- Report: #861264
Complaint Review: Westwood College - Internet Colorado
Reported By:
Robert -
Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Westwood College
Internet, Colorado, United States of America
Phone:
Web:
http://westwood.edu
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Westwood College Alta, Redstone Another Update on this Scam College Internet, Colorado
So, here's the latest for you Westwood College lovers, being sued yet again by another state of our fine union. Written by Sarah Schulte
January 18, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit against Westwood College, accusing the for-profit school of deceptive marketing.
Related ContentStory: Call for better regulation of for-profit colleges Madigan says Westwood College degrees have failed to qualify graduates for careers in the field of criminal justice. She claims Westwood graduates are also left with thousands of dollars in debt from classes that fail to prepare them for careers.
Madigan says a Westwood College diploma is not likely to get graduates jobs with state or local police departments.
She accuses Westwood of lying to students about its accreditation status.
Todd Brown's goal was to become an Illinois State Trooper. He was counting on his degree from Westwood College to get him there. The 24-year-old Bolingbrook resident was well into the interview process when his dream was cut short.
"You got your foot in the door, and two weeks later they call, say you can't have the job because your school is not regionally accredited," Brown said.
Brown is now left with a worthless degree and over $50,000 in school loans to pay back, Brown said, and he is not alone.
Westwood graduates joined Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan as she announced a lawsuit against the for-profit Westwood College. Illinois is home to four campuses.
Madigan accuses Westwood of using deceptive practices and advertising when marketing its criminal justice program.
"Westwood consistently misrepresented its accreditation status, which barred many students from pursing careers in law enforcement," said Madigan. Westwood is nationally accredited, but not regionally. The Denver-based Westwood College says it is cooperating with the Illinois attorney general's office. In a written statement, Westwood College spokesperson Emily Port said, "We have hundreds of successful graduates working in the private and public criminal justice field throughout the State of Illinois."
But none of the Illinois residents interviewed by ABC 7 have a job in the field they were promised by Westwood recruiters. Single mother of four Annette Arkema went back to school in her 40s with the goal of a career as a victims advocate. She now works at Sam's Club.
"I wanted to teach my children, no matter how old you are, education is important," said Arkema, a Westwood graduate.
Madigan's goal with the lawsuit is to shut Westwood's Illinois campuses down and force the college to return students their money. Madigan says, according the federal government, a degree from a for-profit college costs five times more than a community college.
Madigan says federal student loans account for close to 90 percent of for profit college revenues.
So how about the other states doing the same? Texas has already forced them to shut down, common California, you can do it too...
January 18, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit against Westwood College, accusing the for-profit school of deceptive marketing.
Related ContentStory: Call for better regulation of for-profit colleges Madigan says Westwood College degrees have failed to qualify graduates for careers in the field of criminal justice. She claims Westwood graduates are also left with thousands of dollars in debt from classes that fail to prepare them for careers.
Madigan says a Westwood College diploma is not likely to get graduates jobs with state or local police departments.
She accuses Westwood of lying to students about its accreditation status.
Todd Brown's goal was to become an Illinois State Trooper. He was counting on his degree from Westwood College to get him there. The 24-year-old Bolingbrook resident was well into the interview process when his dream was cut short.
"You got your foot in the door, and two weeks later they call, say you can't have the job because your school is not regionally accredited," Brown said.
Brown is now left with a worthless degree and over $50,000 in school loans to pay back, Brown said, and he is not alone.
Westwood graduates joined Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan as she announced a lawsuit against the for-profit Westwood College. Illinois is home to four campuses.
Madigan accuses Westwood of using deceptive practices and advertising when marketing its criminal justice program.
"Westwood consistently misrepresented its accreditation status, which barred many students from pursing careers in law enforcement," said Madigan. Westwood is nationally accredited, but not regionally. The Denver-based Westwood College says it is cooperating with the Illinois attorney general's office. In a written statement, Westwood College spokesperson Emily Port said, "We have hundreds of successful graduates working in the private and public criminal justice field throughout the State of Illinois."
But none of the Illinois residents interviewed by ABC 7 have a job in the field they were promised by Westwood recruiters. Single mother of four Annette Arkema went back to school in her 40s with the goal of a career as a victims advocate. She now works at Sam's Club.
"I wanted to teach my children, no matter how old you are, education is important," said Arkema, a Westwood graduate.
Madigan's goal with the lawsuit is to shut Westwood's Illinois campuses down and force the college to return students their money. Madigan says, according the federal government, a degree from a for-profit college costs five times more than a community college.
Madigan says federal student loans account for close to 90 percent of for profit college revenues.
So how about the other states doing the same? Texas has already forced them to shut down, common California, you can do it too...
1 Updates & Rebuttals
slamothe
Sevierville,Tennessee,
United States of America
I too was ripped off by Westwood College, would like to seek restitution also
#2Consumer Comment
Mon, February 18, 2013
I too attended Westwood College in their online Nothe Denver Campus school for a Marketing/Sales degree from about June 2006 to March 2008.
When I researched the school they told me that credits would be transferable to any school I wanted to attend after graduation, should I want to further my education. I checked with two local community colleges in the area and one university and found out that my credits were totally worthless. When I approached my counselor regarding the transferance of credits, she always told me not to worry, they would transfer over.
Every 3 or 4 months I was being called by the Financial Aid department to file for more student loans. They were always telling me that I needed more student loans to continue my courses. At the time I was around $9.50 an hour at my job, but somehow they continued to clear the way for me to qualify for $10,000 even $15,000 loans at a time.
Then in February 2008, I was terminated from my job. With no income I was unable to qualify for financial aid assistance on my own. My parents are retited and on a fixed income and would not be able to co-sign for me. All I kept hearing from some guy by the name of 'Adam' in the Financial Aid department was to get a co-signer or I will be dropped from my classes. They always pressured me about getting the money, that's all they always wanted.
I was stressed out, my grades were slipping. Eventually I was dropped from my classes, but not before I was buried almost $60,000 in debt.
The past few years, I have been filing for deferments or forebearances, but I now have no alternatives, I've used up all of my time and can no longer request anymore. I now work at a local fast food establishment, am almost 41 years old, not even full-time, and barely take home $450 after 2-weeks of work. My student loan payments are easily $1,000 a month, and that doesn't even include my other expenses.
Westwood college screwed me and drove me into debt, knowing fully that I might not even be able to make student loan payments when the the time came. All they cared about was getting money, they never really cared about my success or well-being. Westwood College should be the ones paying my defaulted student loans.
For-Profit schools, like Westwood College, shouldn't be allowed to operate. It seems like most of them are only interested in getting your money, and once you are gone or graduated they don't care about you anymore. It would be great if someone can help or point me in the right direction to get this nightmare resolved.
