Several former students enrolled in a sonography program at a community college in suburban Chicago claim that the school engaged in unethical practices by, among other things, charging them for tuition and fees for a course that was never held.
According to an article published in the Beacon-News, five students in the College of DuPage sonography program say they each were required pay $375 in tuition and fees for a clinical education course in which classes were not held, and for which they were assigned arbitrary grades.
One of the students, Liz Franke, said the enrollees were reimbursed for the class, and had the grades removed after complaining to an associate dean at the community college. Other students who didn't complain, she said, were not reimbursed.
Franke also said some program leaders bullied students and showed favoritism to others.
Former student Meeghan Sheppard complained of receiving "pushback and intimidation tactics" for asking basic questions in class, according to CBS Channel 2 in Chicago, while another, Renee Daniel, said that despite receiving high grades and passing two of her proficiency exams, she was unjustly dropped from the program after making a mistake in her third proficiency exam. She is considering getting legal representation.
The five students have submitted complaints to the College of DuPage board of directors, as well as the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, according to an AuntMinnie.com article. They've also asked for the resignation of the sonography program's director.
The college offers an associate degree in sonography, as well as certificate programs in diagnostic medical imaging sonography and diagnostic medical imaging vascular sonography. DuPage officials said the college is investigating the matter.
To learn more:
- read the article in the Beacon-News
- see the article from CBS Channel 2 in Chicago
- read the article in AuntMinnie.com