that's too subjective. Having obtained a BA from University of Maryland and a BS from Excelsior College. I felt like the BS from Excelsior was every bit as challenging as the traditional brick and mortar BA degree from U of M.

I will agree with one point that is well taken. I believe all graduate students should write a thesis or perform a capstone project. In case of a doctorate, a dissertation should be required as well. However, these requirements or lack of don't negate the degree or level of effort required to obtain the degree. The learning model employed by AIU and CTU require much more practical application that traditional universities. The amount of written assignments in many cases far exceeds that of traditional settings. In the end it appears that an AIU or CTU grad will have written every much the amount required of a thesis or capstone. Just food for thought.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#39 Consumer Suggestion

CTU Student - 2 years

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

POSTED: Thursday, June 26, 2008

Alexis, you are an absolute idiot, and a fool. She claims an online education is a sham; but some of the most famous colleges offer online courses similar to CTU. For example, the following universities offer online courses similar to CTU:

-Stanford University
-New York University
-Polytechnic University
-Regis University
-University of Illinois
-Florida State University
-Boston University
-University of North Carolina. This is what this university has to say:

"Students admitted to The University of North Carolina's online programs learn the same material and benefit from the same high-quality educational experience as campus-based students. Online classes are designed and taught by the same faculty who teach classes in on-campus programs. When you graduate from a UNC institution, no distinction is made between online or on-campus credits. Your degree is from UNC."


*Just type the name of these colleges into Google and add "online" at the end and you'll see them.

See, I told you Alexis is an idiot, and a complete fool.

Everyone don't listen to Alexis the fool. Her comments are clearly full of rage and they are arbitrary. She cites no evidence or references to back her main opinion of CTU; but only offers rants of a fool. She sounds like she use to work for them and they fired her; but she doesn't mention it so we can't even determine if she is speaking from personal knowledge.

I'm a two (2) year student at CTU and I'm about to graduate. I'm going to tell you the real and raw deal about CTU from my own personal experience.

a) This is an accredited school, which means their credits will be recognized at other educational institutions and the credits can be transferred.

b) They have one of the most sophisticated online websites around.

c) They require students to complete about 20 assignments plus 20 classes and reading in five (5) weeks.

There is no doubt in my mind that the concept of CTU is a good one. However, the implementation of it is bad.

1) The grading is flawed. Its based on the submission of assignments, which is subject to a teachers arbitrary grading practice. I haven't seen a uniform grading rule that all teachers must follow. It appears to be teacher based discretion. In addition, the failure to submit one of the 20 assignments will result in an "F", which will give the impression that you are not knowledgeable in the course work. Most employers will think that you took a test and you just did bad. They will not realize it was due to your failure to hand in an assignment. Thus, an employer will think you are not that knowledgeable in that field. So, better to hand in all assignments.

2) CTU pushes you from one class to the other without a significant break. It's only one week between classes with no holidays or vacations. Due dates for assignments have regularly fallen on a holiday. And I'm so burned out it's ridiculous. These continued assignments from week to week, month to month and now years have burned me out so bad that my grades have fallen badly. I am a 3.6 GPA student in a traditional college setting and I started out at CTU above 3.0 GPA; but now I'm well below that because I'm just burned out and they just keep dishing it non-stop. It's more like a factory then a school for me. I'm just telling the truth. But there are many students who have high grades then I do.

3) When I requested medical leave, CTU only wanted to give me 3 months. Which I believe is illegal and only applies to employees.

4) They have a submit an assignment page that contains a "Group Project" option in the drop down menu; but it doesn't post it to the group section and the teachers give you an "F" because the group section has its own submit assignment link. How stupid. This is misleading and I had it out with a teacher for this.

5) They teach criminal justice; but they don't provide access to a law library. For example, westlaw. This is really bad because its important to have access to good case law and other statutes. Especially if your studying the law. Don't you think?

6) Because of the burn out factor, I had to repeat classes and CTU charges about $2,000 for each additional class. I don't think I should have paid for that since they wrongly refused my medical leave.

CTU has a great idea here and they are ligitimate. The problem is in the implementation. It needs work.

My opinion about you attending CTU is that you need to be smart. Understand CTU's benefits and downfalls then apply them to your goal. I attended CTU because I needed a few credits for law school. Would I attend CTU again...no. Would I attend CTU for just the degree...no. I wouldn't attend CTU because of the burnout factor and there are more well-known colleges that are now offering online courses. My goal is to go to law school and I want to use CTU's credits to enter law school.

There are also law schools that are online and I've verified that their students have passed the California bar exam and have become attorneys.

Can you imagine doing all this from overseas then just coming to the U.S. to take the Bar exam?

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#38 Consumer Comment

Colorado Technical University is an accredited school

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

POSTED: Sunday, June 22, 2008

You can go to the United States Dept of Education website at
http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
and search for Colorado Technical University. It is accredited by a US DOE approved accreditation source.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#37 Consumer Comment

Colorado Technical University is an accredited school

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

POSTED: Sunday, June 22, 2008

You can go to the United States Dept of Education website at
http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
and search for Colorado Technical University. It is accredited by a US DOE approved accreditation source.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#36 Consumer Comment

Colorado Technical University is an accredited school

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

POSTED: Sunday, June 22, 2008

You can go to the United States Dept of Education website at
http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
and search for Colorado Technical University. It is accredited by a US DOE approved accreditation source.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#35 Consumer Comment

Colorado Technical University is an accredited school

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

POSTED: Sunday, June 22, 2008

You can go to the United States Dept of Education website at
http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
and search for Colorado Technical University. It is accredited by a US DOE approved accreditation source.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#34 Consumer Suggestion

CTU does not have business-school accreditation

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

POSTED: Tuesday, June 17, 2008

If CTU's business school was any good, it would have a business-school accreditation from AACSB. And as long as CTU accepts anyone with a GED and fifty dollars, it will never get that accreditation.

Nine colleges in Colorado have AACSB accreditation including UCCS and CSU-Pueblo. You will save money and make your resume look better going to UCCS or CSU-Pueblo instead of CTU.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#33 Consumer Suggestion

CTU does not have business-school accreditation

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

POSTED: Tuesday, June 17, 2008

If CTU's business school was any good, it would have a business-school accreditation from AACSB. And as long as CTU accepts anyone with a GED and fifty dollars, it will never get that accreditation.

Nine colleges in Colorado have AACSB accreditation including UCCS and CSU-Pueblo. You will save money and make your resume look better going to UCCS or CSU-Pueblo instead of CTU.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#32 Consumer Suggestion

CTU does not have business-school accreditation

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

POSTED: Tuesday, June 17, 2008

If CTU's business school was any good, it would have a business-school accreditation from AACSB. And as long as CTU accepts anyone with a GED and fifty dollars, it will never get that accreditation.

