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Capella University review: Fraud / kicked out of phd program 20

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8:13 am EST
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I was in a PhD program. Dissertation Phase in Business & Technology. In this case, I submitted my proposal for approval. Due to inefficiencies and University faculty error (provable-All records are available via email), the University withdrew me. I am out $120 K of student loans. I need my money to pay the student loans. They give me no straight answer. I appealed and appealed and all of it fell on deaf ears. They denied an opportunity to meet with the president, who agreed to meet with me after I met with the Learner Affairs. They know they are in the wrong and have not done anything to admit it or fix it.
I want to join the Class Action.

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Jose Angel Ciceraro
Ocean Springs, US
Mar 14, 2014 3:42 pm EDT

I have similar concerns. The university withdrew me after I requested an extension in meeting the coloquiam requirement due to y wife's stroke. After 120, 000 dollars and 7 years of hard worked I was dumped. Their solution is for me to take another Master's Degree, they will not accredit any of the 88 credits I have towards my PhD. I have been duped. More information is available upon request. I want to join the CLaSS ACTION SUIT.

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Jose Angel Ciceraro
Ocean Springs, US
Mar 15, 2014 11:43 am EDT

To the Shareholders

Good morning, my name is Jose Angel Ciceraro.
I have been deceived and duped by Capella University. When I joined Capella seven
years ago it was truly a university focused on the student. Unfortunately that
is not the case.

I have been a “learner” for seven years. In the seven year
timeframe I suffered numerous personal setbacks; I lost my business, home,
suffered three bouts of unemployment and yes homelessness. Still I had the
presence of mind to continue in my PhD program. I went hungry, slept on a dirty
garage floor, but I still stayed enrolled in Capella!

My wife recently suffered two strokes, her mobility is
limited to a wheel chair most of the time. I asked Capella an extension on the
PhD requirements. I was informed “No”. “The catalogue stipulates seven years,
we have options for learners but they do not include family members.” I
expected that due to my special circumstances some flexibility would be
afforded by Capella. That was not the case. I have lost seven years of my life,
$120, 000 and nothing to show for it. I took extra classes based on an advisors
recommendation to achieve a certification in Public Health. On 14 March 2014 I
was informed by Capella that they did not offer a certificate in public health.
The mistake by Capella cost me over $12, 000!

The Capella solution is that I apply for readmission for a Master’s
Degree! I already have one. I will not spend another dime on Capella. To add
insult to injury, Capella is charging me a $50.00 application fee.

The truth of the situation came out in my conversation with
Mr. Tessnier (spelling ?). I have maxed out my student loans therefore I’m no
longer worthy of the PhD program. This would be in a sense more palatable if I
was an average student. I have a 3.75 average, even with all of the
difficulties that life threw at me.

Capella has become a degree mill. They are heartless. I
tried talking to the chair of my department and I never received a reply. It is
simple you maxed out your student loan potential and you no longer are worthy.
I’m seeking other students who might be involved in a class action against
Capella. I’m willing to go to the news media and report this egregious wrong.

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Stop the Funding
Ham Lake, US
Apr 12, 2014 9:34 am EDT
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Jose, the shareholders lost and are not interested in representing you. They are mad their stocks have dropped by half due to Capella's fraudulent activities. Students are catching on and organizing. Beware of fraudulent individuals who will try to use the victims to also obtain some type of monetary gain. Predation on things like people already damaged by predatory mortgages is always going on and this is no different. If people provide their emails on the board they can contact each other or avail themselves to a lawyer however, if a person that is representing that class action is a fraud they can damage peoples' claims if cases are thrown out with prejudice. Sadly the Shareholders will never contact you as their deal is done and they are only about their profits. I am so sorry for what you have suffered and am doing everything I can to bring them to account in every way possible. It is important to me that people aren't hurt further. Mary

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Dismayed with Capella University
Montpelier, US
Sep 18, 2014 8:30 am EDT
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It appears, that I have been dumped as well. It is discerning that following four years of study, one hundred thousand dollars in student loans, and having a very good academic record, that I am dropped and told I am inadequate to complete the program. It seems that if I were not prepared to pass the exam that I should have been advised by my advisors (early on) to prepare further or to not continue on!

