ComplaintsforWest Coast University

• Initial Complaint

  03/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  West coast university failed to provide reasonable support and guidance to me including access to my academic advisor. Especially during a critical time during my exam period. Due to my academic advisors absence during a crucial period coupled with the failure of my professor to address any of my concerns directly contributed to my academic dismissal through their actions or (inactions).

  

  Business response

  04/03/2024

  ****************** has requested arbitration through our ***************** therefore any further correspondence regarding this matter will be to ****************** directly. 

  Customer response

  04/03/2024

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  Regards,
  
  ***************************
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  This company was terminated and then 8 months later they started charging my credit card again by providing false information. I am unable to reach them by phone. The number rings once and then goes silent.

  

  Business response

  03/28/2024

  The consumer has chosen the wrong business, West Coast University is not West Coast ************ nor are we located at ***************************************************************************. Please have this complaint removed from our account. 

  Customer response

  03/30/2024

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  Regards,
  
  *******************************
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  11/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Ive been at *** ******* since 2021, carrying a student loan debt exceeding $100k with nine months left in my program. Despite promises of simulation labs and clinical sites, my first clinical term involved hours on Zoom, and our labor and delivery term lacked any simulation lab. The administration provided no explanation or tuition refund for the missing lab. Additionally, the clinical **** threatened to violate patient privacy rights by contacting primary care providers without consent, and I faced harsh disciplinary action despite resolving a health form issue. It seems the administration uses any excuse to dismiss students, without the ability to re enroll while retaining their tuition.

  

  Business response

  12/06/2023

  ************************ was dismissed from the University in August of this year. ************************ was scheduled for course NURS306, which required her to submit a renewed health exam. Following the upload of her records to Complio, the University requested to verify the report. ************************ is claiming that a threat was made to violate patient privacy rights by requesting to contact her primary care provider. That is not accurate, the Clinical **** requested Ms. *********** consent, and when *********************** declined, the University was unable to verify the validity of the health records that ************************ uploaded. The University does not and would not contact a students health care provider without authorization. *********************** was subsequently dismissed from the University.
  
  In regard to Ms. *********** comments related to the simulation labs and Zoom, these events occurred as students were returning to campuses following the period of the ***** pandemic and re-establishing permission to rotate at our partner sites. Alternate activities such as the Zoom were approved during this transitional period, and all requirements for the program were met accordingly. These alternatives are not the Universitys standard educational process but allowed for continued learning in a safe environment.

  ************************ is welcome to submit an appeal for consideration to re-enter the University. 

  Customer response

  12/06/2023

  Students were not informed about the impact of Covid on our labor and delivery simulation scheduling in clinical and simulation labs. Despite the absence of simulations, there was no alternative provided to fulfill required hours, and tuition remained unchanged with no refund or alternative use specified.

  Additionally, during a virtual meeting with the clinical ****, my permission was not sought for accessing my medical records, which was later disclosed as part of an investigation. Despite my appeal to the student council and filing the necessary documents, I was deemed ineligible to reapply after facing dismissal, the harshest disciplinary action, despite having no prior sanctions and being in good academic standing.

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  11/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was kicked out of my university after the appeal process had been approved and I took out a private loan and purchased my new class books. I was a couple of months away from graduating and three years into my schooling. I was informed if I went through the steps the board made for me to follow that I could continue with the program. I followed ALL the steps and even got a voicemail and email that I could continue, then a week into my new classes go tan email I was kicked out due to two failed classes (1 I did fail, but the second one I was refrained from going until I had a committee meeting; not my fault they took two weeks to schedule due to director being out of town). I was lied to and felt discriminated against for my disabilities. I now have to pay back multiple loans and financial aid, while still making my same current salary, and while not finishing my degree. My children and I will eventually be homeless and I am now depressed and hopeless! I tried enrolling into other nursing programs to finish and ALL 4 said that they DO NOT accept west coast university credits, how is it possible a NURSING school has NO valid credits to transfer OVER!!!!

