Strayer University - Henrico Campus, VA Lied about transfer credits -- keep changing requirements for BS completion - Glen Allen, Virginia

I contacted Strayer in March 2010.  I requested specific information about transfer credits from other educational institutions.  Iwas told that Strayer had agreements with other 2-year colleges, in my case J. Sargeant Reynolds.  (I currently have two associates degrees in the Information Technologies field).  I wanted to pursue a BS in IT with Database Admin through Strayer. 

Over a couple of weeks, I have several conversations and emails with the registrater requesting specific information regarding any limitations on transfer credits (such as time constraints as to classes being too old (over 10 years) etc.).  I was told numerous times that there was NO limitation that my IT classes would transfer -- one-for-one into the Strayer program, thus keeping me from repeating classes I have previously taken at J. Sargeant Reynolds. But, no one would give me 'written' confirmation of these statements.  (they kept ending every conversation with the statement that the transcription evaluation department would make the final determination.)

I was skeptical of the answers I was getting, so I scheduled an appointment with the IT department head for a review of my transcript.  The professor took my transcript and indicated in his own hand writing, which classes would transfer for Strayer classes.  We agreed that taking the classes from my J. Sargeant transcript would greatly reduce the number of classes required at Strayer.  However, he was recommending that I take the core IT classes in-school at the Strayer Henrico campus instead of online.  He said taking the rest of the required classes at Strayer would be fine taken online. 

Long story short, at I registered and had taken 4 classes at Strayer (approx. $8000.00 spent), I received a letter from Strayer with my transcript evaluation.  Only one of the classes the professor had accepted were credited to my curriculum at Strayer.  ALL but ONE of my previous IT classes at J. Sargeant Reynolds were NOT acceptable because they were completed over 10 years prior to my enrollment at Strayer.  This was a direct lie from what everyone at the administration offices was telling me at Strayer and what the Professor of the IT department was saying. 

I contacted the professor and he submitted forms to have the classes he had previously approved accepted.  Those were also denied.  I appealed to the Campus Dean (Nolley), we have numerous telephone conversations and he was going to make appeals on my behave. 

I continued taking classes to meet my residency requirement (12) classes.  I kept asking the IT professor if the appeals he was 'supposed' to be making on my behave were getting anywhere.  He kept telling me he was working on it... for me not to worry ... just continue to get my core classes completed and the rest of the credits would get worked out.  (Boy, was I stupid for believing him.)

For approx. 12 months, I kept asking and he kept putting me off.  Finally, after I finished my Senior Seminar for the IT classes (completing the require core classes), I had an appointment with the IT professor to get my classes credited.  He then told me there was nothing he could do for me. He blew me off and said I could either retake the classes, do the CLEP stuff that there were no classes that applied, or just throw away all the money I had already spent.

I tried for almost three months to get an appointment with the student advisor for assistance.  She was supposedly out with an illiness.  I has passed around to an assistant who eventually, just passed me back to the IT professor who had previously blew me off.   No help there.

I made an appointment with Dean Nolley.   I took my outstanding requirements to the Dean.  I explained once again the entire story and he said I had to retake the classes.   According to my curriculum I need four IT classes, one REL, one SOC and one more elective.  It is a Strayer requirement that the students must take their last two semesters at Strayer (online) and transfer credit from other colleges can only be done while a full-time registered student.  The Dean approved the four classes I offered to take at J. Sargeant Reynolds (Sum 2012) -- two of the IT classes and the REL and SOC classes.  I have his approval on the forms for this required pre-approved transfer credit.  I was required to take the other two required classes in-school at Strayer for an additional cost of approximately $3800).  The Dean indicated that he would submit a request for the outstanding elective to be credited from a prior class from my J. Sargeant transcript originally submitted at my registration.

After I registered and paid for the classes at J. Sargeant Reynolds, the originally approved SOC class was cancelled, I registered for the only other SOC class being offered for the summer session at J. Sargeant Reynolds.  I filled out new forms for Strayer and Dean Nolley signed and approved the substitution class.  I also had to make class changes for the REL class due to class offering cancellations.  The form for that adjustment was signed and approved by Dean Nolley.

Now, I am less than three weeks from completing my final class, I contacted Dean Nolley to have my grades/classes transferred from J. Sargeant Reynolds to Strayer.  He is now telling me that the registrater is denying to accept the SOC class transfer and may deny the other classes as well.  Without that SOC class, I do not meet my graduation requirements and I miss the deadline for getting the credits transferred while I am a student at Strayer.  My final class ends Sept 9.  If these classes are not accepted, I will have to take more classes through Strayer.

This is a ripoff.   I have met the standards and class requirements for my degree.  I have met the residency requirements for Strayer, I have enough transfer credits to sink a battle ship and they are not being recognized.  I have spent over $28920.00 for classes at Strayer (not including books and time).  I have now spent another $2000.00 at J. Sargeant Reynolds that Strayer is now not accepting. 

The documented information in the course catalog indicates that the Dean of the Campus has to final approval for course transfer credits in the last two-terms of a students curriculum.    There is no indication of other department approval, etc.  I do not understand who can deny my transfer credits if I have prior approval from the Dean.  I do not understand why the Dean's request to include another elective from my prior submitted tranfer credits is being denied. 

I do not understand why the Dean is acting like he does not have a clue about anything and is not trying to help a student get the degree they have worked and paid for.  (paid for it the optimal word here).

I need an attorney who is will to take this to Strayer, court, the education commission or whoever I need to take it to. 

I have spent all the money at Strayer that I plan to ... I actually have spent about $10,000.00 more than I believe I should have.

This is sickening how these administrative type people can cause such pain and financial loss, just because they think they can.  They have the idea that students will keep paying and paying.  Well, enough is enough.

Is there anyone out there with the same situation and would like to file a lawsuit? 

I have documentation for everytime I have tried to get the people at Strayer to live up to.  They have lied to me from the beginning.  If they are doing to me -- they are doing it to other people.

Oh, and to top this off, even if I get this BS degree... it is just that -- BS. ALL the classes and credits from Strayer are not accreditted and not transferable to any four year colleges.  This was another lie I was told when I went for my initial registraction information meeting.  I found out on the internet that Strayer is really not accreditted.