Walden University - EdD Teacher Leadership

Walden Was a Waste

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on November 6, 2008

Materials:		Teachers:
Institution:		Support:
Value:		Technology:

Review:

At first I was very pleased with the EdD in Teacher Leadership program at Walden. Then I took EDUC 8015, the first of the Research courses, and we had to read the same two articles over and over for nearly every module.
Nevertheless, I was earning an "A."  

After the third week, I became so sick that I had to ask for an extended deadline. The instructor suggested I contact Disability Services, which I did, and I was given the extended deadline. However, a week later I became so sick that I could not even complete the work by the extended deadline. By this time I had also missed the deadline to withdraw from the course. When I pleaded with the instructor to allow me to submit my missing work beyond the extended deadline she had given me, she refused. 

I contacted the advising team and was told that I could petition for a change of grade to No Credit and a waive of the tuition. Since the course was now half over, the Director of Disability Services intervened with the instructor for me and asked what grade I would receive if I completed the course without the missing work.  The instructor said I "might" be able to earn a "C" at best.  Since I did not want a "C" on my transcript, 

I petitioned, and given what the advisors had told me, I felt confident my petition would be granted.  However, I was shocked when the director of EdD programs and the associate dean both agreed with the instructor and denied my petition!  Even the director of disability services, who had said she would stand by whatever decision I made, agreed with the denial!  I appealed the decision, sending along 51 pages of supporting medical documentation, but my appeal was denied! 

I was devastated, and watched helplessly as I received an "F" in the course. I contacted the advisors again and was told I could pay another $4000.00 and retake the course to improve my GPA with a better grade, but that the "F" would always be on my transcript.  Although I only had two more years in the program, I decided to leave because of the unfair treatment I received.  BTW, I'm a full-time professor of Education and had received all A's in a doc program at a B&M University prior to attending Walden. I made the mistake of leaving the B&M for Walden because of convenience.