Menu
Login
Union Institute and University had a valid PhD program, but it was put on probation back in 2004. Sadly, students were not given an option to withdraw and be given refunds for big student loans. I hung in there as long as I could, and kept borrowing, but because the US Department of Education had disqualified them for Federal Student Loans, I had to use Sallie Mae's Opportunity Loans. I wish I had withdrawn in 2004. Union officials met with the DOE and Ohio Board of Regents to try to get their accreditation back, but it never happened. Students who have tried to get their credits transferred to another program so they can finish with an accredited degree find they are worthless now. What is confusing is that because Union did have a good reputation at one time, many in the academic community don't know about their PhD program's problems. As far as I know, their undergraduate programs are still accredited, adding to the confusion. The essential problem with the PhD program is that there are not enough faculty and staff to administer the program. The degrees take forever to complete, drawing the student deeper and deeper into debt. They describe a new PhD program online, but as far as I know it is not yet accredited, and students who matriculated into the older program are not allowed to transfer into it. I'm now leading a group involved in a lawsuit against them. Anyone who wants more information is welcome to contact me.
The Ph.D. program is not accredited. If it was, then Union ph.d candidates could get federally insured student loans, which they cannot. Also, the credits would be transferrable, which they are not. Send me an email stating that Union students can get doctoral level federal student loans. Withdrawal of student federal loans is the only way that the federal goverment can discipline a program that has lost it's accreditation. Union Institute is only accredited to offer undergraduate degrees.
When I first wrote this complaint a few months ago, I was focused on the issue of current accreditation. However, whether or not UI & U is currently accredited has nothing to do with the closure of the Graduate College in 2004. In fact, the university is hiding behind its current accreditation to deny justice to the students who lost huge amounts of money, time and effort due to that closure. Back in 2004, I was sent an email by the President of Union Institute and University, Roger Sublett, that stated that UI&U had been censured by the United States Department of Education. All of the doctoral students received that email. The email didn't describe exactly what the details of the original complaint were that led to this censure, but it did list details of UI&U's response to the censure, which was the firing of almost all of the faculty of the Graduate College due to the limits on federal loans imposed on the university. This email promised many reforms, which were not effective in meeting the needs of the students but did suffice to placate federal officials, which finally lifted the restriction in 2007. I took a look at my balance sheet in 2008 and realized that I had already borrowed the maximum amount I could to finance my Union education. Given the massive delays that reduced from the closing of the Graduate College in 2004 and the subsequent false starts with inadequate administrative staff and faculty, I didn't think they would mind giving me some tuition credit so I could finish my degree. I had high hopes, too, that my service to them as President of the Learners Council would cause them to want help me stay in the Graduate College's doctoral program. They refused. I found an attorney, who documented my case thoroughly and requested that they reconsider. They refused again. My attorney contacted the US Dept. of Education and requested information about the 2004 censure and severe limits on financial aid that that agency imposed at that time. He was ignored. In desperation, and with little hope of success, I contacted my Congressional Representative, Ilena Ros-Lehtinen. A couple of months later, I received a copy of the letter her office sent to the US DOE I was pleased that Union's fraud finally had been taken seriously, especially by a Congressional Representative.
Almost a month later, the DOE responded to Rep. Ros-Lehtinen. David Heath, an official at the DOE, replied that while Union had limits put on federal financial aid, that the loans were not completely suspended. This assertion was not consistent with the email from President Sublett in 2004, which stated that the loans had been completely suspended. This assertion is also not consistent with my experience at the time, in which I was first Secretary of the Learner Council and then President. To my knowledge, no doctoral student at the Graduate College was receiving federally guarenteed student loans. I wrote again to Reb. Ros-Lehtinen, requesting further clarification regarding the limits on the financial aid that David Heath did allude to, and the reasons for those limits. I didn't expect anything but a polite letter stating that I had my response already and that I should be content with that. However, I received another letter dated September 24 that they had forwarded my request for clarification to the U.S. Department of Education. The closure of the Graduate College is mentioned in the Wikipedia article about UI&U, and here is the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Institute_%26_University
Unfortunately, the Department of Education routinely dents inquiries from attorneys representing individuals. That's why I took my case to my Congressional Representative, because I had visited a website setup by an advocacy group for student borrowers and they warn about that situation. I went through all the proper channels with good documentation and couldn't get anywhere with UI and U. We are gathering new members for our lawsuit through here and Facebook. When we reach 40, we can proceed.