  

  Business response

  11/10/2023

  I am currently reviewing ****************** record and will be contacting her directly to resolve the matter. The BBB will be provided notification of the outcome once complete.

  Regards,

   

  Customer response

  11/14/2023

  They have not made an attempt to contact me. My phone number and school email are on file with their University. 

  

  Business response

  03/14/2024

  ****************** grievance was addressed and resolved by the campus leadership in December 2023. 

• Initial Complaint

  03/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I signed up for an ***** care NP program of March 2022, while residing in *************. In October 2022, WCU and I were working on finding preceptors. I sent a list of preceptors I was trying to be within ********. To my surprise, nobody told me ******** wasn't an 'approved' state. Multiple attempts were made to verify whether ******** was approved or not. On the first day of my term, which involved clinical I was finally told ******** was not an approved state. Still, to date I do not have a list of "approved states". I dropped the term due to a criminal case that I was a victim too. I plan to return in March 2023. In February, I was told they found a preceptor for me in **********, **. I gave my notice at work and planned the move to ******* since this was a priority. The first week of the term I was unable to sign into my courses. The contract with the facility I was going to be precepting at had expired and nobody told me. The facility chose not to renew it. So, I have no quit my job in ********, moved to another state, still have rent in ********, and have no idea what is going on. I was also charged a $1700 fee to return back as a "balance", which i paid. This was all based on false pretenses from the beginning. when I first signed up knowing my ******** address, nobody bothered to inform me, ******** was not an approved state. The financial burden and emotional stress this has caused me are beyond words. WCU negligence of not seeing the contract expire with the facility has cost me thousands of dollars with the move and no longer working. Although they are trying to find a resolution, no exceptions are being made. Now I feel stuck because I already did half of the work of the program, and if I try to transfer it will cause a long delay. I feel like WCU was not honest about a) the approved states b) finding clinical placements c) not discussing a fee the student has to pay when they drop out due to medical issues and safety issues. .

  

  Business response

  04/05/2023

  Upon enrollment, ************** entered a ******* address as her permanent residence. A student's address and nursing license are the primary indicators the ********************** uses in determining if a student is enrolling from an authorized state. Under the terms of the enrollment agreement, students must complete program and clinical hours in the state where they resided when signing the agreement. Students that relocate to a state in which the University has not sought authorization may no longer be able to complete their clinical requirements. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused **************. According to our Nursing leadership, to date, ************* has been placed at a clinical site with a preceptor in an authorized state.

• Initial Complaint

  02/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In September of 2019, I enrolled in West Coast University based solely on false advertisements and promises made by the schools recruiter. They guaranteed clinical placement, lied to me about numerous affiliate agreements with medical organizations in my area, assured me that I would be working closely with other health care professionals and nurses in securing clinical placement, and that the school would never leave me without a preceptor. For 2 years I attended the university full time and paid in full on a monthly basis before clinicals would begin. It was only at this point that I realized everything they had told me was a lie. My classmates were equally shocked, as they expressed outrageous promises were also made by the school that were in no way delivered or attempted. The supposed clinical placement **** at the school was nothing but a sham. The employees had no medical knowledge or health care experience. They did not understand what we as nurse practitioner students needed for our classes or for obtaining licensure post-graduation, if we could even get there. The department was understaffed, undertrained, underqualified, and had absolutely no oversight or accountability. We made multiple complaints and escalations to the school. Many students left the program. Those of us who remained felt stuck. We were 2/3 into the program with no way to get our money back and no way to transfer to another school without retaking many many classes. The school had us in a very vulnerable position in which they benefited regardless of our decision or outcome at this point. They had received 2 years of tuition. We could either quit entirely and receive nothing in return or spend another year of tuition despite knowing we around not receive the promised help or education from an appropriate clinical placement. I took a leave after finding my own preceptor and completing the first clinical. One year later nothing has changed per advertisements and false promises continue