Nine colleges in Colorado have AACSB accreditation including UCCS and CSU-Pueblo. You will save money and make your resume look better going to UCCS or CSU-Pueblo instead of CTU.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#31 Consumer Suggestion

CTU does not have business-school accreditation

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

POSTED: Tuesday, June 17, 2008

If CTU's business school was any good, it would have a business-school accreditation from AACSB. And as long as CTU accepts anyone with a GED and fifty dollars, it will never get that accreditation.

Nine colleges in Colorado have AACSB accreditation including UCCS and CSU-Pueblo. You will save money and make your resume look better going to UCCS or CSU-Pueblo instead of CTU.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#30 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Past graduate and employed student of CTU

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

POSTED: Tuesday, May 20, 2008

I was a student at CTU until November 2007, after graduating with a 4.0 in Criminal Justice. I had the choice of 7 different universities, both online and brick and morter campuses, and chose CTU because of thier excellent curriculum. I have read some of the comments here and will respond to those even remotely worthwhile. CTU (I can't speak for AIU because I did not attend that school) has some excellent professors, most of who work in the field they teach, including police officers, business men and women, lawyers, psychologists etc.

The first thing I will say is, that people should get thier facts straight, or keep quiet. This is not a game to play, destroying ANYONES reputation simply because one does not understand how the US college system and credits work (as in some complaints I've read here), or giving misleading information on past suits that occured, not with CTU but AIU. Or, complaining because they failed classes, or went to the wrong classes...

Nor is it correct to assume that students, past or present at CTU or AIU are schmucks, unable to 'get into' or attend a regular brick and morter campus. That was another story that has had its facts misaligned by some other 'authors' here.

This story stems from a problem with AIU, not CTU. A lot of students who were enrolling at one point, mislead the university SAYING they had graduated high school, or had GED's/diplomas but didn't. The staff at the university at the time did not check or ask for proof, so students got in to this school that wouldn't have been able to get into ANY university. Don't assume that this is everyone, because it is NOT.

Here are some facts.

CTU DOES have a couple of brick and morter campuses, the main one being in Colorado Springs, CO. CTU IS accredited, infact has the same accreditation as some other major and well known, established universities such as Purdue University.

If you fail your classes, OF COURSE you have to pay to repeat them! Idiot! Just like you would at any other college. Also, if you fail your classes, don't bother trying to get your credits transfered...no university will take them, because you HAVE NO CREDITS...because you *hello* failed!!..surprise!!...probably you'd have a hard time getting into any college at all after that.
If you do NURSING, CTU doesn't accredit nursing, so if you were expecting credits, don't. If you don't do your homework and find out which university classes ARE accredited and which aren't, at ANY university, then don't blame the university. CTU is not alone in this, most universities have classes that are not necessarily accredited.

Ok and finally, we come to the law suits...there were some problems a LONG time ago that had to do with age descrimination and employment. That has long since been done and over with. There are no longer 'young people' only working at either AIU or CTU...there are older people there too now...my college counselor is 50..that's all that suit was about.

AIU did have some problems getting complete accreditation, but again that is now all completed and they now have full accreditation.

Finally, most of my class had employment before they even graduated. Don't blame the school if your area doesn't have a good employment outlook or you are not prepared to move to where the jobs are etc. Understand that most students regardless of the uni or college they go to may have a hard time getting a job, due to lack of experience, economics etc.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#29 Consumer Comment

I know CTU and wife has attended several years now

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

POSTED: Sunday, April 13, 2008

I have read so many of these posts, but have to state herein, that CTU or others in online education are not frauds or illegal at all and in fact, are part of the legitimate colleges/universities which are recognized by the federal government and are regionally accredited to offer federal loan programs to students. Sure there are some bad schools out there which are frauds, but CTU or AIU, or Strayer or others recognized by the CHEA out of D.C. are not part of them at all... These are legit regionally accredited schools...

With this said, online colleges are here to stay like electronic trading took over the traditional investment markets in less than 8 years, and many argued then it would not last or was a scam.... I guess it depends on who you ask.

I was to attend CTU myself but I actually convinced my wife to do so to continue on in a special dual degree program they offered a few years ago and in June, she will have those degrees. However, I will add, that recently CTU contacted many students and told them that they were cancelling the popular dual degree programs and students would have to re-enroll basically into separate programs to get those degrees (basically extending time at the school making more $$ for the school), and not be able to get credit for core classes already taken that were to be credited to those pursuing the dual degrees like my wife. Well, after almost finishing several years of hard work through CTU and holding jobs down and raising a family here, when we heard this from CTU my wife flipped and demanded answers and to get what we/she agreed to in contract originally from CTU- NOT get to the end and find she only gets one degree and not the second dual degree (we worked & paid for with loans) even after all the years and costs of classes/courses. So right now, they are honoring this agreement we made with them, as afterall, they received tens of thousands in federal student loan monies already which we will have to repay once my wife completes her last courses over the next couple months; but as with many things today, you need to stay on top of everything, as being part fo a public traded corp today, they like others must answer to a board of directors and it is only about money no matter how you slice it! PPLS and Torch industries and others who are listed corps on stock exchanges each have had their fill of complaints & lawsuits about them, but if you know how that world works, which most people in any college today are never truly educated to understand, you will see much of this country today operates in a world those of us taught ethics & sensibility, would seem to us as unethical and criminal or even a scam job, but it is legal under the law as this is what comes to matter today in the USA. Major corps on regulated stock exchanges have to keep finding ways to make more & more monies at any cost to satisfy shareholders as any corp, or else they can become delisted if that stock falls below a threshhold after a time.

Call it what you want but CTU is legit. I may not like how they or others utilize independent recruiters or salespeople (paid commissions or bonuses to get students to register at the school) but this is not illegal either- it is what has becomes of the USA today in much business sadly. Here in NC in fact, you will find it hard to get employed directly to any corp (like in old days) as most utilize temp agencies for months at a time before ever considering hiring you regardless how many degrees you have or from whom... But a bricks & mortar complex today does not guarantee any success over any legit online college program either and many of the most successful and wealthiest persons in the USA and globally today never had more than a solid high school education... So go put that in your pipe and smoke it. I have known many from Ivey League students who threw away degrees and never use them today in what they do. So you have to look at the big picture, as CTU is accredited and by the same agency as other major schools in that region.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#28 Consumer Comment

Online Learning is not a rip-off!

