Capella University review: Administrative Withdrawal from my MS Degree Program in MFT

Hi my name is Palas S. and I was 'administratively withdrawn' from my MS Degree Program in MFT and the university as a whole 12/15/2023. I received notice of the Professional Standards Committee Board (PSC) decision via email.

Prior to their decision, let me give a brief breakdown of what led up to this.

- 11/10/2023 I resigned from my previous internship site for the following reasons: the site refused to fulfill contract obligations, horrible communication issues, problems with safety and abandonment, and pressures to overwork myself and meet 'impossible' deadlines. The last reason that led to me resigning was I was pressured by upper management to work at a nursing home. This organization has many sites, most if not all which are severely understaffed due to frequent firings and employees quitting behind unfair treatment and pay.

So, the company had began doing more outsourcing work in their attempt to keep the company from going under. If agreed to work at the nursing home it would require me to abandon my caseload of over 50 clients, immediately. In addition, the requirements of my internship were not considered at all! Mind you, I'd made upper management aware of these requirements several times. In taking this job, if I agreed, it would prohibit me from obtaining any relational hours. So, I declined the offer but it fell on deaf ears, as the guy from upper management told me he'd give me until that following Monday to give him an answer.

Two days later during my weekly supervision with my site Supervisor, she shared with me that the owner wanted to fire me because I wasn't "working out" and was planning to fire me a week from that supervision. My supervisor told me the owner would fire me if I didn't "shape up" over that week. She encouraged me that if upper management came to me with anything, to "just accept it" to avoid being fired. I worked the duration of the following week, with the exception of Friday November 10th in which I decided to resign. I sent the owner a resignation letter and I called all clients scheduled that day, informed them of the situation and referred them to front office for further instructions.

Later that day, I learned from my AAMFT instructor that the owner of the site had contacted the President of Capella and staff over the MFT program and claimed I abandoned my caseload. I was informed about the adverse enormity of my actions, that a case had been started with the PSC board and advised on how to proceed forward until hearing from the PSC board.

Going forward from 11/10, I didn't hear back from the PSC board for nearly 3 weeks. I was told by my instructor that they got back fairly quickly, but that's not what I experienced. In addition, I never received an email that a case had ever been started to begin with. So, I eventually spoke with an academic advisor on 11/27 about my case, in which she stated she'd contact the board and have them reach out to me. The next day, 11/28 I received my first email from the board. I was given the opportunity to meet with the board on 12/7 to discuss matters over a conference call. I obliged and sent over supporting documentation for my case.

Fast forward to 12/7, I sat before an all-white board (I'm an African-American woman). It was apparent that they already had their mind made up that I was the "problem." I was told I lacked "self-awareness" and was placing the blame on everyone else. I had brief time to discuss my internship experience, but it's like it fell on deaf ears because the board wasn't empathetic to my experience, nor did they show any care or support. I felt like I was a criminal on trial and all the board focused on, was judging me for abandoning my clients. This was even after showing them proof that I'd contacted all clients scheduled the day of my resignation. I further communicated to them that I'd contacted as many clients as I could to inform them. Other remarks were made about me personally for lack of better words being a "runner" and a "quitter." This is when it became clear to me that I wasn't just being judged professionally, but also personally as well.

This was unsettling and angered me greatly, especially knowing none of these individuals knew me personally. But there was a past instructor on the board whom I completed my first residency with. He and other students communicated racial prejudice and showed high dismissiveness towards issues affecting African-Americans in this country. But communicated their support and lended time to discuss other ostracized and marginalized groups and the issues that affect them like the LGBTQ+ community, and battered women. This later led to a whole discussion in front of the entire residency group which I was able to address everyone involved, their behavior, comments and also educate them about the racial struggles that oppress blacks everyday and the value of our lives. However, this is yet another issue Capella skated past.

Fast forward to 12/15, I learned of the board's decision, in which it read the following under required actions: "The PSC recommends administrative withdrawal." In reading through the determination of the board's decision, there was dishonesty among what was discussed. I also learned that my AAMFT Instructor placed judgments on regarding my "unethical behavior" but also stated "self awareness" as his concerns. This was especially disheartening knowing I spoke to him the evening of 11/10, where I thoroughly explained the situation and voiced my apologies and regrets about my actions in the process. I feel betrayed now knowing this and understanding he knew how these damaging statements could negatively impact my case. And as the board reflected his feelings, it’s like they ran with what he said too! He also knows I've done everything I possibly can to stay dedicated to the process as my case pended. I continued attending supervision every week, I passed my 200-question Capstone quiz and I superseded the hours needed for internship 3's direct client contact hours which is 60 for the quarter. I accrued these hours before leaving my previous internship site.

So, this is yet another instance for me, where from the instructor to the school as a whole can not be trusted and don't adequately nor justly support their students as advertised and communicated to us. I've been let down by Capella everytime I've encountered issues in and out of the institution that I made them aware of. Usually it starts with your academic advisor and then you're passed from department to department of people that do nothing. Then you end up where you began, with your academic advisor that for lack of better words, provides you with a short counseling session. But still, your issues remain unresolved.

From reviewing the decision from the board, I have since appealed it and am now waiting for the final decision of the president designee. However, I want to add, I had to go research what administrative withdrawal was because it was never clarified in the decision from the board, what it actually meant. I reached out to Capella several times on 12/15 to gain clarity on this only to learn that several options weren't available because the people in the departments weren't there or had closed for the day before shut down time. This was unlike what was mentioned in the automated message. After calling many times and trying different options, I was able to speak with an advisor who sent a message up to the advisor over my case for the board. They were said to be in a meeting but I never got a call back. I only received an email 12/18 with instructions about what to send over regarding the appeal.

Going back to 12/15, I also contacted the Academic Program Director of the MFT Program and my AAMFT Instructor for 3rd quarter, no answer. This was frustrating but not new. It seems like many staff at Capella seem to avoid you when they know you're in trouble. I later received an email on 12/18 from the lady of the MFT Program, letting me know she'd gotten my call but would be on vacation. She included the advisor of my case in the email, in which he mechanically told me to direct all questions to him or the OACS email regarding the appeal. However, no one I spoke to about the issue could answer my question about what administrative withdrawal meant! Even my academic advisor who I'd scheduled an appointment with for 12/18, acted like she was annoyed with me and even raised her voice at me while talking with her about my situation with the board.

I have no faith in this school and it seems like all they do is lie to you, avoid you, confuse you and rob you of your money, whether it's paid out of pocket or through financial aid. They don't support you and like in my case, they take other people's word of yours. And here I am with no degree that I've sacrificed and invested over 3 years of my life working to get!