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University of Phoenix - DOE Requirements

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Leeland of El Paso TX (11/2/02):
I attended the University of Phoenix, Santa Teresa Campus, New Mexico. I applied for financial aid. The University of Phoenix did not disclose what kind of aid I was getting and refused to disclose my aid package. I sent an inquiry as to my aid package in March of Last Year. Mr. Collins, the head financial officer sent me a screwed-up policy with numerous miscaculations as to the academic hours the university required and as to the financial assistance based on the academic year.

The policy stated 27 credit hours in 54 weeks to meet the 12-hour rule. Then the University stated that it was their policy to require 27 credit hours per year. At 6 weeks per class and a week gap between each class as my schedule showed was not 54 weeks but rather 63. Under 34 CFR 668.2, the academic year can be no longer than 36 weeks nor less than 30 unless the Department of Education waives the time period.

Anyhow, looking over the 12 Hour Rule, 34 CFR 668.2, Known as the 12 Hour Rule the Department of Education mandateas that all universities comply with the clock hour requirements of 15 hours of instruction time per 1 credit hour of class. The University of Phoenix only provides 25 hours of instruction time instead of 45 hours of instruction time which is fraud.

On 25 hours of instruction, the University is only entitled on a $900 dollar course, for instance, to $500 yet they are charging the United States Government and students under the Title IV program the full $900.00.

Anyhow, I was unaware of the 12-Hour Rule and the major violations of this rule by the University of Phoenix. Upon inquiry I went to the campus at Santa Teresa, New Mexico on March 14, 2002 and was met by the president of the University, Wally Hedgecock, and the Vice President of the New Mexico campus, Randy Lichtenfeld.

Upon waiting for my academic advisor, both of these individuals ordered me off the campus stating, "It is the policy of the University of Phoenix to suspend all students who threaten to sue the University over financial aid." I think the paranoia stems from the fact that the University of Phoenix's entire financial aid program was run by Arthur Andersen at the time.

I left the campus and on March 14, I received a letter from Randy Lichtenfield stating that I had been officially suspended and that if I were to return to the University of Phoenix that they would call the authorities. A month after that around April 6, 2002; I received a letter from Randy Lichtenfeld stating that I have been charged with sexual harassment. Somewhat frivilous, but the University of Phoenix was vehement. In May, I was formally expelled.

After extensive reasearch I found numerous negative articles on the University of Phoenix; and that indeed it was in violation of the 12-Hour Rule as quoted by the American Federation of Teachers, the Irascible Professor, and by the damning of all, the OIG Report, No. 40 submitted to Congress. This report states that, in essence, the University of Phoenix was caught in receiving overpayments of $54.6 million in Title IV student financial assistance, and that the Office of Inspector General demanded the Universtiy of Phoenix pay up this amount of money.

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