At this point, I feel that I have been “conned” out of thousands of dollars by acquiring student loads to earn a degree that maybe I would have never received in the first place. I would like to be contacted by those who are filing a lawsuit against the university.

dmstroud@centurylink.net

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Dismayed with Capella University
Montpelier, US
Sep 18, 2014 8:30 am EDT
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. It is discerning that following four years of study, one hundred thousand dollars in student loans, and having a very good academic record, that I am dropped and told I am inadequate to complete the program. It seems that if I were not prepared to pass the exam that I should have been advised by my advisors (early on) to prepare further or to not continue on! At this point, I feel that I have been “conned” out of thousands of dollars by acquiring student loads to earn a degree that maybe I would have never received in the first place.

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CapellaFraud
Collinsville, US
Nov 21, 2014 6:24 am EST

I also was scammed and kicked out of the PHD program after nearly $100, 000 in tuition. I passed all the classes 4.0 GPA and was not allowed to take the Final exam and dissertation. Then when I say are my classes worth towards another degree. They say I do not know maybe. Then they say that I can get a masters but only 4 of the classes transfer to a masters from a PHD so I took 15 classes and only 4 of them are worth anything!?! No other schools will accept transfers from Capella either. DO NOT GO TO CAPELLA! All they want is me to pay for a Masters. I have 2 masters from REAL universities!

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Stop the Funding
Ham Lake, US
Nov 21, 2014 8:42 am EST
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If students are not successful at the end of a program it is entirely the fault of the school for either bilking them of their financial aid, or there is something else going on you are unaware of. They know it is nearly impossible to take them to task alone or fight their millions as the LAWS AREN"T IN PLACE TO PROTECT STUDENTS. This is especially true in light of the fact that MN has ruled there is no fiduciary duty to you which is entirely misguided and unethical. Your committee and chair hold your future professional life (thus personal finances) in their hands. You can complain to the attorney general and ombudsman office as well as their credentialing body. Be sure you exhaust their biased academic standards committee and do not accept another master's. SInce these are researchers they know they are completely incapable of policing themselves which is why an alternative dispute resolution should be required if they get funding. If a person is not provided what they need to complete the program, it's the schools responsibility who accepted them in the first place. If they can get the money they are in, there is no other criteria unfortunately so the system then breaks down. Plenty of terrible dissertations from this travesty. Online courses don't always transfer especially towards a license. It is up to the school to inform their candidates, and to provide what is needed such as cohorts to lend support. The degree isn't really respected either, and see Harkin report below. Bottom line is these schools need to be held accountable not just the students for aid. Nothing can happen until Congress decides to stop taking the graft and begins to act in the benefit of the country and in the interests of the students who have trusted them and the institutions. Mary

Capella spent $1, 650 per student on instruction in 2009, compared to $4, 538 per student on marketing and $2, 912 on profit.1313 The amount that publicly traded, for-profit companies spend on instruction ranges from $892 to $3, 969 per student per year.1314 In contrast, public and non-profit 4-year colleges and universities generally spend a higher amount per student on instruction. By comparison, on a per student basis, the University of Minnesota spent $13, 247 per student on instruction, and University of Saint Thomas spent $11, 361 per student.1315 See links in the article at this URL for more information and the full report. It isn't a party issue but a corrupt Washington.

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Jill St. Benedict
90007, US
Jun 05, 2015 9:20 pm EDT

It appears to me that there is more than mets the eye. It is difficult for me to make an unsubstantiated claim but all my observations seem to indicate an attempt to restrict minority PhD students. Some do get through but a huge majority of black and Hispanic students are simply shunted around until they exhaust their loan packages. My boyfriend found himself in such a situation. He collected samples of research plans from several current students whose research plans were approved through SMR. We arranged them all side by side and compared them using the research plan guide. A few were good but most were simply average compared to my boyfriend's. He approached his mentor and asked why he cannot get his RP approved and drew his attention the poorly written research plans. The mentor's response was that the standard for approving research plans had been raised from past levels. Meaning, if you are black or yellow or brown, you need to meet a higher level of scientific rigor. Meanwhile, they keep you registered and continue to charge your student loans up front. In fact, he found out that his white fired was approved after only two submissions and his research plan did not even address the required statistical analysis suggested by the research plan. My boyfriend is hesitant to raise any complaints or ruffle any feathers for fear it might backfire and hurt him worse. It is mind blowing to think such things can happen in modern America in a high institution of learning.

