ComplaintsforBrookline College Tempe Campus

• Initial Complaint

  01/29/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Pulled out of clinical site on my 5th week and was never given a report of why it happened. I also didn't have a clinical instructor to report to for help, as she resigned the position the first week 07/2022, which is when the externship started. Always denied a report from the hospital site and was asked to present a case of what I would do better for my reentry application. No good case was possible to present since I didn't know the reason of my withdrawal and was denied promptly saying I didn't present a good case. Talk to campus director and she couldn't help. Followed their next step to apply for reentry through the **** and was approved for reentry and was told to wait for 07/2023 to start the class as it was the only slot for it. Once 05/2023 came, I contacted the school to prepare. I asked if i could attend lab to get some practice in. The response was "Reentry was reevaluated and denied". I was excited to start and waited a long time for the class to be turned down. I called and spoke to the program director, that was also replaced, and was told the **** is no longer with the school and that the **** made a mistake to approve me. Escalated to regional **** which refused to help and sent me away saying "decision has been made already and the denial stands". Just need A MONTH AND A HALF for this degree and be able to test for certification.

  Business response

  01/31/2024

  Thank you for notifying the College of the complaint submitted by ******************. Unfortunately, due to FERPA regulations we are unable to release academic records or information related to students. While the student is free to share his perspective of the situation, the college is not at the same liberty to do so.  With that said, the college adheres to its written policies and procedures as defined in the college catalog which can be found at this site: ***************************************.

  Customer response

  01/31/2024

  I am aware of FERPA and accept any information to be public. This matter has not been resolved at all. I am due to finish and have the right to. Was approved by the **** and now this action was taken without consideration.

  Business response

  02/01/2024

  We respect ******************** choice to seek resolution through the BBB;however, we are currently working with another entity to determine an appropriate outcome regarding this situation and will reserve any further comment while that is ongoing.

  Customer response

  02/27/2024

  The matter could have been resolved long ago by direct contact and was a set thing, but the school decided to avoid a students success with no cause since the **** had already approved me to finish. You were against having something resolved and I had to make sure I contacted the other entity to ensure I wasnt ignored and this could be resolved after 1.5 years since I worked hard for it and dont deserve not to finish.

• Initial Complaint

  10/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The college terminated me from my clinicals and the program it self with no fair judgement or trial. I have since tried to re-enroll I was denied again no fair judgement or trial! I was then ask to process an appeal for the denial of re-enrollment been over 60 days the **** has not returns my emails or calls in regards to my re-entry! The **** and school have completed neglected my right of opportunity to return back to school! The school gave me no opportunity to finish and graduate from the program. I have been placed in repayment plan with educational student loans applied in my name by the school. As well as I did complete the entire association degree portion of my program and the school is also is with holding my degree.

  Business response

  10/17/2023

  ****************,
  Thank you for reaching out to express your concerns. We understand that you had a negative experience with Brookline as it relates to your externship and communication related to the reasons why the termination took place and your ability to re-enter the program.  Your termination was the result of performance while on site as well as discrepancies with your timesheets.  The Program Director/Clinical Coordinator discussed this with you at the time.  The externship portion of the program is a crucial component of program completion and therefore, the reason why you have not yet received your degree.
  I left you a message with my contact information and I would like to extend again the chance to discuss these matters further. Brookline College takes all student concerns seriously and works to resolve all in a timely manner.
  Please contact me at my information below at your earliest convenience. 

   

  ***********************
  Campus Director, Tempe
  
  ************ Direct  |************ Text  |   ***********************************  |   **** ***********.  |   Tempe, ** 85281
  

