Complaint Review: Westwood College O'Hare - chicago Illinois

Andy, lets let Wikipedia clarify this for him shall we? Your two cents as a Westwood Representative are lacking...:

In recent years Westwood College has been the subject of controversy related to a series of lawsuits and some students' inability to transfer credits to other colleges and universities. In May 2009, Westwood settled a federal lawsuit over misrepresentation of its graduation statistics for $7 million, without admitting wrongdoing.^[39]

Westwood faced a class action arbitration filed by the firm James, Hoyer, Newcomer, Smiljanich & Yanchunis in 2009, challenging its admissions and financial aid practices. The suit against Westwood was dismissed because a judge found that it did not warrant class action status, but the court is allowing students to bring individual claims before the court. The court ruled that the student who led the class-action suit derived “most if not all, of his knowledge of the case from his attorneys” and appeared to be little more than a bystander to the suit.^[40][41] The Hoyer firm's use of social media to connect with Westwood students was reported in The Wall Street Journal, which also reported that Westwood filed a suit against James Hoyer, alleging defamation through "new media Internet weapons."^[42]

In 2010, Westwood College faced further regulatory difficulties in Texas, Wisconsin, and Colorado. The Texas Workforce Commission took steps to revoke the licenses of Westwood's three Texas campuses due to concerns raised in a federal General Accounting Office investigation,^[43] but in early 2011 gave the school full approval.^[16] In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board ordered Westwood to stop enrolling students in its online college in late 2010,^[44] but reversed that directive early in 2011.^[16]

The Colorado Attorney General's office reached a settlement with the college in 2012, following a two-year investigation. As part of the agreement, the college did not admit any liability and agreed to pay the state $2 million in penalties, restitution and attorneys fees and costs. Westwood also will credit another $2.5 million in restitution directly to students who financed their tuition with the school’s institutional financing program.^[45]

In 2011, the Veterans Administration disqualified three Westwood College Campuses from the GI Bill Program. The VA took this step after finding, "erroneous, deceptive, and misleading advertising and enrollment practices at these institutions."^[46] In late 2011, Westwood stopped enrolling students in their Texas campuses.

On January 18, 2012 Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, filed a lawsuit citing misleading job opportunities for its criminal justice program.^[47]

On its website, Westwood has responded to many of the allegations against it.^[48] Regarding credit transfer problems, Westwood acknowledges that in most cases its credits will not transfer to other colleges or universities.^[49]

I work for Westwood college in the admissions department. I need to correct you on several different accounts. First of all, about us not being accredited. Yes, we are accredited, and always have been. How do you think you were able to recieve the loans and grants and financial aid funds if we were not accredited. There are many types of accreditation out there. All colleges are not accredited by the same place. Second of all..regarding the student loans. They were correct in where they told you to go. I too have student loans from the Art Institute. They are PLUS loans I took out for my daughter. I know a few things about the loans. They do work with me. I have needed and taken several forbearances that have made it really easy to afford the loans. I had a decrease in salary and they adjusted my loans to reflect that decrease. My daughter graduated in 2010 also and my loans are thru Sallie Mae, (one was taken by the gov't one remains with Sallie Mae). Both are managed by the same people so I can work them together. It has been my experience that Sallie Mae does not call a dozen times a day, and if they are calling, try calling them back. You are probably on your way to default, and need to have them send you the paperwork so they can work with you.  On the teachers who were cops...really? first of all teachers...second of all law enforcement officers...lied to you? I have a really hard time believing that. On taking it to an attorney to see if you could sue..There is probably a really good reason the attorney would not take the case. There wasn't anything that was done wrong. If there was wrongdoing, he would have taken the case in a heart beat. Attorneys typically do not take cases they cannot win. Based on my experience, I have a really difficult time believing this story. Also, Westwood offers ongoing grad. placement, I would suggest you go back to the school, and talk to the employment specialist and start going back out on interviews and try to get placed. Use the education you are paying for. We have a fine program, and I personally have seen a tremendous amount of success from our criminal justice program where I work.