Our group can be contacted through my email, warwick5552005@yahoo.com, or through our Facebook page, Union Institute and University Complaints. Dorothy Danaher White
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Please note that regional accrediting agencies do not accredit individual programs but entire institutions. As of this writing the Union Institute and University is regionally accredited. This means all of its programs are thereby "accredited." Below is the information that you will get if you go to The Union's web page. The following is a quote:
Union Institute & University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.
Web address: http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/
Phone #: [protected]
Most recent institutional reauthorization: April 2010
Next scheduled comprehensive review: [protected]
I was one of the Ph.D. Candidates who was caught in the landslide in 2004. I had completed all of my coursework and was ready to present before my committee in June 2005 when my core faculty advisors positions were both terminated. I spend many hours in 2004 resubmitting many documents on Union's tuition clock and re-wrote my entire PDE to present it before the board of regents to receive my degree. This process took an extra year to complete and Union placed me on non- status for only one term. As a result, I am paying off huge loans and do not have the professional connections one would normally have through obtaining a Ph.D., not to mention the stress created from unethical behavior presented by an institution that presented itself as an institution which supports social action and self- reflection. Learners impacted should not bear the financial burden placed upon them by Union's shortcomings as an accredited institution. I was so close to completion and fearful of losing everything that I complied with their rules and got out as quickly as I could (august 2006). I wrote to Union immediately following my completion to seek reimbursement for the past two years of the degree, citing the many hours I paid tuition on their clock and was denied. I am interested in any legal action that is being taken.
Angela Benedetto
One more time. The Union has regional accreditation, which means its doctoral programs are also accredited and students can receive federal loans.
What exactly happened in 2004? It seems that the Union Institute was on probation and that it re-organized is Ph.D. program after 2004 in response. Now it offers a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Stuties in Arts and Sciences, where before it had a Ph.D. in Arts and Sciences. Did the change in the program affect the timing of the your receiving a Ph.D.? Did the period of probation affect your ability to get a loan? It seems that there have been some serious issues, but it is hard to get a clear picture.
I, too, am a Union Learner caught in the 2004 down slide. I didn't even know it was happening until it was too late. I started in the same June 2003 class as the original poster to this thread. She and I were so excited about our new endeavor which we did not know would fall apart around us. I dropped in 2005 because I had to rewrite my learning agreement 3 - 4 times, and I am not a poor writer but an English instructor, published poet and now MFA student at a real college.
Union was patently fraudulent when it kept our classes going and kept admitting students. Even after they knew that the school's doctorate programs were being reviewed and were ultimately in trouble, they still kept us going around in circles in our degree programs until we quit, or they fired our professors. By 2005, I had 27K in student loan debt.
This is a ridiculous situation of "corporate" might against "less powerful" individuals assuming we will do nothing. However, the law says we should not have to pay for a fraudulent education. So on with the lawsuit.
I wonder if this situation is something that should be brought to the attention of an education focused publication like the Chronicle of Higher Education. Another idea might be to create a Facebook group. That would might make it easier to find other people who want to sue and to perhaps do a class action suit.
I was also caught in the array of disorganzation and was without any core support well over a year. Yet, was encouraged to stay in the program. . My entire committee was fired, twice. Yet, my cohorts was promised a program that could cost as little as 25, 000 and could be completed in as little as 2 years. I support creating a facebook group. I am also in favor of a class action suit. Union, I feel, scammed learners and individuals invovled in the process, should be compensated.
Has anyone complained directly with the Department of Education, Ohio Board of Regents, or Higher Learning Commission? I would suggest doing so in that order, as they could put some pressure on the Union Institute.
Regarding Alex's comment, the HLC is under investigation by the DoE. Not too confidence inspiring. Secondly, while programs are not individual authorized, they are authorized to offer certain degree programs.