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

POSTED: Wednesday, March 26, 2008

AIU Online and other online universities such as Capella, Strayer, University of Phoenix, etc. have fairly a large following among working adults. While spending 23 years in the US Navy, I ran across many Sailors that had obtained a degree from AIU and were completely satisfied with the curriculum and the recognition of the degree. I personally earned my BS through Excelsior College, Albany NY but am quite interested in a graduate degree from AIU. I contacted them and was quite impressed with their curriculum, standards and learning environment. I haven't noticed any hard sales tactics.

Currently, I am a Training Specialist for a large company dealing with DoD contracts. AIU is recognized and accredited in the training industry. This is important to me because I will continue in the training environment for my next career after the US Navy. Additionally they are an approved university for my MGIB and offer a 15% savings for military personnel and veterans. These are major points to me but they may not be for others.

Moreover, AIU took notice of their probationary status and made the necessary changes to gain full accreditation through the Southern Association of College and Schools. If I learned one thing in all my years, making a mistake is not a true indicator of character; it is what you do after that mistake that defines character. Call me silly but I appreciate the fact that they were under scrutiny for a year or two and succeeded in gaining full accreditation. The attempts by many to question federal funding, accreditation are not backed up by the facts. The Veteran's Administration, regional accrediting institutions and corporate America have shown their approval of online learning because the overwhelming evidence supports these are fine educational institutions on par with traditional universities in every respect. The public vs. private institution has no relevance to this discussion at all.

I'm still unsure if I will attend AIU but many of these posts seem to lack the understanding that Online learning is vastly different to a traditional learning environment. Yes, the courses are fast paced and retention can suffer. However, that is more a reflection on the student than the curriculum. What you get out of the courseware it is directly proportional to what you put into. Retention only happens through repeated exposure.

If one feels they are not retaining the material, spend more short sessions of course study/review and not one or two sessions. This is called chunking information. The Science of Learning is definitive on how we learn. I remember the days of cramming for exams and felt when I walked out, I knew nothing. Truth was, I didn't. Had I spent five or more study sessions of lesser time, I would have been better prepared and retained the knowledge much longer.

Lastly, I can't address the personal beliefs of ex-employees. I am certain they have their reasons for their opinions. However, when things get personal, I have noticed that objectivity often suffers. Again no flames intended, I just try to scan past these types of posts.

Will I attend AIU, who knows. I am looking at Strayer, Jones International, Capella and others. One thing I like about all these, AIU included, is that they have curriculum that fits my busy life style and the courses seem more relevant to current trends in the work force. It appears to me that traditional universities are less flexible and are a step behind the work force in some instances.

I have noticed that some posters state that their credits will not transfer. I have found this to be incorrect in my situation and the credits transfer pretty much the same way as other universities whether traditional or online. Being career military, I have attended many colleges and universities. In other words, I have credits from Old Dominion University, Emery Riddle, University of Maryland, Thomas Edison State College, College of Southern Maryland, Excelsior College, Colorado Technical University, Tidewater Community College, Oklahoma State along numerous CLEP and DSST exams. I found my credits transfer without any issues. I can certainly tell you some programs may scrutinize the courses that are being used for transfer credit to ensure they meet their standards. To date, I have not had any issues between how my my Online courses and my traditional college courses are accepted. They truly seem to be accepted with the same weight.

I have no dog in this hunt, so that's my unbiased opinion based on my experience.

This is not a knock on traditional learning; I would love to have the time to dedicate to learning the traditional way but until that happens, I like the latest offerings from the Online Universities. It is a great alternative for working professionals without sacrificing the quality of instruction. Those that think only Brick and Mortar colleges and universities are the only source for quality education are simply out of touch.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#27 Consumer Suggestion

CTU us a scam school. research the corporation tha bought CTU

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

POSTED: Monday, January 28, 2008

CEC which owns CTU is closing schools and selling others

CEC students and faculty are going through your schools network trying to get the word out about the state of affairs at it's institutions. CEC which recently bought these institutions has active large investigations, numerous class actions lawsuits from investment companies, share holders, faculty, and it's own students. This is why they're selling and closing campuses as well as why their schools have been on probation.

Selling information: The Devil is in the details
~http://chronicle.com/news/article/2593/career-education-corp-will-close-3-colleges-it-has-tried-to-sell

~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Academy_of_Design_and_Technology

This is why people are removing themselves: CEC; the new Enron?
http://www.secinfo.com/dRSm6.v1bd.htm

These groups are helping inform CEC students:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5604847490

http://www.facebook.com/s.php?n=-1&k=200000010&q=CEC+truth

----------- CEC should tell you this information -----------

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#26 Consumer Comment

Regional Accreditation

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

POSTED: Wednesday, October 31, 2007

>

On what possible basis do you assert that regional accreditation is meaningless? Regional accreditation is the ONLY truly legitimate accreditation for a college or university. Degree mills generally are unaccredited, nationally accredited by some meaningless organization, or create their own "accrediting body" to accredit themselves. CTU is accredited by the same body that accredits, for instance, The University of Colorado and Colorado State University. Why would those two institutions (among many) seek regional accreditation if, as you posit, it has no value or meaning?

Pete

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#25 Consumer Comment

The pro-CTU backers are way off base!!!

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

POSTED: Friday, October 26, 2007

Sorry Jenni, Michael, et al., Since CECO bought CTU, it hardly offers a respectable education anymore (well, unless you want a mediocre DoD job and which gets you stuck going to meetings all day long).

I have a MS in software engineering from CTU and quite frankly, I don't have that degree listed on my resume anymore -- that's right, here in Colorado Springs, CTU is known as a joke. I've talked to enough HR and hiring managers and the unanimous response is 10 years ago CTU was a great school but now, it's no better than University of Phoenix.

CTU may have memberships with accrediting authorities but the problem is, most of the accreditations awarded are regional. Regional accreditations to HR managers in the know DON'T MEAN SQUAT! Furthermore, CTU's business school is NOT accredited at all. In the real world, the only business accreditation which matters is from AACSB. In fact, many employers these days won't even offer tuition assistance to students who enroll at non-AACSB schools. CTU is NOT a AACSB school! That's fact. CTU is NOT AACSB accredited. Look it up -- aacsb.edu/General/InstLists.asp?lid=2

There is NO applied learning at CTU. I've talked to instructors there about the lack of actual hands-on learning and the unanimous response is the courses are designed to do no more than meet minimum accreditation agency membership requirements.

Show me an institution, respected by industry, where Masters students don't have to defend a thesis and Doctorate students don't have to write a dissertation. IT DOESN'T EXIST. That's right prospective students, since CECO took over, students don't have to do individual research; all the graduate programs are course work only (another sign of a degree mill). Often writing papers ad naseum where you regurgitate other's ideas in a manner that avoids plagiarism but doesn't offer an original thought of your own. That is a degree mill folks!

