Westmoreland County Community College

Complaint ID #[redacted]Dear Ms. [redacted]It is unfortunate that we have to respond to a complaint with your bureau regarding a student who did not receive a grade acceptable to move to Level II of our nursing program at our Greene County campus. Our policy on acceptable grades to move to Level II of...

the nursing program is clearly stated in our handbook as well as our policy regarding "rounding up" of grades (see attached policies). The complainant was aware of these policies prior to her enrollment. Her request that we make an exception for her to our rounding up policy because she was "close" to an acceptable grade is not a viable solution.Our grading standards are set to insure that we graduate students who will provide the highest level of healthcare to the public upon their graduation. We are proud of our graduates who have consistently shown an excellent work record upon hiring. We feel confident that our academic standards are a very significant part of our graduates' success record in this regard.Lastly, please note that we offered the complainant a reenrollment opportunity with our college in order to give her a chance to complete her education despite her unacceptable grades. Unfortunately, this opportunity is at a location which appears to be inconvenient to the complainant. We care very much about the success of all of our students. However, the complainant's request for a settlement which would involve compromising our academic standards or providing a special program just for her to continue her education in Greene County is unreasonable.Please contact me with any further questions at [redacted] or [redacted]Sincerely,Kristy ** B[redacted] Ph.D.Vice President of Academic Affairs

Revdex.com:
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.
Revdex.com:I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is unsatisfactory to me. I was not made aware of  the rounding up policy until I had already been enrolled in your school for over 2 years. I have invested so much time and money in your school and feel like you care very little about your students! Also you said that I was told I could return to your school but Sue S[redacted] said I have to take a year off then reapply and only if there is a seat available I can return! Mrs. W[redacted] said she thought I should have been able to start in the fall but Mrs. S[redacted] said absolutely not!!! I am tired of getting the run around they tell one student one thing and another student something entirely different! I feel as soon as a student enroll in your school you should make them aware of the rounding policy up front also tell students about the ATI and dosage calculations test that can kick you right out of the program if you don't pass by your third attempt. If I had been aware of all of these I would have never enrolled in your school! I am 39 years old I have been out of school for many years and yes I knew this was going to be very difficult but I would have never risked it had I'd known all of the different things that can kick you out of the program! Also I was put in a class that I didn't need to take and when they figured out the mistake they told me I could get out of the class so I did but they are still making me pay for the class knowing it was their mistake! I feel you need to be accountable for not providing students with all of the correct information! We do not get this information until we are already in enrolled in the nursing program and by then it's to late you have already spent a ton of time and money on prerequisites!!!Thank You,Michelle C[redacted]

Review: I was a level I nursing student at the Greene County Center of Westmoreland Community College. I signed on at the Greene County campus because I work full time and can not travel to the main campus in Youngwood. You have to receive a 77% to move on to a level II in the program. I received a 76.66% so they said they no longer offer the nursing class at the Greene County campus and if I want to continue in the program I will have to travel clear to Youngwood after taking a year off to wait for the class to be offered again. If I would have been made aware that I would have to go to Youngwood I would have never taken classes at Westmoreland Community College. I have invested 3 years in their school already just for them to say sorry there is nothing we can do if you can't go to Youngwood there are no other options. So now I am out thousands of dollars for absolutely nothing!!! I also don't agree with there no rounding policy on grades! With them not offering the nursing class at the Greene County center after this group finishes I feel they could have made the acception and rounded since I was that close to passing. I would be fine with waiting to take the class in a year if it was still offered at the Greene County site. I don't feel that what they are doing is right at all and I am not the only person in this situation! I feel that they just took our money and could care less about their students!Desired Settlement: I feel they should either continue having the program at the Greene County site for those of who already enrolled with the understanding that this is where we would be going not Youngwood! If they are not willing to do that reimburse our tuition because its not our fault that they are not offering it at the Greene County site! I work full-time and can not travel that far for classes, or they could have made the acception and rounded my grade from 76.666% to 77% to continue through the program they have there now!

Business

Response:

Complaint ID #[redacted]Dear Ms. [redacted]It is unfortunate that we have to respond to a complaint with your bureau regarding a student who did not receive a grade acceptable to move to Level II of our nursing program at our Greene County campus. Our policy on acceptable grades to move to Level II of the nursing program is clearly stated in our handbook as well as our policy regarding "rounding up" of grades (see attached policies). The complainant was aware of these policies prior to her enrollment. Her request that we make an exception for her to our rounding up policy because she was "close" to an acceptable grade is not a viable solution.Our grading standards are set to insure that we graduate students who will provide the highest level of healthcare to the public upon their graduation. We are proud of our graduates who have consistently shown an excellent work record upon hiring. We feel confident that our academic standards are a very significant part of our graduates' success record in this regard.Lastly, please note that we offered the complainant a reenrollment opportunity with our college in order to give her a chance to complete her education despite her unacceptable grades. Unfortunately, this opportunity is at a location which appears to be inconvenient to the complainant. We care very much about the success of all of our students. However, the complainant's request for a settlement which would involve compromising our academic standards or providing a special program just for her to continue her education in Greene County is unreasonable.Please contact me with any further questions at [redacted] or [redacted]Sincerely,Kristy ** B[redacted] Ph.D.Vice President of Academic Affairs

Consumer

Response:

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.

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is unsatisfactory to me. I was not made aware of the rounding up policy until I had already been enrolled in your school for over 2 years. I have invested so much time and money in your school and feel like you care very little about your students! Also you said that I was told I could return to your school but Sue S[redacted] said I have to take a year off then reapply and only if there is a seat available I can return! Mrs. W[redacted] said she thought I should have been able to start in the fall but Mrs. S[redacted] said absolutely not!!! I am tired of getting the run around they tell one student one thing and another student something entirely different! I feel as soon as a student enroll in your school you should make them aware of the rounding policy up front also tell students about the ATI and dosage calculations test that can kick you right out of the program if you don't pass by your third attempt. If I had been aware of all of these I would have never enrolled in your school! I am 39 years old I have been out of school for many years and yes I knew this was going to be very difficult but I would have never risked it had I'd known all of the different things that can kick you out of the program! Also I was put in a class that I didn't need to take and when they figured out the mistake they told me I could get out of the class so I did but they are still making me pay for the class knowing it was their mistake! I feel you need to be accountable for not providing students with all of the correct information! We do not get this information until we are already in enrolled in the nursing program and by then it's to late you have already spent a ton of time and money on prerequisites!!!Thank You,Michelle C[redacted]