I do not know how many times I have to repeat this. Regional accrediting bodies accredit entire schools and not programs. It a school has a program that is not acceptable, then the accrediting body will either not accredit the school or put it on probation if the school is seeking a renewal of accreditation, with the idea that the school in question will either drop or modify the unacceptable. At this writing this is not the Union Institute's problem.
I'll pass on the business of the HLC allegedly being investigated by the DoE. until I get more information.
To repeat, I hope for the last time, whatever else the Union Institute's problems may be, it is regionally accredited and for that reason all of its students eligible for federal financial aid of some kind.
I don't know why you feel the need to repeat this point. I was not saying that the individual programs are accredited, but the accreditation is relative to the programmatic composition at the time of evaluation. It is worth noting, however, that the HLC specifically states the programs that the Union Institute is authoirzed to offer. It is also worth noting that the OBR allows the Union Institute to offer a single Ph.D. and that the HLC lists this as the only Ph.D. degree that the University can offer. A quick search on the internet will turn up CVs with different Ph.D. degree titles from those approved by the OBR and HLC. So, what should we say about those degree titles? Are they authorized because the Union Institute is accredited? Hardly.
If at this point the above poster wishes to challenge the validity of regional accreditation he or she may do in blissful ignorance with no further comment from me. As for the rest of the person's missive, I would like to see concrete facts and a clarification of just he or she is specifically talking about.
I'll end by noting that legitimate accrediting agencies do not accredit schools that are not authorized to operate by their state's chief regulatory body, be it a department of education or board of regents.
I am not sure what you mean by challenging the validity of a regional accreditation. I did point out in a previous e-mail that the DoE was investigating the HLC. The article is online in the Chronicle of Higher Education. My main point was that the OBR and the HLC set limits on the Ph.D. degree that can be offered by the Union Institute. The current Ph.D. offered is a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies. Two other terminal degrees are now offered as well. Previously, the Ph.D. was a Ph.D. in Arts and Sciences. If you have a Ph.D. from the Union Institute, it should be titled as either of the above (depending upon the time period). Below is the current statement by the HLC. It is a few months old, but you can view the affiliation status and stipulations on their Web site. Do you have a Ph.D. from the Union Institute? How do you title it?
Stipulations on Affiliation Status:
The Institute may add no new centers or degree programs beyond the Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies, the
Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology), and the Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) without the Commission s approval. The
Ph.D. program in Interdisciplinary Studies is limited to the social sciences and humanities research areas.
The Psy.D. may be offered only in Cincinnati, OH and Brattleboro, VT. Contracts with non-accredited entities
to offer 50% or more of a degree program are limited to the three MFA programs (Visual Arts, Writing, and
Writing for Children and Young Adults) offered in Montpelier, VT.
Thanks for the clarification.
Is it possible to sue on the basis of a breach of contract? First, they seem to have delayed your progress, which has wasted your money. They should be responsible for that. Also, they seem to have cut back on your loans because of mistakes they made. That is negligent on their part. Your lawyer might find grounds for a suit based on their not delivering what they promised and delivering below the professional standard. Can you post the e-mail your received. It would be interesting to see what reasons they cite for not being able to provide the same level of financial aid as that which led you to begin the program.
I graduated from Union Institute & University in 2009. I started in the program in Feb 2003 and lived through the problems of 2004 (Two 1st cores, three 2nd cores, and lots of paperwork to rework). I graduated with the degree I started with Arts and Sciences with a specialization, in my case, Cultural History. Was it difficult? Yes! Did I have to be proactive in everything I did? Yes! But the school is accredited, and the degree is academically recognized. The only time during the entire process I had problems with loans was when the school went from trimesters to semesters. I had to catch up that difference with a Sallie Mae loan.
