American Intercontinental

I attended N.C.C.U. and Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (Now Phil. Univ). I am a Fall 1997 graduate of A.I.U.B.A. Fashion Design. That very quarter, American College for the Applied Arts changed into A.I.U. There were several instructors that were lackluster in their pursuit to teach. There was absolutely no career planning and placement, no advisers to set you up with potential employers in the Fashion Industry. If it were not for my Financial Aid Counselor, I would not have received the tuition from student loans. She later resigned or was fired because of the changes that were taking place in the school.

The economic damage is over $100k plus interest in student loans, no industry experience in my concentration other than Retail management or lower, i.e. stock, merchandiser, visual display, etc. Two years after graduation, I ventured to NYC and Philadelphia Fashion Districts to interview and further pursue my experience in the Fashion Industry. A.I.U. was not respected; furthermore, the career planning and placement office was none existent, so I had to figure things out without proper guidance from the school. Only a part-time millinery sewing job came out of it. I also watched my girlfriend at the time of 6 years, graduate of Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, where I attended before A.I.U. land a job in Fashion Marketing for over $60K. I was able to land a part time Millinery sewing job earning only $8/hour.

I had proposed to my girlfriend with a child on the way. She did not want to marry me because I could not make enough money to support us, so she broke up with me and got an abortion. With no family, I was forced to move back to Atlanta and start from scratch, retail after retail job of $9/ hour or less. Since 2000, I still cannot pay my student loans back living in Room-in-houses, to pinch and save to create a start up Fashion Service: Custom Apparel, Alteration, Pattern/Sample making services. Just getting by I cycled for the last 10 years and have been on food stamps to survive. Now in 2010, I am still in the same financial quagmire as when I graduated in 1997.

As former student and Graduate of American Intercontinental University, or AIU, a for-profit school that operates numerous campuses in the United States and Dubai, I would like to file a lawsuit against this school. I am one of the many students that the school and its parent company, Delaware-based Career Education Company, or CEC, operated a fraudulent scheme by marketing itself as a selective school that boasted after-college careers for graduates and resources to help students find jobs.

These representations were materially false and/or misleading. There has been a class action once against this establishment but only the original plaintiffs received any type of financial relief. I qualified for 100 percent relief, but was not entitled too much of anything after the payout. Also, with the respect to CEC and Sallie Mae, all of the students' loans were packaged without an option to select their own lender. The only lender that they used was Sallie Mae. They were the default lender if you did not qualify for Federal Student aid.

Can you please contact me or assist me with the filing of this Lawsuit? I have had so many bad things happen in my life and I really just wanted to go back to school to obtain my degree so that I can provide for myself and my family. I went to school to obtain a career in Marketing and Fashion Design, but have been able to do so since I have graduated from American Intercontinental University in 2005. I have only been able to obtain office jobs. Office jobs pay $30,000-$40,000 per year, which is what I was making before I attended AIU for a Private Education to be able to make a better living. At this point, my student loans total $90,000. I am also disabled and have had to defer my student loans which mean they are accruing major interest. At one point, I was paying 19 percent on at least 6 loans.

This is the way Air's Financial Aid Division packaged their loans. Please contact me and guide me in the right direction. I am unsure what I am to do at this point. The college's advertisement and representation is very misleading, and for a woman who's trying to take her life to the next level, I truly believed that this would definitely help me get there. Please help me.

I received another collection letter for a balance of $4, 628.51 dollars. I forward the letter with supporting documents that makes my case pertaining to why the institution should not charge me the amount requested. The situation amounts to the fact I was forced to receive a failing grade in the course detailed in the letter I previously forward to their institution. The professor/instructor failed his obligation to ensure my grades were submitted before the class session came to a close.

I in essence requested more time to complete my assignments due to my military obligations to support my country in the fight against terrorism and technical difficulties I occurred. The professor granted my request then rescinded his previous statement by notifying me there wasn't anything he could do because he had turned in all his grades and I should use my advisor for a resolution. Due to his failure I was forced to retake the course. Also due to my shift work and constant mission oriented work schedule I was unable to place a complaint within time restraints requested by the university.

I am a member of the U.S. Army whose duties involve supporting missions in Iraq and a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I only owe this amount because of the professor not executing what he stated in an e-mail. Paying for a course I had to simply retake because a stated obligation was not adhered too. I have attached the mailed letter and the e-mail verification of my statement. Please help me to resolve this matter and either have the amount waived are reduced drastically. This is a detriment to the fighting men and women of this nation. If AIU has done this to me I am sure there are other service members going through my same dilemma. I will also report this complaint to the identified Illinois departments for a resolution and to the U.S. Army Education Office because AIU receive grants for vets and collecting tuition assistance. Thanks for any help your state organization can provide me.

