University of Phoenix

I began my DBA program January 2005 and completed it effective June 2010. The courses were as expected, covering many interesting topics. From the start, the fellow students in my cohort (who went through the programs pretty much in the same courses together) discussed the distinction between a DBA and the well-known Ph.D. My undergraduate school's dean at the time had a DBA, so I was not deterred. I happened to solicit one doctoral mentor to work with me and he agreed. This was very lucky! I really like this person and still maintain a relationship with him. We happened to meet twice in person while I was pursuing the degree, which is not necessarily common with the university. I ran into a snag in finding a company to provide me access to their employees for the study leading to my dissertation. On my initiative, that was resolved after a nine-month detour. My mentor was exceptional in editing my dissertation as it went through various edits and iterations. I learned a great deal from him about academic writing. Simon & Schuster has nothing on his editing professionalism. I am currently an Adjunct Associate Professor with a globally-recognized university and I am highly regarded by the department leaders I work with. Admittedly, I came to the DBA program with 25 years career experience, including half of those years in senior management roles. The technology UofP uses has improved since I started and supported my growth very well. An academic advisor was interacting with me periodically throughout the program. Cost and financing was not an issue to me, as I did not need financing. I am engaged with three other professors pursuing a research project in my field of interest. It is great interacting with fellow professionals at this level. Attitudes about online programs have improved since 2005, as many brick and mortar schools are heading in this direction, too.

I completed my BS from UOP in 2010. In 2010 I enrolled in an MBA program with UOP and graduated in 2012. Following the completion of the MBA I enrolled in a DBA. I completed the first three courses and then, a few weeks prior to residency my 16 year old daughter went to the ER with heart problems. My daughter was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tacycardia Syndrome and I was unable to leave her home alone to travel. I went on a medical leave for three months and would have continued to take classes but UOP has no work around for Doctoral students unable to attend residency. Unfortunately my daughter's health has not improved to the point that I am able to leave her for 5 days to travel to Arizona. UOP still remains unable to provide a workaround so I made the difficult decision to move my academic program to another institution. During the enrollment process the new school discovered that UOP had not released the funds for 2013 back into the federal system. I am no longer enrolled at UOP, my medical leave expired on 1/20/13, yet they retained the financial aid awards. I e-mailed my finanial advisor to ask what steps needed to be taken to correct the error. I received no response. I called her today and she was so rude to me I was really quite schocked. This is a school that I have paid tuition to for nearly 7 years through two programs. Now, because they are unable to work with me, I have opted to pursue my doctorate elsewhere, and I was treated rudely! Unacceptable! I was told to send a letter by fax to the "main campus" and see what the next steps were. Unacceptable! UOP has not treated me fairly, they have not attempted to work with me to allow me to continue my program and once I attempt to separate I am met with resistence. UOP has no claim to my financial aid award as I am no longer enrolled in their school- yet they have my aid. Unacceptable!

I find I have been stuck with a financial aid "advisor" who does not know what he is doing. His supervisor is also demonstrating an attitude of not caring. I luckily have had one person who did help me, but I am still stuck with the know nothing one, and the supervisor. I know how financial aid works. I have been given a run around for almost three months, they refuse to give me an advance. Its MY money, not theirs. I do not recommend to anyone to go to this school if you are in serious need of financial aid. They used to not accept students if they weren't working. In today's economic scene, many of us are unable to find decent paying jobs. They don't care if you need FA. IF I get any decent money from a specific source, I will leave this school. I might start looking anyway, and I only just started with them in a "real" class this Tuesday. They hook you with the orientation, and undermine you over the FA.

The school should have a viable escalation process for student complaints. I have had some harrowing experiences at this school. The majority of the complaints I had were simply unbelievable. I was told by staff that the school sided iwth the instructor in all complaints and I can say that I have found that this is the truth.