I need an attorney or class action suit, to obtain my transcript from the Union Institute and University, which needs to be sent to Capella University in order to correct my Ph.D. transcript. The Union Institute and University is and was a fraudulent and misrepresented “graduate” school. All the information I am providing is also on the Internet. Union says I owe them tuition, yet we signed an agreement to provide the transcript and I am not paying for something I never received. Their students reported them to the US Dept. of Education. Part of the problem was that students were allowed to make up their own courses and the number of credits and award themselves a grade. The feds stopped paying student loans to Union students unless they could prove that they actually took courses, received credit and a grade. Then mid-states got involved the accrediting agency in Chicago and the state of Ohio. Union said they had an “equivalent APA program in clinical psychology” which they did not have. Union did not have the faculty to teach required APA clinical psychology courses so students had to go outside Union, take courses elsewhere, pay ADDITIONAL TUITION AND TRANSFER THE COURSES INTO Union. They, mid-states, ruled that Union could not offer “professional’ degrees in psychology. There are many on-line schools that offer a Ph.D. in clinical psycholiogy but Unionb’s website toslly misrepresented their non-program by mentioning APA, the National Register and other organizations 9the requirements for a Ph.D. in clinical psychology can be found at; APA.org, and National Register.org0. The head of my doctoral committee (Dr. Christine Kris, Ph.D., Licensed, Clinical Child Neuropsychologist, Cambridge, MA) left. I am on;y interested in Dr. Kris’ signed off transcripts sent to Capella. Also, another of their faculty members was fraudulent (see attached) who misrepresented himself. Union never informed us of this. Union also processed a student of mine which I told them not to, because I was withdrawing. I need my transcripts which Dr. Kris signed off on, but I not paying tuition to a fraudulent school. Union has been sued many times by many people. I am a resident of MA
The head of my Doctoral dissertation committee at Capella was: Dr. Patricia Wolskee, Ph.D., a researcher at NIH (pain management) tisbud@gmail.com
I have been hurt personally, professionally and economically
I am an interested bystander and I agree. I found this site while researching a potential therapist and it certainly does affect my opinion of whether to choose that practice, fair or not. I wonder how all this turmoil affects a psychotherapist. It certainly could make them more empathetic, but also bitter. And how does it affect their ability to become licensed in another state. (although Florida has very fluid laws, or at least oversight)
The APA does not accredit or approve on-line programs with the exception of the Fielding University in Santa Barbara CA and that is becasue Fielding sued the APA. Also, you have to attend, face to face meetings. Remember clinical psych is a professional program, you work with people and it is regulated nationally and by states. Most on-line programs offer a Ph.D. in clinical psych, why because they are the most popular programs (and most profitable) and over 50 percent of Union's students were in their non-program when I was there. The regulations for a PhD program in clinical psychology can be found at both the APA and the National Register websites. They require a real entity in psychology in other words a Dept. of Psychology with a faculty and course to support it. This Union did not have. There is also the problem of APICC approved Internships which Union did not have. Then there is the problem of state licensure, most but not all states do not recognize on-line programs unless they are APA and APICC. When I first started at Union, states were allowing Union students to sit for licensure, but that quickly changed as many Union students were not prepared, and the regulations of the APA changed. There is nothing wrong with on-line courses per-se (you can become an RN with on-line programs), but you still have to take practicums off-line. Believe nothing that Union tells you on-line unless you check it out. The problem is with APA and National Register approved Internships, sitting for the exams and state regs for licensure. Caveat emptor. By the way some states warn prospective on-line students not to apply because they will not recognize it, iy is more than just regional accreditation. Most on-line programs are for profit, money making businesses...
I think you should get a lawyer in your area (MA) to help you. You can submit your documentation to him or her. Since this is about the transcript, a class action would not be appropriate. Rather, have your lawyer write a letter. If they broke a contract, he or she can threaten a suit. Also, the letter can threaten to file a complaint with the office of civil rights within the u.s. education department. It seems wrong that they would hold back your transcrips, since you should only have to pay the 10 or so dollars for the administrative overhead. You can also complain to their accrediting agency (HLC) and to the Ohio Board of Regents. If the Union does not respond, go ahead and file complaints. Also, blog on sites like this. You can also blog on the Chronicle's site. They do a lot on for-profits. I doubt they would want bad publicity over something as simple as sending a transcript.
Thanks for your response. It is more than just transcripts, it is misrepresentation, breach of contract, fraud, posting on their website a misrepresented program that did not exist, a fraudulent faculty that they did not report to students (see posting), and other issues, I would be willing to join anyone in a class action suite.
FINDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT
NIH GUIDE, Volume 23, Number 45, December 23, 1994, P.T. 34
Keywords:
Ethics/Values in Science & Technology Grants Administration/Policy+ Department of Health and Human Services
Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has made final findings of scientific misconduct in the following cases:
Gerald Leisman, Ph.D., New York Chiropractic College: The Division of Research Investigations (DRI) of the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) reviewed an investigation conducted by the New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) into possible scientific misconduct on the part of Gerald Leisman, Ph.D., formerly Director of Research and Institutes at NYCC. ORI found that Dr. Leisman committed scientific misconduct by misrepresenting his academic credentials and professional experience and awards in a grant application (T32 AR07564-01A1) for Public Health Service (PHS) research funds submitted on December 29, 1988. Based upon information obtained by ORI during its oversight review, the ORI found that Dr. Leisman falsely claimed:
(1) to have earned an M.D. degree from the University of Manchester (Manchester, England) in 1972;
(2) to have held the position of Professor, Neurology and Biomedical Engineering, Harvard University Medical School (June 1982 to January 1987); and
(3) to have been awarded inventorship or co-inventorship of 13 U.S. Patents.
Dr. Leisman accepted the ORI findings and agreed to a Voluntary Exclusion agreement under which he is not eligible to apply for or receive any Federal funds in non-procurement transactions (e.g., grants and cooperative agreements) and is not eligible to contract or subcontract with any Federal government agency for a three-year period beginning November 28, 1994 and ending November 27, 1997. In addition, Dr. Leisman is prohibited from serving on PHS Advisory Committees, Boards, or peer review groups for a three-year period beginning November 28, 1994 and ending November 27, 1997.
Yes, you should look at a class action on many of these issues. On other issues, especially ones requiring immediate action for you to go forward with your education, you might want to contract a lawyer to do some of the things mentioned above. One thing I would suggest is to use different social media. This site tends to bury things. Facebook would be good. You could form a group. This would be a good place for people to share information.
Wow. Glad to have found this site. I have been looking at the PhD program for years and never was a good time to go forward. Glad I did not. I almost did prior to the reorganization, and was regretting it because it seemed better before...less time/money. But it all seems screwed up. I mean, should it be so darn hard to KNOW via a legal list of some kind produced by the Dept of Education, that a school IS OR IS NOT accredited?! Come on. I see now why the politicos are always calling for that department to be abolished. A total waste.
I thinik we need to publicize that there are many people claiming to have a variety of Ph.D.s when the Union has only offered one Ph.D.
I am a graduate of Union Institute in 1988. At the time Union was considered a very organized and well balanced Institution. I earned a Ph.D i n Clinical Psychology. As a result, I was able to apply, sit and became Licensed as a Psychologist in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and was granted by the British Psychological Society the status of a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and a mandatory requirement of being accepted in the Division of Clinical Psychology. The requirements for becoming a Chartered Clinical Psychologist are much more stringent than here in the US. It takes a minimum of 2-years to complete the initial application to Chartered status.
I'm not sure what happened to the Union Institute, but it appears many poor and unnecessary decisions were made in the "name" of improvement. There was a time of alliance between Union and Fielding Institute in support of Union in becoming an APA accredited program. However, the individual in charge of the process hired on at another University and the alliance and the APA accreditation feel by the wayside.
By the way, I will be renewing my licenses to continue practicing Psychology.
Patrick Weichert
I am also a victim of Union Institute & University’s 2003 – 2007 Ph.D program. When the Dept. of Education suspended Federal Student Loans, UIU conned me into (2) Signature Loans thru Sallie Mae in order to stay current with tuition costs … misleading me to believe that once my legitimate Federal Stafford Loan resumed, the funds would be used to payoff the Sallie Mae loan. Then when the Stafford Loan funds were finally released, UIU kept those funds too … claiming that those funds were used to payoff earlier tuition costs prior to the Sallie Mae ordeal. That crap was untrue! Why would I take out additional loans, when my Stafford Loan had me current? As for UIU Ph.D program … their so-called CORE’s kept having me resubmit papers’ without ever telling me what support was needed to move forward. In other words, prolonging UIU enrollment to accrue tuition fees. In closing, after almost 4 years wasted at UIU, I’m left with no Ph.D and in debt to Sallie Mae for $74, 000 in addition to what I owe on my Stafford Student Loan.