Show me an institution, respected by industry, that sends letters out to grads offering to waive significant portions of tuition because enrollment is so low in new programs -- such an respectable institution doesn't exist either.

As long as your tuition is paid on time, you will get an "A" (another sign of a degree mill). And speaking of tuition and U of Phoenix business models, be prepared to do a lot of team projects. And there will be a lot of foreign students on your team projects (there is nothing wrong with that in and of itself). Unfortunately, many of these foreign students simply will not do any work. CTU will not discipline the foreign students either. Because for them to go to school there, their tuition has to be guaranteed prior to enrollment. To CTU, foreign students are a cash cow or the goose that keeps laying the golden egg. You'll do the work, they'll get the grade; which of course will be an "A".

If I've offended someone and they can offer a cogent rebuttal to my comments here, I will be more than happy to retract my comments and offer a complete apology. I feel confident making such an offer because my comments about accreditation, the quality/content of the education, and the business models are spot on! Deal?

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#24 Consumer Comment

The pro-CTU backers are way off base!!!

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

POSTED: Friday, October 26, 2007

Sorry Jenni, Michael, et al., Since CECO bought CTU, it hardly offers a respectable education anymore (well, unless you want a mediocre DoD job and which gets you stuck going to meetings all day long).

I have a MS in software engineering from CTU and quite frankly, I don't have that degree listed on my resume anymore -- that's right, here in Colorado Springs, CTU is known as a joke. I've talked to enough HR and hiring managers and the unanimous response is 10 years ago CTU was a great school but now, it's no better than University of Phoenix.

CTU may have memberships with accrediting authorities but the problem is, most of the accreditations awarded are regional. Regional accreditations to HR managers in the know DON'T MEAN SQUAT! Furthermore, CTU's business school is NOT accredited at all. In the real world, the only business accreditation which matters is from AACSB. In fact, many employers these days won't even offer tuition assistance to students who enroll at non-AACSB schools. CTU is NOT a AACSB school! That's fact. CTU is NOT AACSB accredited. Look it up -- aacsb.edu/General/InstLists.asp?lid=2

There is NO applied learning at CTU. I've talked to instructors there about the lack of actual hands-on learning and the unanimous response is the courses are designed to do no more than meet minimum accreditation agency membership requirements.

Show me an institution, respected by industry, where Masters students don't have to defend a thesis and Doctorate students don't have to write a dissertation. IT DOESN'T EXIST. That's right prospective students, since CECO took over, students don't have to do individual research; all the graduate programs are course work only (another sign of a degree mill). Often writing papers ad naseum where you regurgitate other's ideas in a manner that avoids plagiarism but doesn't offer an original thought of your own. That is a degree mill folks!

Show me an institution, respected by industry, that sends letters out to grads offering to waive significant portions of tuition because enrollment is so low in new programs -- such an respectable institution doesn't exist either.

As long as your tuition is paid on time, you will get an "A" (another sign of a degree mill). And speaking of tuition and U of Phoenix business models, be prepared to do a lot of team projects. And there will be a lot of foreign students on your team projects (there is nothing wrong with that in and of itself). Unfortunately, many of these foreign students simply will not do any work. CTU will not discipline the foreign students either. Because for them to go to school there, their tuition has to be guaranteed prior to enrollment. To CTU, foreign students are a cash cow or the goose that keeps laying the golden egg. You'll do the work, they'll get the grade; which of course will be an "A".

If I've offended someone and they can offer a cogent rebuttal to my comments here, I will be more than happy to retract my comments and offer a complete apology. I feel confident making such an offer because my comments about accreditation, the quality/content of the education, and the business models are spot on! Deal?

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#23 Consumer Comment

The pro-CTU backers are way off base!!!

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

POSTED: Friday, October 26, 2007

Sorry Jenni, Michael, et al., Since CECO bought CTU, it hardly offers a respectable education anymore (well, unless you want a mediocre DoD job and which gets you stuck going to meetings all day long).

I have a MS in software engineering from CTU and quite frankly, I don't have that degree listed on my resume anymore -- that's right, here in Colorado Springs, CTU is known as a joke. I've talked to enough HR and hiring managers and the unanimous response is 10 years ago CTU was a great school but now, it's no better than University of Phoenix.

CTU may have memberships with accrediting authorities but the problem is, most of the accreditations awarded are regional. Regional accreditations to HR managers in the know DON'T MEAN SQUAT! Furthermore, CTU's business school is NOT accredited at all. In the real world, the only business accreditation which matters is from AACSB. In fact, many employers these days won't even offer tuition assistance to students who enroll at non-AACSB schools. CTU is NOT a AACSB school! That's fact. CTU is NOT AACSB accredited. Look it up -- aacsb.edu/General/InstLists.asp?lid=2

There is NO applied learning at CTU. I've talked to instructors there about the lack of actual hands-on learning and the unanimous response is the courses are designed to do no more than meet minimum accreditation agency membership requirements.

Show me an institution, respected by industry, where Masters students don't have to defend a thesis and Doctorate students don't have to write a dissertation. IT DOESN'T EXIST. That's right prospective students, since CECO took over, students don't have to do individual research; all the graduate programs are course work only (another sign of a degree mill). Often writing papers ad naseum where you regurgitate other's ideas in a manner that avoids plagiarism but doesn't offer an original thought of your own. That is a degree mill folks!

Show me an institution, respected by industry, that sends letters out to grads offering to waive significant portions of tuition because enrollment is so low in new programs -- such an respectable institution doesn't exist either.

As long as your tuition is paid on time, you will get an "A" (another sign of a degree mill). And speaking of tuition and U of Phoenix business models, be prepared to do a lot of team projects. And there will be a lot of foreign students on your team projects (there is nothing wrong with that in and of itself). Unfortunately, many of these foreign students simply will not do any work. CTU will not discipline the foreign students either. Because for them to go to school there, their tuition has to be guaranteed prior to enrollment. To CTU, foreign students are a cash cow or the goose that keeps laying the golden egg. You'll do the work, they'll get the grade; which of course will be an "A".

If I've offended someone and they can offer a cogent rebuttal to my comments here, I will be more than happy to retract my comments and offer a complete apology. I feel confident making such an offer because my comments about accreditation, the quality/content of the education, and the business models are spot on! Deal?

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#22 Consumer Comment

The pro-CTU backers are way off base!!!

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

POSTED: Friday, October 26, 2007

Sorry Jenni, Michael, et al., Since CECO bought CTU, it hardly offers a respectable education anymore (well, unless you want a mediocre DoD job and which gets you stuck going to meetings all day long).