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VIT79
US
Aug 04, 2015 3:20 pm EDT

After 4 years of being with Capella, I too have been dumped. I would like to find out about the class action lawsuit as well, as I had to appeal to get a chance to finish my dissertation phase and then cut off before my deadline even meet the date. What is the point of giving an extension if you are going to kick me out of the program before the extension is even allowed to push through. I am also out about 70, 000 towards this program and no other program will accept all the credits to be transferred over to complete my degree somewhere else. This school claims to work with students who are adult learners and yet are not flexible or understanding when our adult lives require the flexibility that this online program promised.

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Bridgesdale
US
Nov 12, 2015 11:41 am EST
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I was dismissed from Capella University after five years. (ABD) I need some help.

banderson@lbwcc.edu
Bridges Anderson

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M Harp
US
Feb 21, 2016 4:50 pm EST

Same with me. I am ABD with Capella. I need help as well. I'm interested in pursuing a class action law suit. My email address is Mharper2012@yahoo.com

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AnnMooPow
US
Jun 07, 2016 10:59 am EDT

I was dismissed from Capella University during my dissertation phase. I am ABD and the university denied my appeal. I would like to join the class action lawsuit. My email address is a.powell68@yahoo.com

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No blindfold
US
Jun 21, 2016 11:04 pm EDT

My story is the same as above. My dissertation mentor was slow to respond to emails and kept returning my proposal to add her ideas which she then had me remove. She has also misrepresented my lack of progress as a lack of time management when she takes too long to respond. Now that my loan potential is exhausted, I have also been dropped from the PhD program.

Please add me to any potential lawsuit.
MattinKS@hotmail.com

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Ivan D. McLaughlin PhD ABD
Charlotte, US
Mar 07, 2023 10:23 am EST
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I completed my Comps (Passed) and started my dissertation phase. I got to my 5th phase and couldn't get another loan (Aid). I have enough credits to obtain a MBA but I wanted to complete my PhD. They can send me my MBA or my PhD I really don't care. I want something for the long hours and hard work. The PhD can be Honorary. I passed my comps and I think that should count for something.

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Ivan D. McLaughlin PhD ABD
Charlotte, US
Mar 07, 2023 10:30 am EST
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add me to the lawsuit as well ... Ivanmclaughlin81@gmail.com

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Disappointed learner
Norwich, US
Mar 31, 2023 7:33 pm EDT
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Is there a class action lawsuit? I am interested in joining.

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MindyD81
US
Sep 11, 2023 3:35 pm EDT
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I completed all of my requirements for graduation, was one day away from my Dean giving final approval for graduation when the Research Compliance committee stepped in and halted everything due to questions with my research validity. My research had already gone through an entire research committee without concerns, was validated and this new committee was given all original work to prove such and ultimately decided that it was "falsified" despite being shown all the accurate calculations and original data to support them. The school expelled me and despite multiple appeals, the Dean of the School wouldn't even speak to me, my own Dean of my program and mentor immediately cut off all contact and I was left with no degree and out tons of money. Total BS! I have my MSN and have worked toward my doctoral degree in public health maintaining a 4+ GPA with an unblemished academic record, this school disgusts me.

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matthew c213
US
Oct 31, 2023 1:49 pm EDT
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I was in the Master's of Clinical Psychology Program and graduated. I went to sign up for my license and get Capella "License Verification" office to sign the paperwork for the practicum/internship for my professional state license. They denied, they refused to work with me on getting the paperwork signed and denied that I completed the correct number of hours. I completed 700 hours required and what their counselor told me to do, but they are arguing for the other state requirements such as supervision, etc. They also claimed that I completed 290 hours in a 100 hour practicum, and 410 hours in a 600 hour internship, which makes no sense at all because the state does not care when the practicum/internship takes place but as long as they are completed. They refused to work with me in any way or to prove the hours that were completed even thought they told me originally that's what they needed and even made me sign up for an extra 100 hours to complete the state requirement (MA needs 700, Capella needs 600 to graduate). I have now 2 years of post-master's experience, completed master's and internship and no license because of Capella. I would like to join the class-action suit.

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matthew c213
US
Oct 31, 2023 1:52 pm EDT
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My email: cotemm86@gmail.com

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Mac
US
Nov 21, 2023 10:07 am EST
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I'm also currently an ABD ... I think all ABDs should received their PHD after this lawsuit.

ivanmclaughlin81@gmail.com

Is there anyway this can happen ?

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