• Initial Complaint

  06/07/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have attached uploads which my not be in order, (not purposely), but basically I did my schooling and finished all the main modules and was awaiting my externships after a Leave of Absence,(***), between finishing modules and going to the externship. During the *** I was wrongfully withdrawn as a student from the school and mind you, my account was already paid in full. I had to fight and have a meeting and email communications with multiple people trying to just get what I needed done so I could received my hard earned diploma. Then during the process of becoming a current student again, I was told I had a balance I needed to pay before I could become a current student again. I was trying to get answers and was being ignored or transferred from one person to the next and have yet for anything to be done. I have applied and had jobs that I cant state I went and finished the schooling because of this and it has affected other employments I tried to acquire because it showed me as a withdrawn student. I am tired of fighting for the diploma and Id rather just get a refund from the school for all of this stress I dont feel its fair I am further in educational debt for no reason. Please help me get whats deserved. I am a single mother just trying to better myself for my children and I. Because of that accident my baby is paralyzed from the bottom of his chest down. I had to take *** the first month because our accident occurred on an out of state trip with a drunk driver and we had to stay in TX because my baby was hospitalized there for a month. Then the second ***, where they wrongfully withdrew me, he had to have a second surgery on his neck before the first surgery they put the 8 screws in where it was causing him constant pain. Its been an emotional roller coaster and schooling wasnt supposed to be an added problem. I would really like for you to take this and help me with a resolution. Thank you for your time.

  Business response

  06/12/2023

  ****************,
  
  Thank you for reaching out to express your concerns. We understand that you had a negative experience with Brookline as it relates to your externship and tuition as you dealt with some extremely difficult life circumstances. We empathize with you and your familys situation and want to help resolve the matter promptly. We have maintained contact with you for nearly the last year throughout the changes in your situation and as you are aware, on two separate occasions we secured clinical sites for you to complete your externship. Your inability to attend your externship was due to not receiving the site required documents from you despite many attempts to collect them. In addition,we set up multiple times with you to come in and meet in person to discuss and resolve and you were not present for those meetings.
  
  In terms of your status You were placed on Leave of Absence (LOA) status at your request and as a result of your accident. You remained on this leave status pending the securing of the extern site after your leave. This leave is time-bound and once you exceeded the allowable time and did not return for externship, we processed your record as a withdrawal in accordance with policy.
  
  In regards to your charges The tuition for the externship portion of the program is the payment you would be required to satisfy in order to be able to complete and graduate from your program, as this has not been collected. At the time, we made many attempts at discussing these matters with you in person or via phone that were largely unaddressed but would like to extend again the chance to discuss these matters further and resolve. Brookline College takes all student concerns seriously and works to resolve all in a timely manner. Please contact me at my information below at your earliest convenience.
  
  
  ***********************
  Campus Director, Tempe
  
  ************

  Customer response

  06/13/2023

  *****************

  You said you all tried to keep in contact but as I have attached proof and Id like to see yours because if this was the case we wouldnt be messaging through BBB website now. My FASFA account stating you all withdrew me before I had even asked for LOA and with that being said it goes to show your true intentions from the minute I finished modules, I was on LOA all of May because the program was going through a module I had done within my first two months at the school and throughout all that time not once did ************* reach out to even get started on my externships then? It would have been perfect and given me time to really get all my things done in a timely manner and Im sure we wouldnt be dealing with what we are now.  During zoom you were present and not once did anyone state that I would be having to pay anything before Id be accepted again.  I reach out prior to me asking ****** what was the hold. We pay over $13000 and youre telling me that I have to pay another $4100 separate?I wouldnt have ever even pursued this career to be making what I am now. A good 80% of your machines didnt even function, you used old instruments that were rusted and we hardly even had the supplies needed to learn to peel pack, wrap, sterilize in general. Does that sound like a $17000 program youd want to sign up for? Id like it if program cost printed out because if that is the case the program scammed me from the beginning believing I was only paying roughly around $13000. Where would we go from there because either way you look at it the error is still on your behalf. you have remorse but actions speak louder than words and if it took me having to write a review/ complaint to BBB almost a year later really shows how much you truly cared for what I was going through and still finishing your programs modules with flying colors. I reached out to your compliance officer and Post ********************** I hope you realize how serious about this I am