I have a MS in software engineering from CTU and quite frankly, I don't have that degree listed on my resume anymore -- that's right, here in Colorado Springs, CTU is known as a joke. I've talked to enough HR and hiring managers and the unanimous response is 10 years ago CTU was a great school but now, it's no better than University of Phoenix.

CTU may have memberships with accrediting authorities but the problem is, most of the accreditations awarded are regional. Regional accreditations to HR managers in the know DON'T MEAN SQUAT! Furthermore, CTU's business school is NOT accredited at all. In the real world, the only business accreditation which matters is from AACSB. In fact, many employers these days won't even offer tuition assistance to students who enroll at non-AACSB schools. CTU is NOT a AACSB school! That's fact. CTU is NOT AACSB accredited. Look it up -- aacsb.edu/General/InstLists.asp?lid=2

There is NO applied learning at CTU. I've talked to instructors there about the lack of actual hands-on learning and the unanimous response is the courses are designed to do no more than meet minimum accreditation agency membership requirements.

Show me an institution, respected by industry, where Masters students don't have to defend a thesis and Doctorate students don't have to write a dissertation. IT DOESN'T EXIST. That's right prospective students, since CECO took over, students don't have to do individual research; all the graduate programs are course work only (another sign of a degree mill). Often writing papers ad naseum where you regurgitate other's ideas in a manner that avoids plagiarism but doesn't offer an original thought of your own. That is a degree mill folks!

Show me an institution, respected by industry, that sends letters out to grads offering to waive significant portions of tuition because enrollment is so low in new programs -- such an respectable institution doesn't exist either.

As long as your tuition is paid on time, you will get an "A" (another sign of a degree mill). And speaking of tuition and U of Phoenix business models, be prepared to do a lot of team projects. And there will be a lot of foreign students on your team projects (there is nothing wrong with that in and of itself). Unfortunately, many of these foreign students simply will not do any work. CTU will not discipline the foreign students either. Because for them to go to school there, their tuition has to be guaranteed prior to enrollment. To CTU, foreign students are a cash cow or the goose that keeps laying the golden egg. You'll do the work, they'll get the grade; which of course will be an "A".

If I've offended someone and they can offer a cogent rebuttal to my comments here, I will be more than happy to retract my comments and offer a complete apology. I feel confident making such an offer because my comments about accreditation, the quality/content of the education, and the business models are spot on! Deal?

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#21 UPDATE Employee

Wow are you wrong!!!

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

POSTED: Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Your complaint is amazingly mis informed. This company is so strict with the regulations for the department of ed and SACS that it is crazy. I have worked there for three years. I have very good ethics and morals. I have NEVER been asked to do anything even remotely unethical. It sounds to me that you tried to work there and could not cut it. Yes, there is a lot of hard work involved and you do have to be dedicated to your students and their success, so I guess you may not have been up to the challenge. We have tons of successful graduates who go on to other schools for graduate and doctorate programs as well as amazing careers. Please do not bash an incredible company and school because you were unable to posess the qualities that we look for. Best of luck to you.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#20 Consumer Comment

Fact versus Fiction

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

POSTED: Friday, June 01, 2007

Fact versus Fiction about online Universities

After reading through the postings in this thread of discussion, I feel that I need to clarify some of the misinformation and fiction that I have read inside of this lively debate. Before I can do this with any semblance of credibility, I must tell you about myself.

The personal knowledge which I hold is from being inside of the online university industry. Holding positions as an admissions counselor to a senior executive inside of one of the most prestigious online universities in the world; I hold witness to the benefits and downfalls of the online university paradigm.

First, as with all industries, in all fields across the globe, you have the leaders (that exemplify and produce) and you have the misaligned entities (who are untrustworthy and problematic) which comprise the industry/field. For the most part, the vast majority of the industry has developed a particular solution to certain fields of study or corporations to help a large population realize their goal of receiving a bachelor's/master's or even a doctorate degree while working full-time to support a family and better themselves. I happen to be aligned with a university that caters to the business and educational fields.

Inside of my university, there are many factors which drive the solicitation of our services to those individuals looking to solve the lack of a higher education. Foremost, the number one factor is to keep the enrollment department in check with the standards set forth by the Higher Learning Commission so that we are compliant thus not endangering our accreditation level. Also governing our enrollment department are the best practices policies and the desire to create the best environment for our potential student population (as well as our current student body) with administrative support and superior products designed to meet their specific educational needs and goals.

Let's clarify this myth about online universities being degree mills. The disclaimer, accreditation is voluntarily sought by institutions. To do this we must understand the accreditation levels conferred by the following Higher Learning Commissions; the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (includes Hawaii), the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (includes Alaska), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and finally the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Higher Education (includes Puerto Rico).

Fact: The highest level of accreditation that any one school can receive from any of the associations is that of Regional Accreditation. After Regional Accreditation the respective Higher Learning Commission will give a lesser-quality program the designation of National Accreditation. Those are the only two levels that the association bodies identify.

There are other governing bodies that extend accreditation labels like Global Accreditation, World Accreditation and Universal Accreditation. These groups of accreditation levels grant bachelor and master degrees solely upon personal experience and are not recognized programs by the respective Higher Learning Commissions; not by learning by applied theory or practical knowledge. These are programs to which the designation of Diploma Mills has been assigned.

Who are the governing entities? This is a great question. To answer it, follow this hyperlink to gain a list of recognized governing entities:
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:School_accreditors)
I encourage you as you are reading this letter to obtain your own information and form your own opinion. That is truly the only way that you will gain the proper knowledge necessary to form your informed opinion.

What is the value of accreditation? For members of the public, especially prospective students of an institution, the institutional accreditation provided by the main governing bodies means that the institution meets the standards set forth by the respective governing bodies requirements and criteria and will strive to continue meeting the requirements and criteria. Basically, accreditation is the public certification or stamp of approval of acceptable institutional quality.

AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business a premier accrediting agency for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting) Membership (not accreditation) is again another governing body/certification which ensures a particular level of focus within an institution. This membership designation has some very distinct implications for how a university hires, trains and assesses its faculty as well as how the university designs, builds and delivers its course content.

With that clarification, I would encourage any end-user or potential employee to research their respective institution and be cognizant of the reputation and status of any university whether it is a brick-and-mortar (also known in the industry as a traditional) university or college or if it is an online university or college.
The major difference between traditional and online universities and/or colleges is that most traditional universities/colleges teach with a much more significant level of applied theory (book knowledge) and less practical knowledge. Note that I didn't say any practical knowledge. Most online universities/colleges reverse the application and choose to offer more practical knowledge versus applied theory.

