Penn State Smeal MBA Program

Revdex.com and Ms [redacted] I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below Dear Ms [redacted] I have my diploma already from Penn State (and my completion certificate)It was mailed out to me a fewmonths after graduationShould I send it back to the university?Regarding the scholarships and grants offered to students, Penn State would be wise to look at how theyoffered those “needs based” scholarships and grantsI have a solid hunch that some of those grants andscholarships were offered to students as a way to encourage their participation in the program (as opposed tosomething that is needs based)Penn State should consider what they placed in e-mail traffic to prospectivestudentsSome of those e-mails specifically told students that a grant could be offered as a way to increase thelikelihood they’d participate in the EMBA programNo mention of financial burden was made to the students.No mention of the availability of these grants was made to me – everMy guess is that information was notproperly and equally distributed to all students about the availability of financial aid.Tara is somewhat correct about my employerThey were supposed to cover $19k of my MBA costsSupposedtoInstead, the business unit I was working in collapsed, and all bets were off the tableNot Penn State’s faultor responsibility by any means, but definitely caused a change in how I sought funding for the EMBA.Tara is correct, that the EMBA program did advise me several times about applying for federal loansTaraespecially went above and beyond standards to help provide advice and support wherever she could.Generally speaking, the EMBA leadership was very helpful, supportive, and informativeIt’s disappointing thatthose same qualities are still not being exemplified.Could Penn State University please answer the following questions:1) What is the EMBA’s official policy on referrals and getting other students to enroll in the EMBAprogram? Why was I not offered a referral bonus for getting students into the program?2) Please provide a copy of the insurance policy that covers the international tripI am sure there’s aprovision in there regarding emergency health concerns of life and death family issues with immediatefamily membersAttached are photos of my mother’s health situation at the timeIf medical recordsare needed, I’m happy to release them to you.3) How much did Penn State pay for the global immersion trip? What portion of my tuition was chargedto the global immersion trip?4) Why was I never offered the chance to compete/apply for scholarships or grants?All the best.Sincerely, [redacted] Regards, David [redacted]

RE: *** *** Complaint, ID number ***Dear Ms***Mr*** *** was enrolled in the Penn State Smeal Executive MBA Program from August 2013-August During that time he fulfilled all of the academic requirements for the degree program.The total cost of the Smeal Executive
MBA program is $93,000, which includes tuition and universityfees forGO graduate credits, course materials, and room and board for overnight stays during classweekends at the conference center where our classes are held in a suburban PhiladelphiaIn addition,also included in this cost are the room, board, and transportation expenses which are incurred during aninternational trip required for all students to participate in during the second year of the program.Occasionally, prospective students will ask if they can elect not to use the overnight room at theconference center in exchange for a lower cost of attendanceAt the current time this is not an option,and anyone who inquires is told soThere is also no marketing on our website or print brochures thatremotely gives anyone the idea that this is a possibility.As part of a graduation requirement, students participate in an international trip during the second yearof the programThis trip is attached to a credit-bearing course called Global Immersion (BA 536)InJanuary 2015, Mr*** notified the program leadership team that his partner was due to deliver ababy during the scheduled trip to Prague, Czech Republic in April, and that he would be unable to travelduring that timeSpecial accommodations were made for him to instead travel to Lima, Peru with agroup of resident MBA students in February Hotel and transportation reservations were made forhim in LimaOn February 27, 2015, the day that Mr*** was supposed to arrive in Lima, hecalled Dr*** ***, EMBA Faculty Director, to say that his mother had to have emergencysurgery and he would not be able to attend the tripSince Mr***’s hotel and transportationreservations were booked as a group event through a travel company, the program was unable torecover the lost expenses as a result of his late cancellationEven though Mr*** did notparticipate in the trip, he was allowed to submit extra work in order to receive academic credit for the 3-credit course.Almost seventy-five percent of Mr***’s tuition was covered by GI Bill educational benefits andtuition reimbursement from his employer, leaving him with a fraction of the cost of the program to pay.He was regularly provided with information for how to apply for federal student loans and reminders tomeet loan application deadlinesAt one point, he missed a federal loan application deadline and had toobtain a private loan from Wells Fargo BankEven after obtaining a private loan, a balance of $wasleft unpaid from the spring semesterThis unpaid balance has resulted in a financial hold on hisBursar account which is currently preventing of the release of his diploma.Numerous e-mails were sent to Mr*** by the Smeal EMBA program reminding him of histuition balance and asking for his plans for paying the balanceThe $balance that still remains isnot related to the global immersion trip that he did not attend (but for which the program paid, and forwhich Mr*** received academic credit)The remaining balance is part of his spring tuitionbill that was never satisfied.A small number of Executive MBA students receive need-based scholarships; however, a scholarshipapplication and essay are required, with priority given to students who are receiving no tuitionreimbursement from their employer or funding from alternative sources.Although Penn State University does participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, the Yellow RibbonProgram is an agreement between Penn State and the VA to split the out-of-state portion of tuitioncosts for a studentBecause the cost of the Smeal Executive MBA program is the same for out-of-statestudents as it is for Pennsylvania residents, Yellow Ribbon benefits are not necessaryIn addition, Mr.*** was a Pennsylvania resident throughout his time as a student in program.For the reasons listed above, Mr*** is still responsible for payment of his tuition balance of$1571.Sincerely yours,Tara T***Smeal Executive MBA Program

Revdex.com and Ms. [redacted] 
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
Dear Ms. [redacted]I have my diploma already from Penn State (and my completion certificate). It was mailed out to me a fewmonths after graduation. Should I send it back to the university?Regarding the scholarships and grants offered to students, Penn State would be wise to look at how theyoffered those “needs based” scholarships and grants. I have a solid hunch that some of those grants andscholarships were offered to students as a way to encourage their participation in the program (as opposed tosomething that is needs based). Penn State should consider what they placed in e-mail traffic to prospectivestudents. Some of those e-mails specifically told students that a grant could be offered as a way to increase thelikelihood they’d participate in the EMBA program. No mention of financial burden was made to the students.No mention of the availability of these grants was made to me – ever. My guess is that information was notproperly and equally distributed to all students about the availability of financial aid.Tara is somewhat correct about my employer. They were supposed to cover $19k of my MBA costs. Supposedto. Instead, the business unit I was working in collapsed, and all bets were off the table. Not Penn State’s faultor responsibility by any means, but definitely caused a change in how I sought funding for the EMBA.Tara is correct, that the EMBA program did advise me several times about applying for federal loans. Taraespecially went above and beyond normal standards to help provide advice and support wherever she could.Generally speaking, the EMBA leadership was very helpful, supportive, and informative. It’s disappointing thatthose same qualities are still not being exemplified.Could Penn State University please answer the following questions:1) What is the EMBA’s official policy on referrals and getting other students to enroll in the EMBAprogram? Why was I not offered a referral bonus for getting students into the program?2) Please provide a copy of the insurance policy that covers the international trip. I am sure there’s aprovision in there regarding emergency health concerns of life and death family issues with immediatefamily members. Attached are photos of my mother’s health situation at the time. If medical recordsare needed, I’m happy to release them to you.3) How much did Penn State pay for the global immersion trip? What portion of my tuition was chargedto the global immersion trip?4) Why was I never offered the chance to compete/apply for scholarships or grants?All the best.Sincerely,[redacted]
Regards,
David [redacted]