• Initial Complaint

  04/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  i went to brookline in 2015 for PCT. i was told when i started i would have 2 classes credited for classes i took at MCC. that never happened, i learned from MCC they never requested my transcripts. later i was told by brookline that i could take the classes but wouldnt be charged. then after student loans, i had an out of pocket balance of over 5 grand. after paying almost 10 grand in student loans which is atrocious because thats when i realized i was charged for the two classes i took that i was told would be free. 9 months into my program, i get approached by financial aid saying they lost my paperwork in the shuffle and i needed to set up a payment plan for my out of pocket balance so i could even graduate. the amounts changed as well which further proved I did not have my credits transferred. I also was not aware that brookline would lock my diplomas until I paid them once i graduated. I went through 3 instructors during my program and the education i received was baffling low for an accredited school. teachers were rude, disrespectful and one teacher even left mid-class crying because she hated the students. I was misled to think i would have credits transferred, my paperwork was lost and i was pressured into signing forms in order to graduate. this is SHADY. now, i have a collections agency threatening me because of a brookline balance but when i call brookline to ask for copies of my records and all the documents i signed, they say they have none and im not allowed them. THATS ILLEGAL. if i signed it, im allowed to have it!!! i also am aware of my rights that a collections company doesnt own the colleges debt and they cannot threaten me with legal action to get money. they have shady people doing their dirty work and the poor poor poor education I received has me shocked this campus isnt closed like the one in ****** was for shady business practices. I want my balance settled and I want proof of ALL of my records if they expect ANYTHING.

  Business response

  04/25/2023

  **************,

  Thank you for reaching out to express your concerns. We understand that you have had a negative experience with Brookline as it relates to your credit transfer and financial aid in 2015. We would appreciate and welcome an opportunity to address your comments in person or via phone. Brookline College takes all student concerns seriously and works to resolve all in a timely manner.

  As an educational institution, we are bound by the rules of the **************** Right and Privacy Act (FERPA) and are therefore unable to address the specifics of your concerns in this public forum. We have made multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact you as we would like to review options to both resolve any outstanding financial issues as well as assist you in successfully understanding/resolving the credit questions. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have a thorough understanding, receive answers to your questions, and reach a resolution. 
  

  Please contact me at my information below at your earliest convenience so we can review and resolve. Thank you,
  

  *****
  

  ***********************
  Campus Director, Tempe
  
  Phone: ************  |   Email: ***********************************  |   **** ****************************.   |   Tempe, ** 85281

  Customer response

  04/25/2023

  you have not made any attempts to contact me, so do not lie on a public forum. I have not spoken to a single person at brookline college besides the front desk and finance telling me over and over they have no record of me or that if they did, I was not allowed access to my records. I have gotten NOTHING from brookline besides calls from a shady collections agency threatening me every couple months. Brookline wants their money? I want my records, I want to know why I was lied to and taken advantage of and then you expect me to pay you all this money when I didnt even get a proper education at this school !!! and ive had nothing but bad experience since with brookline!!!! 

  Business response

  04/25/2023

  **************,

  Thank you for your prompt response. We are using the contact information that we have on record and will reach out again today to try and make direct contact using that email and phone number. If you are able, please contact me directly at my information below so we can review any issues related to finances, financial aid, transcripts and records, or otherwise. Our goal is to review and resolve this with you as quickly as possible.

  ***********************
  

  Campus Director, Tempe
  ************ Direct  | ************ Text  |   ***********************************   

• Initial Complaint

  05/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This transaction was done with Brookline College, beginning on Feb 17,2020, thru October 29th,2021. Within this time frame, Brookline received ****** dollars. During the time I was studying to receive my Associates in Surgery Technician, I was provided with the classes and teaching towards this goal, after passing lab finals, the contract was for myself to complete an externship program of 14 weeks to graduate. Once I began Externship at a Hospital location, I was withdrawn from the location within the fifth week. I was using the ** ****, from my 8 year military service that I had earned, so the VA would pay the college a monthly instalment, and it seemed that the school had received the full tuition amount in September 2021, so I was withdrawn from extern, and most communications from the school were cut off for me. I tried daily, and weekly getting a hold of financial aid, to only be told that they were working on my situation to get me back in extern, but then they stopped answering my emails and phone calls, I spoke with the program director, and nothing was ever accomplished. In Feb 2022, I was able to speak with a different individual, just for the same thing to happen, where I was told they would look into the situation, and never be resolved. So, the college received the full tuition, and stopped communicating with me to allow me to finish my education, they received a full amount for a service they stopped providing, I was not allowed to complete my extern to gain my associates, and now I have lost education benefits that I served for, just to be told I cant complete the program that has been fully paid for. Brookline college had not tried to fix the issue, since Sept 2021, to now May 2022, they still do not want to correct their wrongs, even though the VA let them know how to fix the issue. This is time and sacrifice I will not get back, I would like Brookline College to re-pay the full amount back, so as I can return to finish my education elsewhere.

