Complaint Review: Pioneer Pacific College

I originally found out about PPC (Pioneer Pacific College) while in case management at a local homeless youth center in Eugene, Oregon. I have complex health issues that have plagued me through out my school career, due to a genetic disorder that I inherited through my mother.  I dropped out of Springfield High School due to issues related to this disorder, and issues at home. Before finding PPC, I had already accrued a debt of ~400$ at Lane Community College and unable to retrieve my multitude of credits, due to this debt. After several years of struggling with increasingly poor health, as well as maintaining a street existence, I found a flyer for PPC, and decided to give it a try. I would find that it would be the worst decision I have made as an adult.

I have a case filed with the Department of Education, in regards to grade mismanagement, staff absence and misconduct, that I am willing to reference if needed. The outcome was in my favor, as much as A work being settled as a B, in place of a reported F. Have also spoken to the Department of Education on a few matters in regards to concerns on financial matters, but at the time of attendance, the practices appeared to be within legality.

 The Dean who fielded my complaints, and later dealt with the D of E, was Peggy, just before she retired. I was in some of the classes that have been reported on here already. Some of the  people on other reports are known to me, as I was in the same program, and on campus at the same times. I had been offered several times, audits, of the classes I took several times, since refusing to come back, and give anymore money and time.

I joined the CNT (computer networking tech degree), and was encouraged to take the Website Design and Administration degree concurrently with the CNT (They share almost all but six classes in terms of credits), but I refrained, due wanting to focus on the exams for certification before tacking on some extra classes, in the sake of time. My grades were great, my attendance was 95%, and I volunteered hours of time before classes, and student taught, when some teachers didn't make it to class, or made it to class, in time to take roll, and then leave, without aiding the students in the night time classes. I maintained the 3 computer labs, for software, hardware, and user issues, as well as aided guest speakers to the school with running of the school's equipment, like powerpoint, and overhead projectors. I saw the head of my program dismissed, and almost every teacher in the program dismissed, retired or quit, during my final days there.

I was two terms shy of my graduation when my health crashed. I was unable to attend for a term. Guided by assurances of support, and assistance in making sure things were secure, I was encouraged to maintain my enrollment, despite my worsening condition. I wound up hospitalized, unable to attend the classes I was convinced to sign up for and saddled with 12,500~ dollars in debt, solely on advice from the guidance counselor and financial aid worker for the Springfield Campus. When presented with this information, the school referred me to the Dean, who heard me out, told me that things take time, and to be patient, take care of myself, and PPC would be there to help its good students.

   I would like to point out here, that I did not find many issues that are worth noting with the CNT staff, save that they tended to have to do more maintenance for the other programs, than they did teaching. I was the head intern for the computer labs for the last few terms while at PPC. My problems stem mostly in how my recruitment went down, the general education classes, and how my health and financial situation was affected, and is affected by my interaction, and association with Pioneer Pacific College.

  I haven't posted before now, because I thought there would be a chance to eventually have things made right. Now I am contemplating bankruptcy, solely because of this debt, this coaxed, pressured, and irresponsible debt. I have since made it off the streets, but it was not because of Pioneer Pacific, it was in spite of it. I get daily calls, in response to this debt, including during my most recent hospital stay, in which I was informed this was an attempt collect on a debt for services owed.. I find it odd, I owe 12k for not going to classes in one term, where I owe 400 dollars to a community college, for almost 5 years of schooling. I have nothing to show from my time at this school, save the scars of trying to better myself, and being dropped for the option of making a few bucks. Welcome to Predatory Pacific College.. may your fortunes be better than ours..