Fortis Institute

Dear [redacted] :Please reference Complaint # [redacted] .The Customer related to this complaint was a student at the [redacted] Campus of Fortis Institute who started our Electrical Trades with Industrial Practices Degree Program (ETIP) on 9/27/The customer completed the following courses while enrolled in the ETIP program and as you can See, he was anoutstanding student:EarnedCourse Description Credits Grade [redacted] *On 7/15/the Customer presented himself to the Registrar's Office asking to withdraw from his program due to a conflict with his work scheduleIt was suggested to the Customer by a staff person in the Registrar's Office that instead of dropping, that he complete paperwork requesting to be transferred to the Electrical Trades diploma program (ET), since it appeared that he had completed all the requirements for that program, and could likely just be processed as a graduateThe Customer completed such paperwork on the evening on 7/15/14, and left campus probably believing he was now a graduate of the diploma programHowever, our Director of Education was not able to sign that paperwork approving of the Customer's requested transfer to the ET diploma program, because we had actually discontinued that program effective in January of Given that the Customer Could no longer attend class and since he could not be graduated from a Diploma Program that no longer existed, Customer was officially processed as a drop from the ETIP degree programWhen the Customer was so notified, he began demanding a Diploma for a Program that was no longer offered at the InstituteWhile the Registrar's office should NOT have suggested to the Customer that he could apply for the Diploma Program (since it was no longer on the books), which is something we will train our staff on, the customer was not told he would automatically receive a Diploma but that he could apply for itUnderstanding the customer's disappointment, we decided that we could at least provide the Customer with a Certificate of Completion of the electrical trades curriculum, since we were not able to award him a diplomaSuch a “Certificate of Completion" was sent to the customer along with a letter stating that we were not able to process him as a graduate from the ET diploma program, but are able to confirm his attendance and earned credits and that the certificate along with his transcript will allow him to express his accomplishment accurately on his resumeThe Customer visited the campus on Monday 9/and met with the Campus President to express his dissatisfaction regarding our unwillingness to process him as a graduate of the ET diploma programBased on those conversations on 9/15, the Customer was contacted on 9/and was advised that while we could not grant him a Diploma (that we were no longer authorized to confer) we would allow him to take the classes remaining to complete his degree program at no additional Cost to the CustomerIt was explained that all the classes would be offered in the evening (as he was a night Student previously), and that he could take them on a PT Schedule (as he was previously a PT student), beginning in September of and graduating in March of The Customer's initial response to our offer is that he could not attend either a day or a night program because the store he works at requires him to work both day and night shifts (alternating back and forth)On 9/23/2014, we received your letter from the Revdex.com dated Tuesday, September 16th (Complaint # [redacted] ).The Customer's complaint contains a factual inaccuracy in that neither the Campus President nor the Director of Education (referred to in Customer's complaint as the Night Dean) told him that if he could not continue his education that he could drop/transfer from the degree program to the diploma programIt was a staff person in the Registrar’s Office who told him that he could apply to transfer to the diploma program (a process that requires the signature of the Director of Education and such a signature was not provided)The Customer's complaint contains a further factual inaccuracyThe letter sent to him did not state that [redacted] had not completed the needed paperwork as the Customer indicated in the complaintIt instead stated that “the Registrar’s Officesuggested you complete paperwork to graduate from our Electrical Trades Diploma programI regret to inform you that we are unable to process you as a graduate from that program.” The Customer has the following four classes left to complete to graduate with the ETIP degree (all general education courses): [redacted] is running from November 10-December 23rd, from 5:to 10:45pm on Tuesday and Thursday nights [redacted] is running from January 5-February 14, from 5:– 10:45pm no Tuesday and Thursday nights [redacted] is running from February 17-March 30, from 5:45–10:45pm on Monday and Wednesday nights, and [redacted] is running from April 1-May 13, from 5:45–10:45pm on Tuesday and Thursday nightsWe do hope that the Customer will re-consider our offer to allow him to complete his degree (something we still are authorized to confer) at no additional cost to the customerPlease query the undersigned if you have any questions relating to any aspect of this responseIf you have further questions, I may be reached at ###-###-#### or [redacted] fortisinstitute.edu.Sincerely, Peter CCampus President

Dear [redacted]:Please reference Complaint # [redacted].The Customer related to this complaint was a student at the [redacted] Campus of Fortis Institute who started our Electrical Trades with Industrial Practices Degree Program (ETIP) on 9/27/2011. The customer completed the following courses...