  Business response

  05/13/2022

  ********************** ******,

  Thank you for reaching out to express your concerns. We understand that you have had a negative experience with Brookline as it relates to your externship and military funding. We would appreciate and welcome an opportunity to address your comments in person or via phone. Brookline College takes all student concerns seriously and works to resolve all in a timely manner. As an educational institution, we are bound by the rules of the **************** Right and Privacy Act (FERPA) and are therefore unable to address the specifics of your concerns in this public forum.
  

  We have made multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact you since the beginning of this year (2022) as we would like to review options to both resolve any outstanding financial issues as well as assist you in successfully completing your externship. Our ultimate goal continues to be to assist you in graduating and finding gainful employment in your chosen field. 

  Please contact me at my information below at your earliest convenience so we can review and resolve. Thank you,

  *****

  ***********************
  Campus Director, *****
  
  Phone: ************  |   Email: ***********************************   |   **************************************************************************************** 85281

• Initial Complaint

  12/14/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I attended the college in order to gain a medical billing & coding certificate. I went through the entire course and passed. Then, when the school was supposed to place me for my 1 month externship required to graduate, they refused to place me anywhere. This caused me to not be able to graduate at all, and I have been unable to gain my certificate because of this. The entire course was pointless if I am not allowed to finish and graduate. I want a full refund as the school did not honor their course, and refused to allow me to complete it.

  Business response

  12/20/2021

  ********************,
  
  Thank you for voicing your concerns. We work diligently to ensure a positive student experience, both in the classroom and with administration, and understand that we did not accomplish that in this case. We would like an opportunity to address this with you individually and review all details pertaining to your file. We will reach out to all numbers and addresses that we have to attempt to discuss and resolve promptly.
  
  Brookline College takes any and all student concerns seriously, and count student satisfaction as one of our key indicators of performance. As an educational institution, we are bound by the rules of the **************** Right and Privacy Act and are therefore unable to address all the specifics of your concerns in this more public forum. Based on your file and information, I see that you are located outside of our ground campus locations and were seeking an externship site in your area. We have multiple documents and notes that outline our attempts to secure an externship site with you for your ***************** Billing and Coding program and we would like to discuss.
  
  We want to have an opportunity to address the issue as described. We will be actively reaching out to you at all contact numbers/addresses on file and please contact me directly at **************, by emailing campus leadership at ****************************************************,or by emailing me directly at my email address below. Thank you again and we hope to speak to you soon.
  
  ***********************
  Brookline College Online Campus Director
  **********************************

• Initial Complaint

  10/29/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  i had reached out to brookline in april 2021 i started patient care tech may of ******************************************************************************** a year prior to enrolling had to clear my background so i did brookline was happy about me enrolling until they got a copy of my background and i got a phone call from brookline who stated they dont have students like me with my background and said i couldnt attend so they unenrolled me until they had evidence i had my fingerprint clearance card i had did my homework so they had no choice to let me attend through out the time ive been their ive hD TEACHERS WHO HAD BEEN VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO ME I BLEW IT off knowing i was just trying to make it thru i was passing my modes then we get to the ekg and we get a knew teacher of course she was informed by my previos teacher about me well thats when it got very difficult the teacher was going to make sure i wouldnt pass she wouldnt give me the assignments or i wasnt able to see what the lecture was i had complained to my school advisor and program director the tests were not on what she lectured us on so we failed the midterm thats when i went thru the program director and so he let us take the exam over and she was suppose to give us a study guide wich she did but not what the test would be she changed all the questions so we failed i was tired it was a losing battle with herso i dropped out now they have over charged me with my loan money and pell grants thru it all they knew i wasnt going to graduate with all the remarks and rudefulness in front of other classmates i didnt file a complaint only to school advisor i had no idea who to talk to about the situation p feel i was cheated out of my certificate also they told me ay enrollment once i finished the course i could work as a pct that was a lie i found out months later i would have to take another program that would have to be in another school it would cost me out my pocket i quit then now they overchargein