Does that mean that I won't be learning about applied theory in an online setting? Not at all! In fact the best online programs have found the best of all worlds in their content experts, professors and instructional designers. The key element in the online university/college model in my opinion is the professor element. For example, at my particular institution, over eighty-five (85) percent of the professorial faculty hold their doctoral degree and have also been successful at the highest levels within their particular field of study thus ensuring that you obtain the best applied theory as well as practical knowledge.

Likewise to protect yourself as an end-user or future employee of any university/college, check to see if that institution is currently on accreditation probation by its respective governing body. That alone should explain to you what their academic model is focused on and usually, this is also a great indicator of its business model. To coin an old adage: Junk in, junk out.

To answer the great debate as to whether AIU is a good fit for your particular educational needs/goals or employment, American InterContinental University is located at 6600 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 500 Embassy Row, Atlanta, Georgia, 30328. Their main telephone number is (888) 379-5888 and they voluntarily fall under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. To gain information about their accreditation, visit the website: http://www.sacs.org/. At this website you can see the official documentation for AIU under the Accreditation Actions and Disclosure Statements tab at the left-hand side of the screen.

To answer the great debate about CTU as a good fit for your particular educational needs/goals or employment, Colorado Technical University is located at 4435 North Chestnut Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907. Their main telephone number is (888) 897-6555 and they voluntarily fall under the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. To gain information about their accreditation, visit the website: http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/. To gain information about their accreditation status, contact the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools at their general information number (800) 621-7440 extension: 100 and they can direct you to the proper department. To see any actions that may have been taken against CTU, from the HLC home page choose the our institutions selection on the left hand side of the page then click on the recent actions link (again on the left hand side of the screen) and then scroll until you find the appropriate information. I encourage you to draw your own conclusions.

As with any opinion editorial in this discussion thread, all are just opinions and contain elements of fact. The true essence of any written work is that it is just opinion until you draw your own conclusions. Your conclusions are considered speculation and are only valid after the reader has performed his/her own research and reaches a conclusion based on fact, not rhetorical dialogue or hearsay.

I will leave you with a thought; take it for what it is worth:
Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge.
- Mark Twain

Sincerely,
Michael
Denver, Colorado

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#19 UPDATE EX-employee responds

CEC is crooked!

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

POSTED: Sunday, October 01, 2006

CEC is/has been investigated by the SEC, Dept. of Ed, and the BPPV (in California). As far as I know, they are not out in the clear. Their AIU division is also on probation by their accrediting body (SACS). I believe they are getting visits this month.

I used to work for AIU in various departments and I can tell you that they are one of the most crooked schools/businesses I have ever been involved in. I quit because I couldn't take it anymore.

All the directors and managers are complete jokes! It seems like it's their first job. They know nothing about education and are just in it for the numbers!

The Admissions Representatives are complete imbeciles! Believe me when I say this stuff!

The people who run this company at the AIU corporate level are complete morons who know nothing about education or how to run a school.

You remember that 60 Minutes piece? Well, it was all true!

They had people who hadn't graduated from high school attend and receive financial aid money for years. That is very illegal! I hope they bust them for that!

AIU is not a diploma mill, it's just run by a bunch of jack-offs!

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#18 Consumer Suggestion

Do some research

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

POSTED: Sunday, September 17, 2006

Hello again. In the first post it was said that the owners of CTU were under investigation by the justice department. The FBI which falls under the department of justice just happens to be a educational partner with Colorado Technical University. I highly doubt that the FBI would partner with this university if they were the scam artist as the way they are described in these postings.

I think people need to realize that universities that offer degrees online are not just going to pass you just because. So before you go and enroll to take classes online you should make sure that you have the dicipline not to be distracted by other activites that go on at home so that you can stay focused on your assignments so that you dont fail out.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#17 Consumer Suggestion

Accredited university

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

POSTED: Saturday, September 16, 2006

Ok folks. For all of you that have had trouble with Colorado Technical University, sorry to hear that.

But this university is not a degree mill. They do have bricks and motor campuses. They are a real university and not just an online school. They just allow you to recieve your degree online just like many popular universities across the US.

When you recieve your diploma from this school it does not state online anywhere on the diploma. You just took your classes online, but you still studied with this university. Colorado Technical University is accredited by The North Central Association of colleges and The Higher Learning Commision. The Council For Higher Education Accredition recongnizes both of these US accrediting organizatons.

Some people think that getting degrees online is and easy thing to do so they enroll in online classes and quickly find out that these universities are not handing out degress like candy as they expected.

By this time they are already in debt with the school or banks because they failed out. So this creates tension between the former student and the university. Getting degrees online is a serious matter that takes a lot of dicipline. Please check out CHEA to see if your future college or university is an accredited college. You can even look up Colorado Technical University on this web site. Happy learning to all of you

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#16 Consumer Suggestion

Accredited university

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

POSTED: Saturday, September 16, 2006

Ok folks. For all of you that have had trouble with Colorado Technical University, sorry to hear that.

But this university is not a degree mill. They do have bricks and motor campuses. They are a real university and not just an online school. They just allow you to recieve your degree online just like many popular universities across the US.

When you recieve your diploma from this school it does not state online anywhere on the diploma. You just took your classes online, but you still studied with this university. Colorado Technical University is accredited by The North Central Association of colleges and The Higher Learning Commision. The Council For Higher Education Accredition recongnizes both of these US accrediting organizatons.

Some people think that getting degrees online is and easy thing to do so they enroll in online classes and quickly find out that these universities are not handing out degress like candy as they expected.

By this time they are already in debt with the school or banks because they failed out. So this creates tension between the former student and the university. Getting degrees online is a serious matter that takes a lot of dicipline. Please check out CHEA to see if your future college or university is an accredited college. You can even look up Colorado Technical University on this web site. Happy learning to all of you

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#15 Consumer Suggestion

Accredited university

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

POSTED: Saturday, September 16, 2006

Ok folks. For all of you that have had trouble with Colorado Technical University, sorry to hear that.

But this university is not a degree mill. They do have bricks and motor campuses. They are a real university and not just an online school. They just allow you to recieve your degree online just like many popular universities across the US.

When you recieve your diploma from this school it does not state online anywhere on the diploma. You just took your classes online, but you still studied with this university. Colorado Technical University is accredited by The North Central Association of colleges and The Higher Learning Commision. The Council For Higher Education Accredition recongnizes both of these US accrediting organizatons.

Some people think that getting degrees online is and easy thing to do so they enroll in online classes and quickly find out that these universities are not handing out degress like candy as they expected.

By this time they are already in debt with the school or banks because they failed out. So this creates tension between the former student and the university. Getting degrees online is a serious matter that takes a lot of dicipline. Please check out CHEA to see if your future college or university is an accredited college. You can even look up Colorado Technical University on this web site. Happy learning to all of you

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#14 Consumer Suggestion

Accredited university

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

POSTED: Saturday, September 16, 2006

Ok folks. For all of you that have had trouble with Colorado Technical University, sorry to hear that.

