November 26, 2005
In regards to: Appealing Results of My Recent Experience with Capella’s New Comprehensive Process
XXXXX
Senior Academic Associate
Per your instructions, this letter documents my recent experience with Capella’s new comprehensive process for doctoral learners. My appeal is not directly related to the grade received, but rather with the process that resulted in my disenrollment from the University.
As you read the following documentation of my experience with Capella’s new comprehensive process, I ask that you keep in mind my perspective as a consumer. A consumer who, as a doctoral candidate paid Capella for courses and advisement. My forty thousand dollars were paid to Capella with the ultimate goal of receiving a Ph.D. Capella University makes a profit from the acceptance of these funds. When Capella University accepts these funds, the University is obligated to provide effective advisement to their learners. The University employs various people to assist and guide learners as they progress through their programs. Capella has failed in this regard. The University failed to provide a comprehensive program, which was consistent, fair and understandably communicated by all parties involved.
My Experience with Dr. XXXX – my mentor and committee chair.
While attending my last residency (Phoenix, AZ 2005) I spoke with Dr. XXX regarding the assignment of my comprehensive committee. I had advised him that Dr. XXX had contacted me towards the end of HS8113. She was the instructor for HS8113 (last course prior to Comprehensives) and advised me that not only was she very happy with my performance in her course, but if I did not have a mentor as of yet, she would very much like that position. She also stated interest in being my committee chair. After speaking with Dr. XXX, I then emailed Dr. XXX, requesting Dr. XXX be my mentor and committee chair. Dr. XXX was very helpful in fulfilling my request.
In preparation for participating in the accelerated process (which Dr. XXX and Dr. XXX had encouraged me to do), I made sure to FULLY understand the timelines, course requirements and what needed to be submitted by whom for smooth progress.
During one of our phone conversations Dr. XXX had advised me that she was not going to be teaching at Capella Summer quarter of 2005 because she was “sick and tired of having to fight the system”. Further she advised me of the numerous appeals on her behalf from learners who she felt were not worthy of being in the program. She complained about Dr. XXX, Dr. XXX and Dr. XXX while stating if I ever repeated what she had just told me, she would deny every bit of it. Well, being that it was too late at that point to change committee chair and members (especially after all the trouble I had caused to get it set up), I chose to mind my p’s and q’s and heed caution regarding this conversation.
I’m not sure if all Capella faculty were experiencing as much difficulty in understanding their role as mentor/committee chair for a learner, but on numerous occasions I found myself cutting and pasting the documentation from the new Comprehensive Examination Manual which instructed Dr. XXX of the new process, documents she was responsible for filing, and where to find them. I even called the University for her to find out where on the faculty site she would find the documents.
The first comprehensive call went well.
I received my questions and submitted responses to Dr. XXX.
Dr. XXX, however, was nowhere to be found. What I mean by this statement is that after I submitted my comprehensive answers, I anticipated an email from her verifying she received them. After waiting four days, I sent another email asking her to verify receipt. No response from Dr. XXX. I then called her home in Florida, left a voice message advising that I had not heard from her regarding my comprehensive answers. I asked for a call back. I advised that I heard she was in the hospital and if that is the case, to please have one of my committee members contact me to instruct on how we were going to proceed. STILL NO ANSWER.
One week after the initial submission, I resent them to my other committee members, explaining why I was sending them.
Later that day, I received an email from Dr. XXX stating “DrM2B: I have not responded to you as I am recovering from surgery.... my apologies. Thanks for sending your comprehensive exams to the committee. XXX “
I then received feedback in four, very confusing, unorganized separate emails that I would be required to rewrite all four of my answers. Dr. XXX scores of my responses were the lowest. She advised me I would have 14 days to do so. I called Dr. XXX to ask for clarification on some of the feedback, as it was very vague and confusing.
She opened the call not with “hello, what can I do for you as your committee chair, but rather, with “feeling overwhelmed?” After I asked her to clarify a few points on the feedback from the other committee members, her response was, “It is not my responsibility to read the feedback from the other committee members, I just forward along whatever they send me.”
I advised her that since she was my chair, I assumed she would be aware of the feedback and be able to talk to it. She instructed me to write an email to the other committee members regarding my questions. After my second request for clarification (three days apart), one committee member did respond saying that he would need to check with Dr. XXX to see if he could clarify on his feedback. At that point, I also received a nasty and snippy email from Dr. XXX stating,
“DrM2B: I thought we resolved this situation? Hence, I am not clear as to why you sent this email. As stated in my previous email, the committee provided you with extensive feedback. Hence, please address the feedback provided in your revisions. Thanks – XXX”
At this point, I was very confused and shocked by Dr. XXX complete reversal of instructions. I did, however, send an apology to the other committee members advising the reason I had asked for clarification was at the instruction of my chair….and proceeded to try and get all four responses done.
