Apollo Group/Axia College/University Of Phoenix UOP School terminated my student teaching 4 weeks before graduation Phoenix, Arizona

Hi there... I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. I'm a former admissions counselor and graduate from their MAed+teaching credential program, so I certainly feel your pain.  Unfortunately, UOP is a very large company that is profit driven; which means they're happy to charge more money whenever remotely possible... in fact, it's official policy to get away with as much bull as they possibly can. 

This applies to both students and employees.  For example, they refused to pay me or any other "counselor" overtime we had earned - that is until a massive class action law suit was brought against them and a federal judge ordered them to pay. Slavery is the name of the game at UOP... After only a year, I had personally racked-up over $7,000 in overtime and as a result was one of their top performers.  All I can say is: THANK GOD FOR BLOODSUCKING LAWYERS! They were able to get most of us nearly every dime we were owed.

Anyway, so it's a big company, and they're dirty, and as a result they really don't have many employees that could be described as "professionals".  Don't get me wrong, they do get "professionals" every now and again that try to do the right thing and genuinely care about the students... but it's rare. And, the time spent at UOP by most of these individuals is fairly short lived because they are quite literally driven away.

So, here's the point: UOP makes A LOT of mistakes.  Even if we don't count what is done ON PURPOSE to pad their bottom line, they STILL make a lot of mistakes.  And I don't mean LITTLE mistakes.  I mean HUGE, MASSIVE, LIKE, "THAT WAS SO IDIOTIC I'M BEGINNING TO DOUBT MY OWN SANITY" kinds of mistakes. 

They made several of these kinds of mistakes with me and my group during our program.  That being said, there is a way to deal with the mistakes and the people that make them that will virtually ensure your success in overcoming the huge, gelatinous pile of steaming dung that this school is forever hurling in your direction:

Simply put: DON'T TAKE THEIR CRAP.  PERIOD. 

Let me explain...

Do not ever forget - not for one second, that you are dealing with a DIRTY company, populated by OVERWORKED, UNDERPAID, AND in many cases, NOT TERRIBLY BRIGHT OR HARDWORKING employees.

This is a company that is USED to be threatened with and by the Dept. of Education.  This is a company that will make nearly ANY accommodation in order to avoid more lawsuits and/or government reprimands.

From your post, it sounds like you did nothing wrong and that UOP's little witch hunt came as the result of the NATURAL cognitive, emotional and professional LIMITATIONS suffered by their employees.

In other words, IF YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE WRONG, TELL THEM AS MUCH... AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MAKE IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT YOU WILL INVOLVE THE DEPT. OF EDUCATION TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE IN TRYING TO GAIN RESOLUTION.

Also, DO NOT be afraid to ask for a portion of your tuition back if their mistake ends up costing you time out of class, and as a result you are unable to graduate on time.  It doesn't happen very often, but I was able to get two classes for FREE because they had screwed my course progression so badly.

Here's the Dept. of Education website that will tell you how to file a complaint:
https://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OIG/englishhotlineform.cfm

I don't know nearly enough about your situation to venture a guess as to WHICH procedure you need to follow, but I'm sure that the Dept. of Ed. can give you that help if needed.

Some other tips:
When you are ready to make your rebuttal, make sure that you:

#1) Have the SAME people on the phone with you (or in person) that were on when they first notified you of this "problem".  There is virtually NO internal communication at UOP and you'll be saving yourself a lot of heartache later on (especially if you end up getting what you want the first time around).

#2) Plan your argument meticulously.  If you don't do well in confrontation, WRITE IT ALL DOWN before you call. And, BE SPECIFIC... meaning, be well-versed in UOP's policies relating to your program requirements.  This info is available on your student web site.

#3) If at all possible, ask your cooperating teacher to send an email to your program counselor/coordinator (sorry, I forget what they're called) to vouch for your attendance before you have your conference call so that any basic misunderstandings regarding your attendance can be cleared up front via "the horse's mouth". Ask your cooperating teacher to CC you on the email. 

#4) Be ready to file that complaint with the Dept. of Education if things go south. In fact, writing out your argument beforehand will virtually ensure that you are ready.

#5) Finally, don't think; KNOW that you are in the right.  A strong attitude goes a long way with these people (as it does with most bullies).

GOOD LUCK!

Hey Alli:

Thanks for your report. Your experience sounds very similar to mine. I was told that my student teaching experience was extended the day I was suppose to end it. I have been trying to finish my program for nearly 4 years now. The school wants me to finish the program in the Spring of 2011 since the Fall of 2010 deadline has passed. Yeah right!!! As you said, more money for them. I would suggest finding an attorney as I am doing and filing a lawsuit. Mine will be based off of livelihood threatened, financial distress, and emotional distress. Hope to hear from you soon.

Hey Rick,

I'm finding that there are several victims of UOP.  I can't believe they terminate people so easily at the very end of the freakin program.  So much money, time, sacrifice invested and for them it's nothing.  This is something the government needs to look into and correct.  THis would never happen in a regular school, communication would definitely be clear.

You should see the list they have now about all these terrible things that supposedly happened in a classroom that they never saw.  "I'm not there most of the time" ,  "I had trouble with lesson planning"  "couldn't teach social studies", gee, wonder why the FS gave me a "B" for my first evaluation and told me I was very organized.  Hmmm....

I'm such a horrible student all of the sudden, I'm suprised they didn't mention the affair the CT and I had right infront of the students too.

UOP are nothing but a bunch of scam artists and they sucker people in because they hire really super nice people to represent them, once you're in and they have your loan money, You're literally tossed to the wolves.  The don't give a flying crap about you or your life, they got the money and that's what it was all about.

I have heard about people that graduated and then the employer laughed at they're diploma because after all it is "online", seriously, I was stupid to think that this would be the right approach to education.

Cool thing though, I as well as you, Rick, can still get a job teaching.  There's scores of schools that take you in and you can get this stuff done later.  Unfortunately we are out the money, for me so far I've invested $26,000. 

I hate these people and I'm making sure I tell the whole world what happened to me, even taking to the news.

So what where they saying you did so wrong?  Tell me how to file that complaint, is that within the school itself?

Like they care, but I'd like to know anyway.

Alli

I am dealing with just about the exact situation in Florida. I too, was 4 weeks from completion when I complained about comments made by my faculty supervisor. I had even received a positive e-mail from my faculty supervisor the day before termination. I am filing a formal greivance with dispute management. Everything else is identical, even the berating comments in the 3-way phone conversation. I was terminated the day after you, on Tuesday.