  

  Business response

  02/11/2022

  West Coast University is in receipt of the complaint filed by **************** on 2/5/2022 with the Better Business Bureau.  **************** stated that the university did not provide her with assistance in securing a clinical site required for our program. We have reviewed our records and have numerous communications with **************** trying to help secure a clinical site which will meet her course requirements.  To be placed at a clinical site the student must meet the universitys and clinical sites placement requirements. The university has a robust application that needs to be completed prior to clinical placement.  However, to-date **************** is still missing some of the required information.  In addition, **************** was only interested in clinical placement at a specific clinical site.  She was offered other clinical placement opportunities within reasonable driving distance from her home (30 miles); however, she declined as she did not want to drive that far.  **************** did notify the university this week that she found a preceptor at her preferred clinical site and is working on returning to the university to complete her program.  We want to note that the university cannot guarantee clinical site placement without student meeting the clinical sites placement requirements and reasonable flexibility on how far they would need to travel to the site. It is imperative that WCU students are prepared to step into any clinical facility we partner with, while meeting that partners clinical requirements, in?order to?obtain essential skills and complete their course requirements as set forth in our curriculum.  We want **************** to be successful; and as soon as she completes the requirements to return to her program and documents for her clinical placement, we are looking forward to working with her to help her finish her program. If **************** has any questions she could contact **** of ***************** ***************************** at ************ or *************************************

  Customer response

  02/11/2022

  None of this is true, either by complete dishonesty or simply lack of understanding of their own institution. I am completely up to date on all required documents, medical clearance, and even payments to this awful school. When searching for a preceptor, it is not required that everything be complete - this needs to be completed prior to attending clinicals. In fact, some of the requirements came from the precepting site - so I cannot complete something for a place that has not yet been discovered. This is yet another disappointing response from a school that refuses to accept any accountability. And 30 miles through LA traffic could be 6 hours a day of drive time. This is unreasonable. I live in a populated area with hundreds of medical offices. I repeatedly asked that my area be tried before going farther. I repeatedly asked what places are being called. I get one suggestion to call this 'only 30 miles away' facility. This is not even a guarantee, merely a suggestion that will involve more work on my part. And it was an unnecessary suggestion, as I have secured my own placement for the second time within 5 minutes from my home. I had 2 options, in fact, nearby when the school had not one appropriate offer. Since they refused to provide me with details of the work they were doing, I made suggestions of places near me to try. Only received one response about one place "not taking students." So in one year, with 2 clinicals, the only work they have shown me is one place said no and offered for me to call a place 30 miles away. And this is what I am paying for. Here are the facts. Twice i have needed clinical placement. Twice i have repeatedly asked for assistance and escalated the issues when assistance was not received. It has been a year and nothing has changed. Other students have complained. Some have left the program due to these deficiencies. I am a straight A student motivated enough to do the work for them so I can succeed. They cannot even offer an apology. 

  

  Business response

  02/19/2022

  West Coast University is in receipt of Ms. ******* follow up and are sorry to hear about her experience in the program. We strive for our students to have a positive learning experience and I would strongly encourage **************** to contact our **** of ***************** ***************************** to share her experience directly.  He could be contacted at ************ or ************************************.  This week the university received all the required documents and submitted them to Ms.******* preferred clinical facility for approval which we hope to receive shortly.  *** financial aid office is working with *************** on her return from her leave and have extended the financial grants she received prior to her leave (and extension) to help her to continue in her program.  If you have any questions or need further information, please contact me directly at ************** or **************************************. 

  Customer response

  03/03/2022

  I have been escalating my concerns for over a year now. It is obvious at this point no one cares. That is why I have chosen to publicly announce the situation. It is easy to ignore me privately. But now others will be able to see the business for what it is and choose if they are willing to accept the experience. If the school continues to falsely advertise and charge for services they do not render, then future students can now research the real experience. If things change, I am happy to publicly announce improvements. 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