But this university is not a degree mill. They do have bricks and motor campuses. They are a real university and not just an online school. They just allow you to recieve your degree online just like many popular universities across the US.

When you recieve your diploma from this school it does not state online anywhere on the diploma. You just took your classes online, but you still studied with this university. Colorado Technical University is accredited by The North Central Association of colleges and The Higher Learning Commision. The Council For Higher Education Accredition recongnizes both of these US accrediting organizatons.

Some people think that getting degrees online is and easy thing to do so they enroll in online classes and quickly find out that these universities are not handing out degress like candy as they expected.

By this time they are already in debt with the school or banks because they failed out. So this creates tension between the former student and the university. Getting degrees online is a serious matter that takes a lot of dicipline. Please check out CHEA to see if your future college or university is an accredited college. You can even look up Colorado Technical University on this web site. Happy learning to all of you

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#13 Consumer Comment

Why are all the students of AIU/CTU getting so DEFENSIVE

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

POSTED: Wednesday, September 13, 2006

I just have one question. I feel no need to repeat what a scam these institutions are and I see as an X employee from over 2 years ago, AIU/CTU's practices have not gotten any better, but perhaps even worse.

FOR GRADUATES (alumni if that is not too pathetic to say) or currect students.......
Question #1: Why are you even researching your university and the "supposed" scams they are involved in? If you are so confident that their practices are law abiding and moral? I went to a REAL university and NEVER did I type in the name of it on the internet followed by the word(s) "SCAM" or "RIP-OFF". (which is really the only way you were able to get to this website).
WHY ARE YOU EVEN ON THIS WEBSITE?

Comment 2: Has anyone else noticed the trend that the only people on this thread that are throughly upset by the comments are the current students or graduates of this institution? I mean obviously it is embarassing knowing you have completely and totally been scammed espeacially when 100's of people are posting the script they used on every student verbatim on the internet, knowing they fell for it, but are now trying to act like they got thier moneys worth. Its funny, I dont see a website for AIU/CTU success stories anywhere around. But there are PLENTY of the SCAM/RIPOFF ones. FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SCAMMED.

It is okay, in about 30 years you will be done paying all of those loans. And just think of the GREAT education you received along the way. Lets not forget about the professional admissions advisor helping guide you, all along the way through those tough internet courses. (The internet courses that never TESTED any of your knowledge, rather had assignments through "real" life projects. (That was my other favorite line to tell people) They all were suckered in after that one. No TESTS??? They would ask. "Well hear at CTU we feel testing is not a real reflection of learing, so we rather base learning on projects with "real life experience" as a way of getting to really know a subject". WOW, is this how Stanford and Harvard are going it now? Because we always had to tell every "COW' (contract on the way) that CTU had the same accredidation as Harvard and Stanford. What a PATHETIC JOKE!! PEOPLE IF YOU ARE STUDENTS YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED!! I Know that if you receieved a "higher" education from this place you might not be able to figure it out yet, since they apparantly dont teach those "real life experiences" but you have, now do something about it. Try to get your money back, do something.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#12 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Ex-AIU grad do become employees

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

POSTED: Thursday, August 03, 2006

I can confirm that ex-AIU graduates do become AIU employees. Time and again at the AIU-LA campus it occured. If you look at the background to many employees you'll find that they attended AIU and graduated from AIU.

They're in every level - from VP level to Director level to Admissions level to Academics level to file clerk level.

Dave

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#11 Consumer Comment

Former Student

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

POSTED: Saturday, July 29, 2006

As a US Marine's wife trying to finish my education, I couldn't just enroll in a brick and mortar school because we move too much. So I ended up scammed by this school. I was told that finishing an associate's degree would cost me $2191, which seemed reasonable since I had numerous credits already. In reality it ended up costing $11,832.50, which i didn't know until I received the Educaid statements months later. Now I want to pursue a bachelor's degree, but may not be able to because I have to pay off this degree. Their job placement is also a joke. I explained that I lived in a remote location (29Palms, Ca) and really needed help finding employment. All they came back with were work at home scams. I never considered myself stupid, but this school got me hook, line and sinker. I would love to see a lawsuit come out of this and would of course love to get my money back so I can try and get a decent education, but I doubt it will ever happen.
As far as people not being able to get into 'real' schools, that is wrong. My education started at Texas A&M University, College Station, but my life changed and I needed to get an education that would allow me to move when my husband was assigned a new duty station so my choices were limited and my knowledge of online schools was non-existant.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#10 UPDATE EX-employee responds

AIU IS A RIP OFF

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

POSTED: Tuesday, July 18, 2006

I'm an ex employee not of AIU but of Pride Staff. I also have been solicted by Office Team, Salem Staffing, Manpower, Sepherion, and the list goes on! That is how my love connection with AIU became about. I was an admissions advisor. I'm also a single mother of 1. These people on here are saying they have not had a bad experience.....yet. Either those people are real or not it doesn't matter to me.

I wanted to tell you folks this person is definately telling the truth. I have personally worked there through a staffing company and another member of my house hold also has too. Infact, my current job the names of Chris A, Leslie A, Kirstina M, Pedro O, Etc. Sorry I can't release the last names of those people becuase I work with them now. But we have ALL worked for them.

If you folks want to know the last names of those people you can email me. We all currently work for a reputable company in oakbrook IL doing research. It was funny during our training we met and we exchanged our horror stories working with these people. We all came from staffing companies. Again, in this current job now were all permanent we all came from staffing companies.

AIU/CTU are all rip-offs people. The other complaints you read in detail about the scripts are absolutely true. The people I mentioned worked in downers grove, hoffman estates, and new location schaumburg IL. How much more proof do you need. I'm telling all single mom's to please reconsider your options to school at least not through them. I have found (competitor's name deleted - see below) helped me. I took some classes there and merged them with my classes at my current alma mater.

I want to apologize to those who I actually signed up while I was there. It took me about 1-2 months to figure out what they were all about. There a complete scam. The pay for an admissions advisor is $18.50 hr, financial advisor $14.00 hr, no commissions either. They can't pay us commission or it would be deemed Illegal.

They are also discrimintory in there practices how they hire people. I'm a single mother and missed one day of work boom I was fired gone. I told them I wanted to go back to school and they said I should of never taken the job no accomodations. Anyone that I know that has had something come up or anything was fired. It only takes once.

Then on the financial side of CTU. The person in my household endured 6 day work weeks. They have "Package" people up. They have to get so many a week or be fired. Your consistantly being threatened. I know that one for a fact myself.