I would be more than willing to participate in a Class-Action lawsuit against Union Institute & University. I’ve retained all my paperwork, including, the complaint I sent to Ohio Board of Regents.
Kerry Hilliard (hilliardkl@hotmail.com)
This place needs to be shut down! Anyone who is a graduate is suspect of one of the following: academic fraud; phony or vastly exaggerated resume; poor judgement; inflated ego - a paper mill for sociopaths. Stay away, no one will give any of their degrees any weight.
Whatever the problem with Union appears to have been resolved. I noticed Union's PsyD program has been accepted in the National Register of approved schools.
Whatever problems Union had in the past apparently are resolved. I noticed Union's PsyD program was approved and listed on the National Register.
I'm totally discouraged to attend a school like this even for Bachelor's degree! I was just about to submit an application for Social Work online program, but I take caution!
Absolutly first class trash of a ### on face of this planet her own $$$ gain is her only interest$$$ this child abusing Anti-Sammite in Suffolk County works along with corrupt CPS of Suffolk County being on CPS payroll,
Dr Kelly knows how children are alienated and couched by their abusive mental mothers but this Dr Jane Kelly does nothing to help any one but only her self by writing false reports in order to get her paychecks from CPS putting children in danger, over steps court order lies to court after stating something different then in her interviews how she sees all alienation brainwashing abuse is being caused by these mothers seems she was has a price for lying.
Dr Jane Kelly is CPS's puppet and for few dollars in her own pocket this useless scank would sell her own mother, Dr Kelly lies regardless the facts or court documents showing otherwise and is happy to see little children around their mental abusers child molester who turn our children into Sandy Hook assasins. 99% of these poor kids who go of the deep end and shoot up schools Arizona movies goers were being raised by divorced mentally ill mothers. Gee maybe there's a clue!
Dr Jane Kelly must enjoy and gets her jollies of when children are being abused, she must have abused her own children and abused molested herself by her mommy dearest.
In one case she was destroyed in court by a Dr PHD from Nassau County proven that Dr Jane Albertson Kelly is a brainless idiot who knows nothing about child psych., that she only helps fathers lose custody of their children.
This useless waste has no right to live among us for what she's doing in helping child abusers and mentally ill mothers their abusers molesting destroying children's futures cover up abuse of children.
In fact all their opinions are nothing but "their own subjective personal opinion- one that is highly impeachable" there hasn't been any scientific proof because such research simply does not exist, and their claims are nothing more then"Mental Health Myths" for profit.
Dr Kris never found I had epilepsy as a adult I got Grand mals along with lost a house homes since she told my family to hold my funds what were embezled wish i knew as a teen and a adult to go to some one else
My experience at Union Institute & University was so positive. I graduated with a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies, majoring in Clinical Psychology in 2010, I began my program in 2005. I can assure you my program was extremely rigorous. I was so impressed with my studies at Vermont College at Union Institute & University that I applied to UI&U for doctoral school.
During my time at Union the learners WERE offered the option to switch to the Psy.D. program if they wished at the Vermont Campus, I did not, nor do I know anyone who took that option.
I was present during the OBR reviews of UIU, it went way beyond strict reviews it seemed like bullying to me by the OBR of UI&U. I have no complaints regarding UI&U, nor my education at the master's or doctoral level. In fact, it was state-of-the-art education. I was highly impressed by all of my professors, who were all PhD level professors. I am also the graduate of St. U. at Buffalo College, NY, NOVA SE Univ., and others, so I have several universities to compare UI&U with and I hold UI&U in the highest regard as an institute of higher learning.
There will always be complainers; please do not let those with an axe- to- grind diminish the great institution that UI& U is. For seven years I was a learner at UI&U, in a master's program then in the doctoral program, and all of my dealings with everyone there were always completely ethical and honest. Today I hold several professional licenses, for which UI&U prepared me.