Colorado Technical University

I am writing this letter because I recently graduated from Colorado Technical University Online with a BSN degree in Criminal Justice on July 19, 2011. To this day, I have not received my degree because the financial aid department says I owe the school $14,000. I do not believe that I owe them anything because my financial aid and my husband's GI bill benefits were supposed to cover my total tuition. Upon contacting the school, they informed me that in order for me to get my degree, I have to pay the said amount. I am on a fixed income and was not aware of this amount until I graduated. It was understood that they would take out any amount that was needed to pay my tuition from financial aid and the GI bill. I am 58 years young so in other words, I will never see my degree that I earned through sweat, tears and suffering.

As a young woman, I did not have the opportunity to go back to school so when I was able, I made a commitment to get my AA and BSN degree. Although, some jobs would rather have a copy of your degrees but the only thing I have is a copy of the graduation class listing. I feel that it is not fair to me that I have taken to further my education only to be told that the school will not be releasing my degree. My problem is how this school can get away with doing something like that. I believe that if you work hard at something especially when it comes to your well being such as your education or a promotion on a job, you have earned the right to see your accomplishments. In addition, I also requested to speak to a supervisor or manager within Student Accounts but I was refused. I feel that what has happened to me is like one big slap in the face. In other words, the school is actually telling me that you did all this work for nothing. I know you think that I am writing this letter out of anger.

To tell you the truth, I am mad as hell and anyone that has gone through something like this should be as well. It seems that our school system is set up for the unprivileged or the older people not to exceed but to fail in order for them to get their stats based on age, gender, race, etc. For me, this was the highlight of my life to have achieved this honor especially with my husband being sick and dying a month before I graduated. What I want is for you to take an interest and look at this school, Colorado Technical University, and other schools to see how things like this can happen. I am sure that I am not the only one this has happened to nor will I be the last. I look forward to hearing from you regarding this matter. Thank you in advance.

I signed up to receive information about their online university, because it seemed to be very convenient for me. They made me talk to an adviser almost every day for half an hour to an hour at a time just to get information on their program. Then, she made me email her my unofficial transcript to see what program would be best for me. She then sent me the application for the program which I had to pay $50 to fill out online. A week after they sent me the acceptance letter and all my sign up information and when I start classes, they called me and told me unfortunately, I do not meet the requirements. What type of university accepts a student into a degree program without making sure they qualify first? That's like hiring someone for a job then firing them a week later, because they don't have the right credentials.

The reason I did not qualify was for not having fully completed an associate's degree, which is completed, just not on paper because graduation commencements have not taken place. Understandable, so I called my Dean of Students at my previous college. She so kindly said she would send a letter stating that my degree is fulfilled and completed. That still wasn't a guarantee to be let into the program, so I asked to speak to a supervisor because of the hoops I had been jumping through just to get declined. What a mistake that was! She could care less, and pointed the blame all on me because I did not qualify.

It is sad that the employees at the university are being penalized for the lack of concern of the leaders and the fact that they do not know how to take accountability for their university's actions.

My name is Kimberly **, and I was a Criminal Justice Major, with a concentration in Human Resource. I attended CTU for the 2010-2011 school year. I was receiving a Direct Subsidized and Direct In-Subsidized Loans to pay for my education. I was also receiving a Pell Grant. I had a student portal accessible through CTU, where I could sign into that, documented my funds disbursement dates and the total amounts of each. CTU would grab the Direct Loan disbursements as soon as they were posted, not knowing or caring if I was definitely going to take a course or not.

Once, they took it so fast, then had to refund the money because I dropped a class. Also, I was receiving a Pell Grant. I was in a class that started in April 2011 and ended on June 18, 2011. I was supposed to receive my last Pell Grant disbursement on May 23, 2011 for $1,324.00 but I never received it. Then on June 15, 2011, I had (2) Direct Loan disbursements: one for $581.00, and the other for $995.00. I never received these funds as of today's date. I had a zero balance with CTU, and these funds were desperately needed by me, because I was a non-traditional student, living off campus and I was using part of my loans for rent while attending. I lost my housing because CTU withheld my funds for no legitimate reason. I became homeless, and had to withdraw from CTU, and leave Colorado Springs.

I called, wrote numerous emails and they stopped responding to me, and I was told that the staff at CTU was told by the school President, Bentley Raybern to not talk to me, or take my calls. I was then referred to the Colorado Technical University's attorney, by the name of Mark ** out of New York. This attorney kept texting and emailing me even when I told him to stop. I finally told him that I did not know who he was, and that I never contracted with him. I told him if he did not stop harassing me, I would file charges of "Harassment Through Telecommunication", and after 4-5 emails and telephone calls, he stopped. To today's date, November 27, 2011, I have yet to receive any of this money that I signed a "Master Promissory Note" for.

I have called the Denver Dept. Of Education, my lender Great Lakes & their Ombudsman, The Denver Office of Inspector General, Denver Office of School Participation, and I was totally beside myself at the responses and put offs I received. Everybody kept putting me off on someone else, passing the buck, and one person, (Bridget **), kept telling me one lie after another. First, that she did not handle financial aid matters, and sent me away on a frustrating journey that after months, led right back to her office on October 19, 2011. On this day, Bridget told me she had more questions she needed answers to from CTU, and she was waiting for them to get back in touch with her. On October 21, 2011, something told me to call her back. Guess what? Bridget had a voicemail on her extension saying that she would no longer be working for the Dept. Of Education.

I was truly very upset at the time she wasted of mine. Two days before, she knew she would no longer, so my question is "Why?". I eventually have to pay back money I never received! What is wrong with this picture? Somebody is embezzling big time, and if they did it to me, how many others, from their other schools and the other (3) CTU campuses in Colorado are they doing the same thing to? That comes down to a lot of money! I also learned, through research, that CTU as well as other 4 profit schools fall under the umbrella of a corporation out of Schaumburg, Il. who govern other schools.

Someone needs to investigate this school. I don't have the money to hire a lawyer. I am talking to a reporter about doing my story, and I am going to write a letter detailing what happened to me, mass produce it, and mass mail them, hitting every senator, congressman, & legislator that I can, in hopes that the government will wake up and demand to have an accounting of how these schools use and disburse their government money, when it comes to educational funding. If you have any suggestions of who I can talk to that can maybe help me get my funds, or make them return the funds they were not entitled to, I would be eternally grateful.

I enrolled in this school on 08/2010. I have had so many problems that I have decided to cease my enrollment and attend elsewhere in the fall. At this time, the school has grant money that should be refunded to me, that they are disguising as Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loan funds. I am at a zero balance, I don't owe them anything. I won't be completely finished until tomorrow, 06/18/2011. They sent me a letter last month saying that they reported to my lender that I was no longer enrolled.

Also, this school has had my grant funds since 01/2011, but kept those funds and kept pulling from my loan funds, which I eventually have to pay back. Now, they still have in their possession $1,576.00 of my refund of my Pell Grant funds. I am at a 0 balance and it should have been paid to me or used toward my tuition back in May 2011. Instead, they took my loans and held onto my Pell Grant. I am currently fighting with Colorado Technical University to release my funds. Can you help me or tell me who else I can contact? I really need these funds now. I am a non-traditional student, living off campus.