  Business response

  11/03/2021

  ***********,
  
  Thank you for voicing your concerns. We work diligently to ensure a positive student experience, both in the classroom and with administration, and understand that we did not accomplish that in this case. We would like an opportunity to address this with you individually and review all details pertaining to your file. We will reach out to all numbers and addresses that we have to attempt to discuss and resolve promptly.
  
  Brookline College takes any and all student concerns seriously, and count student satisfaction as one of our key indicators of performance. As an educational institution, we are bound by the rules of the **************** Right and Privacy Act and are therefore unable to address all the specifics of your concerns in this more public forum. However, we can point to our catalog that outlines the academic and financial requirements of all of our students and that is found here https://dms.unitek.com/wp-content/uploads/dms-pdfs/8042/20211029-catalog-brookline.pdf
  
  We have many avenues of support available to our students, ranging from academic to financial, and even personal well-being. We want to review your personal financial situation, help you understand the financial aid as outlined by Federal Student Aid and the ********** of ********** as well as to explain the path to employment that our ************ Technicians have available upon graduation without requiring additional courses at Brookline (or elsewhere).Lastly, wed like to have an opportunity to address the issues of disrespect as this is not aligned with our core values of integrity, excellence, compassion,empowerment, and relevance.
  
  We will be actively reaching out and please contact the campus at **************,by emailing campus leadership at ***********************************,or by emailing me directly at my email address below. Thank you again and we hope to speak to you soon.
  
  *************************
  Brookline College ************ Director
  ***********************************

  Customer response

  11/08/2021

  I've read what brookline sent but I got another email saying I owe **** dollars to brookline because now I'm responsible for the schooling even though I had Pell ***** and student loans they charging me like this because I turned them into you all this is not resolved and I don't know how to deal with brookline college now
  
  I also feel I should be reimbursed the money that was paid because I wouldn't of dropped out if I wasn't treated so crudely or disrespected I feel they cheated me out of my diploma 

  Business response

  11/08/2021

  *************,

   

  Good afternoon. I personally made attempts to reach you last Friday, November 5 as we take this matter very seriously. I will call and email again today and attempt to discuss. We would like to be able to talk to you directly to better address the specifics that cannot be described in a public forum such as this.

   

  There is no retaliation on our part as your balance and school ledger remain the same. Without addressing the specifics of your file as we are limited by FERPA regulations, I can tell you that a student using Title IV financial aid (******** Loans, Pell ****** etc) that withdraws in the midst of a term or semester is subject to what is called R2T4 (Return of Title IV Funds). We are not eligible to retain funds for a student that does not meet the minimum requirements set by the ********** of ********** and this can result in an outstanding balance to the school.

   

  Please let me know when you are available to speak and I can call you myself and include the Financial Aid Director and any needed academic leadership. We want to address both the academic and financial concerns to ensure you have an understanding and so we can take the appropriate action to correct anything on our side that was not up to expectations.

   

  Thank you,

   

  *************************
  Brookline College ************ Director
  ***********************************

   

   

• Initial Complaint

  06/14/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was looking forward to continuing my education by attending Brookline College - Online. I completed two courses and decided to withdraw from Brookline and attend ****. I had to call regarding refunding of what I had to pay out of pocket, $4114.00 as well as what I received in student loans. Upon doing so, I was shocked to find out that for the two courses I took I was charged $****.00! I completed these two classes online, I provided my own computer and internet service and feel like I was over charged for these classes. I did receive a partial refund of what I paid out of pocket, Brookline College kept $513 and I am going to have a new student loan for $****.00.I don't understand how Brookline College can get away with this type of charges; it is unfair not only to me for for all students wanting to continue their education. I am willing to pay a reasonable amount for the two classes I did take and pass with an A, but not #****.00!

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