On the 8th day of the 14 days given for rewrites, I was rear-ended. I received a knot on my left temple, dislocated my pointer finger on my right hand, received bruises on my right hip, right ribcage, two on my right arm, and shoulder. The day after starting my rewrites, I also had started a new consulting job with on a six-sigma project. The headaches, soreness, blurred vision and migraines from the accident caused me to miss two and a half days of work. I physically needed additional time to recover, but due to my responsibilities in my new position, it was not possible.
My rewrite time shortened dramatically from 14 days down to eight due to the accident.
I actually thought I was still going to be able to submit them on time and answered an email of Dr. XXX stating so. I even employed the assistance of a friend to type as I wrote aloud.
I called Dr. XXX, after an evening of dealing with a migraine and blurred vision. I advised her of my accident, my injuries and that I would have my responses to her before 24 hours was up. I left this information on her voice mail.
She called me back and left a message on my cell phone to call her. When I returned her call, her first comment was “You’re probably pretty pissed, huh?”…..Since I thought she was referring to my car accident, I advised her that I was still sore, experiencing the headaches and still had the big bruises; but my car was drivable, and I was thankful I wasn’t injured any greater than that. She said, “Oh, you didn’t get my email then, did you”. In addition, I said no, I have been trying to play catch-up from being out and I was at work. She then very flippantly stated, “You’re disenrolled, my friend”. I was silent and then asked her “I’m sorry?” She said the deadline was last night, and you failed to meet it. I was silent, knowing that she received my message of my car accident and had not even commented on that yet. She then said, “It didn’t have anything to do with me….its the University…..” Then she said….”U can scream and yell ya know” and laughed. She actually laughed! I advised her that I was at work and hung up the phone.
After reading the nice form letter she submitted, I called XXX to advise her of the situation. This was not the first communication to XXX. I had previously complained to XXX regarding my experience through this process and Dr. XXX.
My GPA and the timeframe in which I completed the coursework speak for itself. I am not the type of learner who takes her PhD program lightly. I have received a 4.0 for my coursework, been diligent in my education, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience Capella provided for my 40 K dollars up until the comprehensives.
A car accident is out of ones control and I would hate to think that after I completed my coursework with a 4.0 GPA and paid Capella 40K, the unprofessional and noncommittal performance of Dr. XXX as my committee chair is what stands between me and a fair chance to pursue a Ph.D.
Inconsistencies between “New Comprehensive Examination Manual” and my Committee Chair
The manual states to place all references at the end of responses
The courseroom instructor (HS9995-C) stated the same
Dr. XXX requested they be placed at the end of each question.
No where does the manual state that quotations are not to be used throughout responses
Dr. XXX insisted that I have NO quotations and one reference cited per paragraph.
My experience with Dr. XXX so far:
I was approached by her as an instructor representing the Capella reputation
I was convinced to switch my mentor and committee chair to her
I listened to her complain and degrade the university which employs her
I listened to how she didn’t like Dr. XXX, Dr. XXX, Dr. XXX, and others
I listened to her describe how she does whatever it takes to get out of attending the residencies and that is why she has refused the idea of becoming core faculty.
I was told if I repeated any of our conversations that she would deny everything she said
I listened to how she’d rather teach more classes at the other school she is employed at because they pay per student in comparison to per class at Capella
I listened to her complain about all the ridiculous appeals she has had to answer to over the last two quarters.
I was advised to do one thing one day and then the complete opposite days later
I was advised it is not her responsibility to know what the other committee members had written for feedback ….she just forwards it on.
I was ignored because “she was recovering from surgery”
I was belittled and insulted by her comments that my comprehensive submission was a complete disappointment to her when I initially called for feedback clarification
I was flippantly told I was disenrolled, after she was advised I was in a car accident, without even asking how I was.
My concerns:
Does capella pay for being a mentor or committee chair?
Was she motivated to ask to be mine because she also knew she had surgery planned?
Does Capella require a committee chair to advise the school and or their learners that they will be unavailable for three weeks due to surgery?
Does Capella require Committee chairs to advise learners of the rewrite extension process or opportunity?
How many other learners are being treated by her in such a degrading and unprofessional manner?
In closing, I wish to reiterate my complete disappointment in the new comprehensive process. By the creation of the Doctoral Academic Advisors positions, it is obvious Capella also recognizes they have problems with their new process. Further, upon doing a little research, I was rather surprised at the number of websites which are dedicated to communicating a negative image of Capella. These sites are moderated by previous learners, who like me: paid their forty thousand dollars, achieved a high GPA and somehow managed to fail their comprehensives. These sites give detailed instructions on filing complaints about Capella. I have included a copy of the organizations listed along with relevant correspondence with my committee members.
Regards,
DrM2B
Labels: PhD
just gathering my thoughts....& wondering if u still stop by.....