while enrolled in the ETIP program and as you can See, he was anoutstanding student:EarnedCourse Description Credits Grade[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted] **
[redacted] *
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted] **
[redacted] **
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted] ** *
[redacted] **
[redacted] *
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]On 7/15/2014 the Customer presented himself to the Registrar's Office asking to withdraw from his program due to a conflict with his work schedule. It was suggested to the Customer by a staff person in the Registrar's Office that instead of dropping, that he complete paperwork requesting to be transferred to the Electrical Trades diploma program (ET), since it appeared that he had completed all the requirements for that program, and could likely just be processed as a graduate.
The Customer completed such paperwork on the evening on 7/15/14, and left campus probably believing he was now a graduate of the diploma program. However, our Director of Education was not able to sign that paperwork approving of the Customer's requested transfer to the ET diploma program, because we had actually discontinued that program effective in January of 2014. Given that the Customer Could no longer attend class and since he could not be graduated from a Diploma Program that no longer existed, Customer was officially processed as a drop from the ETIP degree program.
When the Customer was so notified, he began demanding a Diploma for a Program that was no longer offered at the Institute. While the Registrar's office should NOT have suggested to the Customer that he could apply for the Diploma Program (since it was no longer on the books), which is something we will train our staff on, the customer was not told he would automatically receive a Diploma but that he could apply for it.
Understanding the customer's disappointment, we decided that we could at least provide the Customer with a Certificate of Completion of the electrical trades curriculum, since we were not able to award him a diploma. Such a “Certificate of Completion" was sent to the customer along with a letter stating that we were not able to process him as a graduate from the ET diploma program, but are able to confirm his attendance and earned credits and that the certificate along with his transcript will allow him to express his accomplishment accurately on his resume.
The Customer visited the campus on Monday 9/15 and met with the Campus President to express his dissatisfaction regarding our unwillingness to process him as a graduate of the ET diploma program. Based on those conversations on 9/15, the Customer was contacted on 9/16 and was advised that while we could not grant him a Diploma (that we were no longer authorized to confer) we would allow him to take the 4 classes remaining to complete his degree program at no additional Cost to the Customer.
It was explained that all the classes would be offered in the evening (as he was a night Student previously), and that he could take them on a PT Schedule (as he was previously a PT student), beginning in September of 2014 and graduating in March of 2015. The Customer's initial response to our offer is that he could not attend either a day or a night program because the store he works at requires him to work both day and night shifts (alternating back and forth).
On 9/23/2014, we received your letter from the Revdex.com dated Tuesday, September 16th (Complaint # [redacted]).The Customer's complaint contains a factual inaccuracy in that neither the Campus President nor the Director of Education (referred to in Customer's complaint as the Night Dean) told him that if he could not continue his education that he could drop/transfer from the degree program to the diploma program. It was a staff person in the Registrar’s Office who told him that he could apply to transfer to the diploma program (a process that requires the signature of the Director of Education and such a signature was not provided).
The Customer's complaint contains a further factual inaccuracy. The letter sent to him did not state that [redacted] had not completed the needed paperwork as the Customer indicated in the complaint. It instead stated that “the Registrar’s Office. . . suggested you complete paperwork to graduate from our Electrical Trades Diploma program. I regret to inform you that we are unable to process you as a graduate from that program.”
The Customer has the following four classes left to complete to graduate with the ETIP degree (all general education courses): [redacted]
[redacted] is running from November 10-December 23rd, 2014 from 5:45 to 10:45pm on Tuesday and Thursday nights. [redacted] is running from January 5-February 14, 2015 from 5:45 – 10:45pm no Tuesday and Thursday nights. [redacted] is running from February 17-March 30, 2015 from 5:45–10:45pm on Monday and Wednesday nights, and [redacted] is running from April 1-May 13, 2015 from 5:45–10:45pm on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
We do hope that the Customer will re-consider our offer to allow him to complete his degree (something we still are authorized to confer) at no additional cost to the customer. Please query the undersigned if you have any questions relating to any aspect of this response.
If you have further questions, I may be reached at ###-###-#### or [redacted]fortisinstitute.edu.Sincerely,
Peter C.
