Complaint Review: Kennedy-western University - Warren National University

I couple of years ago I wanted to finish my degree. I spoke with several people at Kennedy Western University who assisted me with enrollment and lead me to believe that they were an accredited college. They even advised me that most employers would refund tuition because they were recongnized as a higher institute of learning. Their website even indicated they were accredited at the time I signed up. NO longer states that.

My mother became ill shortly after my enrollment. Her illness progressed and she passed away. I contacted the admissions office and explained my situation. They advised me that I would become inactive and once I was ready to complete my studies they would reactivate my status. Since that time the school changed their name and their programs. I was never notified by the school about this change until I attempted to log on to my student website. Since then I've even learned that my program is no longer being offerred and will not be supported after January 2009.

I called the school several weeks ago and requested my status be reinstated (since I never withdrew from the school and tuition $7500 was paid in full via Sallie Mae Student Loan). I was referred to a "resolution committee coordinator" who advised me that my program had changed and would no longer be available as of January 2009 (6 months from now). She then stated she would refer me to another counselor who would be getting in touch with me in 2-4 weeks for reinstation purposes. I never heard back so I began emailing and calling. Several phones calls to "voicemails" were made and no return calls. Several emails sent with no response. This went on for several weeks. I finally reached someone in the front office who advised me that the person I was referred to no longer worked for the school so I was referred back to the original coordinator.

She finally contacted me via email. Her response was unsympathic and contradicting to her first email. Here is her response (verbatim)

"We are not currently re-activating inactive students. As it is the University's first responsibility to support our current students, we are focusing all of our efforts, energy and resources to support our current active students."

As you can see, her email was quick, simple, and to the point... In other words, I was out of luck and out of a degree. At this point, I would like my money back (all $7500 that I paid for via a Sallie Mae Loan). I currently have a student loan that I'm paying for yet I have no degree to show for it. Although, I have done some research since then (little to little to late) and have realized that this school was misleading, unethical and bogus in regards to their accrediation, I was still willing to follow through with the degree in hopes they eventually become accredited. But they won't even give me that option.

They took my money and told me "too bad so sad"! Funny, I had no problem contacting people during the enrollment process. In fact I had several people assigned to me assisting with financial aid and such. Now, you can't get anyone to respond. How can a government loan be granted to pay for a school that was not accredited and with such a reputation? Sallie Mae made the payments directly to the school, so why can't they help me in getting my money back.

Please, please help... out of money and out of a degree.

Prela
cape coral, Florida
U.S.A.