Fact 1: I enrolled in an online doctorate that had once a year residencies–I travel often. The enrollment counselor (salesman) assured me that I could reschedule these residencies if necessary as they were on fixed dates

Fact 2: After completing two courses I had to change the date of my 1st residency–oops–the academic counselor and the financial aid counselor said this was extremely difficult

Fact 3: They said I had to actually WITHDRAW from the program & then apply for reinstatement to the program & to financial aid since by doing so I would fall below the minimum credit hour requirements

Fact 4: Clearly, changing the residency in this program was not as easy as the University of Phoenix staff implied & I quit attending the course I was in (online) and the University of Phoenix withdrew me automatically.

Fact 5: Although the course had already been paid for & returning student loan money is not technically required by the Department of Education, the University of Phoenix returned the tuition money for a course that had already been paid for & has proceeded to sue me through its collections division for the $2000 in tuition it says I owe

Thanks University of Phoenix. Let me tell you, the University of Phoenix will tell you anything you want to hear to get you enrolled and to get your financial aid money. However, once you are in and if there is an issue or a complaint you are screwed. Virtually all the staff that you work with including staff such as Robert Infante and others, are rude, threatening, impolite (see the email from Robert Infante below) and generally only concerned about increasing the University’s revenues–this is, after all, a for profit institution meaning that its first concern is not the education it offers or the students but rather the shareholders.

So if you are considering the University of Phoenix please reconsider. There are numerous other reputable institutions that offer online courses and flexible on-ground programs that are both less expensive AND non-profit in character. The University of Phoenix has numerous complaints, lawsuits and legal issues that are currently underway and that it has settled in the past which are indicative of its business practices. In other words, if you go to the University of Phoenix you are essentially buying your degree. If you are ok with that that’s fine but if there is an issue or problem you will be sued that is certain.

Firstly, the University agrees to review your complaints through its Dispute Resolutions Board or Department which is hilarious in that the University of Phoenix actually investigates itself–no wonder it is prone to find in favor of itself then. Additionally, what major University operates its own in-house collections agency? Right, the University of Phoenix maintains its own in-house collections agency because this generates yet another revenue stream that widen its operating margins. It is a corporate entity rather than an academic one after all.

I have included all the emails of University of Phoenix staff that received my complaints although none of them have been helpful. However, if enough people contact these staff with their issues then maybe the University of Phoenix will decide to help its students and former students instead of suing and fraudulently luring them into a huge amount of financial aid debt:

To: “Robert Infante” <Robert.Infante@phoenix.edu>, “manny revera” <manny.revera@apollogrp.edu>
Cc: “bill pepicello” <bill.pepicello@apollogrp.edu>, “b pepicello” <b.pepicello@apollogrp.edu>, “bill pepicello”
<bill.pepicello@phoenix.edu>, “b pepicello” <b.pepicello@phoenix.edu>,michellec@aacrao.org, “goldie blumenstyk”
<goldie.blumenstyk@chronicle.com>, “alexander hapka” <alexander.hapka@phoenix.edu>,alumni@phoenix.edu, “robin fields”
<robin.fields@propublica.org>, “sara jones” <sara.jones@phoenix.edu>, “sara jones” <sara.jones@apollogrp.edu>, “s jones”
<s.jones@apollogrp.edu>, “robert moya” <robert.moya@phoenix.edu>, “robert moya” <robert.moya@apollogrp.edu>, “r moya”
<r.moya@phoenix.edu>, “r moya” <r.moya@apollogrp.edu>, “oig hotline” <oig.hotline@ed.gov>, balokolaro@hlcommission.org,
mgreen@hlcommission.org, fraudnet@gao.gov, editor@chronicle.com,sspangehl@hlcommission.org,
managing-editor@nytimes.com, “raquel sosa” <raquel.sosa@phoenix.edu>, “fred garcia” <fred.garcia@phoenix.edu>

Copy of threatening email sent to me by Robert Infante:

“It is my understanding that you are contacting University of Phoenix
staff and stating your continued disagreement with the university’s
findings about your grievance filed earlier this year and the balance
you accrued (I accrued nothing-it was paid for in advance by financial aid & I remained in the course long enough for the aid to not be returned) while in attendance.

You must immediately cease and desist with these communications or you
will be charged with violating the Student Code of Conduct (I’m not even a student anymore–what an idiot) for harassing
staff and failing to follow the directive that has been issued. If
necessary, we will also involve local law enforcement to address the
continued harassment (I emailed them copies of the complaints I filed with the Department of Education).

Sincerely,

Robert Infante

Robert Infante , Operational Development Manager

University of Phoenix | Office of Dispute Management

4615 East Elwood Street | AA-S401 | Phoenix , AZ 85040
phone: 602-557-3776 | fax: 623-444-1384 | email:
robert.infante@phoenix.edu