I am receiving debt collection letters that may impact my credit rating if posted to my credit reports. Did not receive correspondence back from the letter I mailed AIU in 16 September 2008. Simply want amount dissolved or if I must pay the amount drastically reduced. Thanks!

"Dear Mrs. P, It is with the greatest respect and honor that I write to you; and I write to you at this late hour so as not forget my correlated thoughts upon this subject. Approximately one week or so after having informed CEC and American Intercontinental University Online of my intent to file formal complaints with SACS, The Department of Education, the Inspector General the following changes were immediately implemented after each employee received an Unannounced Visitor Plan:

1. A ping pong table was placed at the entrance of the visitor entrance. 2. "Casual Day" became the norm rather than the exception. Casual day is now used as an enticement and inducement. You yourself said in a Focus Group that I attended stated that you thought employees should not dress casual because they produce better work when they dress nice. 3. Ice cream and pizza parties were organized; tables were set up outside for group lunches. 4. There has been a concerted effort to offer competition among the various teams with various "prizes, money, dinner, casual days".

While on the face of it, these inducements may inspirational to some and extortion to others. I happen to see them so suddenly implemented after having received the "Unannounced Visitor Plan" memo that it is my analysis that when someone from the Inspector General's Office, a representative of our accreditation body, the Department of Education etc. arrives they will see the ping pong table and think to themselves that "oh this looks like an enjoyable and fun place to work. Furthermore, The Unannounced Visitor Plan eludes to the employee to, in essence, not to get into a conversation with any of these authorities.

The previously mentioned inducements, I think, are meant as a way of silencing, extorting, and impeding any investigation that may be coming in the future as a result of my communications with CEC and AIU to File Formal Complaints.. How is this so: the inducements that I have mentioned could have an effect upon employees that if asked questions from authorities their answers may be positive rather than negative. I know for a fact that most employees can see through this deception and ruse. I myself am hardly fooled by the ping pong table, the calorie laden pizzas, ice-cream and implementation of insincere contests for money, food, gift certificates and so on.

I am a very analytical person and happen to know most of the employees who work in our building; very few of which are happy or deceived by these inducements are unhappy for several reasons; each of which are not dusted over by such pathetic enducements. 1. The attrition rate observed by the employees and myself is startling if not appalling. 2. If an employee's "numbers" are not high enough they are berated, written up and eventually given a 30-day warning. 3. I have never seen such attrition in my entire employment history. 4. I, along with many other employees are harassed in order to get or increase enrollments. 5. Manipulative emails are sent out in order to spark fear in employees to somehow get employees to increase production.

This is the reality; not the ping pong tables, not the pizza and ice cream, not contests. I have been in our workplace for almost a year now. When I was a temp, with Staffing Now, under the misdirection of Mr. Michael Buck, I was literally psychologically damaged. The training methods utilized were torture and it was daily held over my head that if I made any mistakes or did not get enough enrollments that I would be "let go" and "not converted". Why didn't I say anything at the time? Because I was warned that if I made any waves that I would be "terminated, walked out and not converted." Who told me that? Mr Michael B., Mr. Richard B., and senior employees.

In conclusion, I requested Formal Paperwork in order to File a Formal Complaint against American Intercontinental University Online and CEC and was told that there is no Formal Paperwork to file a complaint. Micro management is pain and punishment combined with the fear of losing your job. I wrote to the President of SACS and was provided today with all of the Formal Complaint paperwork which I will meticulously and accurately fill out.

I was told by Mrs.Rhonda C., the current Human Resource Manager here at AIU that "James, this is not a prison, you are free to leave whenever you wish" Asking an employee or suggesting that I resign is inappropriate and insulting and is indicative of the general culture of the company or at least from what I have seen here at AIU Online thus far.

When I was studying for my Masters degree we were taught that micro management is the worst and most insidious form of management; yet that is the form of management used here in our workplace. Just so you are aware: most, around 95% of our employees are not happy and are miserable. They are there because they have bills to pay and you take total advantage of that fear by making it crystal clear that if their performance is not as it should be they will be terminated; in some form or another this is a daily reminder. The methodology that is used is simple: problem, reaction, solution.

I bring these things to your attention because when you hired me you told me that you had an open door policy. Do you really? One other thing. Raphael C. approached me about filling out paperwork that was a pre-emptive report for me to write in order to eventually place me in a position of management because I had shown interest in that area and had performed exceptionally as a temp. When I was "converted" over and became an employee and filed a few complaints and concerns. I have never heard mention of me going into management again. This is both disgusting and discriminating. I did fill out the paperwork promptly and gave it to Raphael. I mention this only to show how manipulative the current system at AIU Online is.