Some of the people on the phone I would give the speech too. I knew they would fail from the sounds of it. Not sounding motivated or gunhoe. Some were cautious. I wasn't even told how much the schooling was and I was an admissions advisor.

The true people who know are the Financial aid advisors. Living with some who was a financial aid advisor they said a lot of mistakes were made in the financial process. People forging signatures on documents, copying them so you would never know it came off the fax without a signature. Things for loans or financial aid stuff.

So if you people want to earn a degree from people like this go be my guest. I know for a fact there degrees are not only vaild but its completely worthless. I have been screamed at enough to know becuase of th end result. I have taken those calls before and several of them may I add. We are instructed to pass them.

So please really do your homework and find the right university that you will benefit from. I'm now a certified in the area of law and this to me sounds like a lawsuit brewing and its just a matter of time. In my opinion they will get there just deserves for mishandling money & peoples lives. What goes around comes around.


sorry, allowing you to give a competitors name would instigate others to just file against their competition,

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#9 Consumer Comment

CEC School Graduates

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

POSTED: Thursday, June 22, 2006

I heard CEC is hiring its graduates to be DOAs (Director of Admissions)...

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#8 Consumer Comment

Not so different

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

POSTED: Sunday, June 04, 2006

I go to AIU now and I am surprised that some of the courses were pretty difficult. I am studying BS Computer Science. Recently I was speaking to one of my friends that goes to Hoftra University in NY. this is a good school. A Visual Basics course we both were taking at the same time.

For those who are familiar with Option Strict On it if a feature that makes sure the programmer uses correct variables. For instance not mixing numbers with letters. AIU teaches with options strict on and Hofstra does not. I was shocked that Hofstra would teach these poor programming practices. Don't just go by the name of the school

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#7 Consumer Comment

I am enrolled at CTUonline, found this as more of an intuitive way to get an education and job experience at the same time.

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

POSTED: Friday, October 14, 2005

I am enrolled in this university, and find it challenging in some cases, especially time management wise. Despite this college being an online school, employers in my area found this as more of an intuitive way to get an education and job experience at the same time. I explained to them that the online university focuses on projects and case studies, basically problem solving skills to real-world scenarios; instead of theoritical based cirriculum. I'm quite amazed by such strong alagations, I am from NY where I did my undergrad at a brick-and-morter school (SUNY) state university, I find their customer services very lacking, and seem to care about making money just like for profit schools. Those who do not have the experience of a state school vs for-profit school will undoubtedly not see the similarities, the only difference between online vs state schools like the suny system is that online schools are more self directed and practical (real-world); whereas, state schools/college are more hands on and theoretical, some do provide real-world case studies such as my undergrad school.

Basically people who want to attend online universities should take the www.elearners.com quiz to see if they are even the type who are able to be successful in an online university. My online complaint is group work, and some of the citation practices of students, which most of the time would not fly at a SUNY school; however, I find the work stimulating and intuitive, it was nice to have professors who were hard on those who did not turn their work in on time/poor writing, but also gave some leway to those who suffered from katrina, basically eased on the grading of work. So basically despite those two complaint of citations and group being difficult to manage, I find it as a very positive experience, and not affraid to share it with others.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#6 Consumer Comment

To Rick from Aloha

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

POSTED: Sunday, October 09, 2005

Rick, why should you expect to put in less time that someone attending a traditional institution, just because you work full time?

I never worked at all in college.

I don't think that these online degrees carry the weight with employers that you think they do.

Well, I suppose maybe you could be the Senior Cart Collector at Freddys.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#5 Consumer Comment

To Rick from Aloha

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

POSTED: Sunday, October 09, 2005

Rick, why should you expect to put in less time that someone attending a traditional institution, just because you work full time?

I never worked at all in college.

I don't think that these online degrees carry the weight with employers that you think they do.

Well, I suppose maybe you could be the Senior Cart Collector at Freddys.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#4 Consumer Comment

To Rick from Aloha

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

POSTED: Sunday, October 09, 2005

Rick, why should you expect to put in less time that someone attending a traditional institution, just because you work full time?

I never worked at all in college.

I don't think that these online degrees carry the weight with employers that you think they do.

Well, I suppose maybe you could be the Senior Cart Collector at Freddys.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#3 Consumer Comment

To Rick from Aloha

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

POSTED: Sunday, October 09, 2005

Rick, why should you expect to put in less time that someone attending a traditional institution, just because you work full time?

I never worked at all in college.

I don't think that these online degrees carry the weight with employers that you think they do.

Well, I suppose maybe you could be the Senior Cart Collector at Freddys.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#2 Consumer Comment

I attend CTU online

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

POSTED: Sunday, October 09, 2005

I have to wholeheartedly disagree with your comments on CTU Online. I have two degrees from "Real colleges" and decided to get a third. I did a lot of reseach on CTU prior to enrolling and I have been enrolled for over 1.5 years. I have had a great experience and they do not just push people through at all. I have known a few people that have failed out. I, however, work very hard and with four papers due a week (they do not have tests), working a full0time job in management, and have two children, it was the best option for me! I actually find CTU's curriculum to be much more difficult than my prior "real school" (as you call it) experiences.

I have been in healthcare for over 12 years and had decided to get my business degree to persue my management goals. I still have 8 mos. left and have already been offered many good positions despite what you say. Also, I was all prepared to enter Drexel University prior to my decision to enroll with CTU, so your comments are all just YOUR opinion and have absolutely no merit.

I had no knowledge of your other statements, and they may very well be true, but nothing regarding your opinion is.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#1 Consumer Comment

Way off base

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

POSTED: Sunday, June 05, 2005

Some of the comments listed in your post are true. For example, AIU online is accredited through SACS; which is a regional accreditation. For you to say that your degree through a "real" school is any better is simply not true. For people like myself who work full time and do not have the time to go to a "real" school, AIU online is a great alternative. To me it sounds like you are an ex employee who is not happy--just a guess since you are from Downers Grove.

I know for a fact that a degree from AIU online holds its weight with employers. I guess I'm just one of those people who don't need to stare at an instructor to receive my education. I guess it's whatever makes you feel good about yourself. If you feel that your better than the 30 thousand students--of those roughly 20% of those currently are active in the military fighting for our country--so be it. Have fun at your "real" school. Me, I will have my degree within a year and will continue to advance in my career while you continue to go to your "real" school and waiting to start your career.

Respond to this report!
What's this?
Featured Reports

Advertisers above have met our
strict standards for business conduct.

X
What do hackers,
questionable attorneys and
fake court orders have in common?
...Dishonest Reputation Management Investigates Reputation Repair
Free speech rights compromised

WATCH News
Segment Now