Campus President

Review: I have attended Fortis Institute in [redacted] Pa. Upon the suggestion of the President of the school and the Night Dean I was told if I couldn't continue my education at the time that that I could drop from the Degree Program to the Diploma Program. after finishing the semester I was currently enrolled I chose to drop from the degree to the diploma, signed the paperwork to do so and did not get the diploma. Upon receiving a certificate of attendance with a letter attached stating that I have not completed the paperwork I have contacted the school registrar and the president. The President and registrar told me that they cannot offer me the diploma anymore, I have done this action on the guides of what they have told me.[redacted]Desired Settlement: I am looking to get the diploma that I have earned with a completion of all the classes listed for the diploma program.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted]:Please reference Complaint # [redacted].The Customer related to this complaint was a student at the [redacted] Campus of Fortis Institute who started our Electrical Trades with Industrial Practices Degree Program (ETIP) on 9/27/2011. The customer completed the following courses while enrolled in the ETIP program and as you can See, he was anoutstanding student:EarnedCourse Description Credits Grade[redacted]On 7/15/2014 the Customer presented himself to the Registrar's Office asking to withdraw from his program due to a conflict with his work schedule. It was suggested to the Customer by a staff person in the Registrar's Office that instead of dropping, that he complete paperwork requesting to be transferred to the Electrical Trades diploma program (ET), since it appeared that he had completed all the requirements for that program, and could likely just be processed as a graduate.The Customer completed such paperwork on the evening on 7/15/14, and left campus probably believing he was now a graduate of the diploma program. However, our Director of Education was not able to sign that paperwork approving of the Customer's requested transfer to the ET diploma program, because we had actually discontinued that program effective in January of 2014. Given that the Customer Could no longer attend class and since he could not be graduated from a Diploma Program that no longer existed, Customer was officially processed as a drop from the ETIP degree program.When the Customer was so notified, he began demanding a Diploma for a Program that was no longer offered at the Institute. While the Registrar's office should NOT have suggested to the Customer that he could apply for the Diploma Program (since it was no longer on the books), which is something we will train our staff on, the customer was not told he would automatically receive a Diploma but that he could apply for it.Understanding the customer's disappointment, we decided that we could at least provide the Customer with a Certificate of Completion of the electrical trades curriculum, since we were not able to award him a diploma. Such a “Certificate of Completion" was sent to the customer along with a letter stating that we were not able to process him as a graduate from the ET diploma program, but are able to confirm his attendance and earned credits and that the certificate along with his transcript will allow him to express his accomplishment accurately on his resume.The Customer visited the campus on Monday 9/15 and met with the Campus President to express his dissatisfaction regarding our unwillingness to process him as a graduate of the ET diploma program. Based on those conversations on 9/15, the Customer was contacted on 9/16 and was advised that while we could not grant him a Diploma (that we were no longer authorized to confer) we would allow him to take the 4 classes remaining to complete his degree program at no additional Cost to the Customer.It was explained that all the classes would be offered in the evening (as he was a night Student previously), and that he could take them on a PT Schedule (as he was previously a PT student), beginning in September of 2014 and graduating in March of 2015. The Customer's initial response to our offer is that he could not attend either a day or a night program because the store he works at requires him to work both day and night shifts (alternating back and forth).On 9/23/2014, we received your letter from the Revdex.com dated Tuesday, September 16th (Complaint # [redacted]).The Customer's complaint contains a factual inaccuracy in that neither the Campus President nor the Director of Education (referred to in Customer's complaint as the Night Dean) told him that if he could not continue his education that he could drop/transfer from the degree program to the diploma program. It was a staff person in the Registrar’s Office who told him that he could apply to transfer to the diploma program (a process that requires the signature of the Director of Education and such a signature was not provided).The Customer's complaint contains a further factual inaccuracy. The letter sent to him did not state that [redacted] had not completed the needed paperwork as the Customer indicated in the complaint. It instead stated that “the Registrar’s Office. . . suggested you complete paperwork to graduate from our Electrical Trades Diploma program. I regret to inform you that we are unable to process you as a graduate from that program.”The Customer has the following four classes left to complete to graduate with the ETIP degree (all general education courses): [redacted] is running from November 10-December 23rd, 2014 from 5:45 to 10:45pm on Tuesday and Thursday nights. [redacted] is running from January 5-February 14, 2015 from 5:45 – 10:45pm no Tuesday and Thursday nights. [redacted] is running from February 17-March 30, 2015 from 5:45–10:45pm on Monday and Wednesday nights, and [redacted] is running from April 1-May 13, 2015 from 5:45–10:45pm on Tuesday and Thursday nights.We do hope that the Customer will re-consider our offer to allow him to complete his degree (something we still are authorized to confer) at no additional cost to the customer. Please query the undersigned if you have any questions relating to any aspect of this response.If you have further questions, I may be reached at ###-###-#### or [redacted]fortisinstitute.edu.Sincerely,Peter C.Campus President