I am not flooding you with too many words; I am flooding you with facts. And it isn't that I don't "believe", ok, it is not that I don't "b e l i e v e" in our organization, but I have personally witnessed the harassment, abuse, psychological warfare used by trainers, managers, supervisors, when I was a temp, and continue to do so. I have never seen a workplace that was so vicious and had such a lack of respect for employees and has caused me much damage both emotional and psychological through the use of very well planned out confrontational interractions.

I was unhappy with the customer service and support I was receiving from the institution. For reasons out of my control, I had to withdraw from the school. Upon withdrawing, I was told that the remaining balance (which totaled over $4,000) was now due in full. They harassed me day and night--even after 8p.m. (an hour in which I do not feel is appropriate for them to be calling my home). They even had the nerve to call on weekends demanding money. They they threatened to send my information to collections several times, even though I had made payments (including one totaling $1,000).

I found another institution to continue my education, but of course they need my transcripts which AIU refused to release...even though I had been making payments. They are the worst institution I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. They are not at all concerned about the student and their education, but only with the money they get from them. They need to be put out of business!

I have had to place my education on hold, and my family has suffered financially due to basically having to pay to get rid of them.

Iam a student at AIU-London. I currently receive $36,000 worth of financial aid. one years tuition is $24,000 . however, for several semesters now i have been short of money for living expenses and continue to owe an outstanding balance. they say this is because i moved out of the dorms during a term but by the fall term the outstanding balance was covered, and the exchange rates. the universities finance department holds students money after tuition and fees have been applied and then they give them their balances in two disbursements. 1 before midterms and 1 after.

this results in students not receiving all the money they should, had the finanace dept returned the balance to the student after tuition and fees were billed.many of the policies of the finance department, no one has every heard of and for that matter cannot find in any handbook. the main problem is regarding the sallie mae alternative loans which many students have, i'm aware that they have less restrictions than titleV funding and its therefore left to the discretion of the school. i am seriously concerned about the dealing of the finance department at AIU-London. they have lost or misplaced thousand of dollars worth of funding for one student in the summer term, co-signed a loan for a student without their or their parents knowledge.

Many students believe that the finance department holds on to our balances so they can earn intrest on it. is it possible to have someone investigate whether or not they have violated Title 20 United States Code section 1097?

As a result of the policy of the finance department at AIU-London i never have enough money to cover my living expenses in london, therefore i have to request that my loan disbursements from sallie mae be pushed up to an earlier date. Also many students find them selves broke and in emminent threat of being kicked out of their flats because they cannot pay their rents. others don't attend classes because they have no money to pay the tube fare.they only recommendations the finance department makes is to take out more private loans or get a part time job which isn't possible with most students scheduals.

I'm a student at American Intercontinental University-London. I have been a full time student for over two-years now. A situation arose this term {FALL TERM 2005} which I need help in resolving. Three weeks before the start of fall-term I had a meeting with the finance advisor at the university. She told me I had been under funded by around $3,400, and sent an email to the processing team in Chicago to adjust my disbursement for fall term. I registered for my classes before the end of summer, and went off to the states to visit family.

I had previously told the finance office I will be moving next term, just to make sure funding was okay on return so there wouldn't be homeless. They ask students to bring leases for their accommodation when they move off campus, which can be hassle if information is not sufficient to what they want. My lease was due to expire on the 23 of September so I did not want to be homeless.

I returned to classes on the 12th of Oct. normally refunds arent given on the first week of classes, so I put in a refund request for next week for the move-in cost. I noticed on salliemaes (my loan provider) website my disbursement date had been changed twice and was now scheduled for the Oct. 18th. I was staying with a friend and I needed to move out , so I reminded them of the urgency for me to receive my funding. On the 19th of Oct.

I was given a refund of 1223, which was short 1,000 of what I requested. The following day I was sent an email on the from the finance advisor that they over-awarded me for the academic year, (see attachments). I had a meeting with Tanya G on the 27th of Oct. and she told me basically they will need to send back almost $5,725 to the lender because they made a mistake in my budget for the year. I asked why they didn't let me know before start of term and was told she didn't detect the mistake till the 18th of Oct.

I was due to move out the first week of Oct, but I told my friend about the situation but they could no longer accommodate me. I had no choice but to pay for a room or be on the streets. I asked Tanya is there any way this can be resolved since it was not a mistake caused by me -her reply was she didn't know and I should get a job. I understand there are mistakes when dealing with students who receive financial aid, but if this was told to me before the start of term I could have looked for alternative ways of recouping the funds I had to pay back or even took off the term, but it was not. I did odd jobs to get money to move in a place-they had already taken tuition out for the term. I am here in London now and basically I don't know how I will pay my rent for the next two months, I have no living expenses, nor travel. I dont know how I will even get a ticket to get home after the term.