Complaint Review: Al Collins Graphic Design School - Collins College - CEC Corporation Info

student between ( 2001 -  2003) I would like to add that the teachers were the worse, very litle skils on the subject matter. Sometimes they hired ex-students as sub teacher to help the real teacher understand and help out. Then there is the discrimination by some teachers, I was failed twice by two diffrent teachres simply because they did not like me and I had to repeat those classes. Its a real shame I wasnt more vocal at the time. Mr. gelman  ( if you remember who that is) failded me because he said " I wan't participating enought in class" even though I did all my work. I feel like I was faild on purpose. The discrimination was rampant because there was no oversight and nobody cared.

 Let me know what you need from me and I will get it to you ASAP. I am a former student, having "graduated” (if that’s what you could call it) from the Collins College Associates of Arts & Science Graphic Design program in July of 2014. This school was/is a joke, no if’s and’s or but’s about it. From the very start, we were lied to on a habitual and consistent basis. It wasn’t even the end of our first semester at Collins before a memo was posted informing all students to attend a mandatory student meeting for an important announcement from the faculty. It was at that meeting where we were informed of the teachout, then revealing to us that it was due to the school closing citing that the closing was due to a massive drop in attendance which clearly was a massive lie. We were told that just because the school was closing, there wouldn’t be any dip in the quality of education taught by the instructors, which again was one bold face lie on top of another. Between the mix of random part-time instructors with no background in what they were teaching regarding graphic design, but this schools accreditation is as equal in comparison to an eye booger because when people see someone with a giant eye booger, their reactions are identical to those who disclose that they’ve graduated or even as much as attended Collins College.

This school has been ruining lives for over two decades, enough is enough. The false promises, all the way down to career services who were supposed to help you put together a resume and portfolio to assist you in obtaining gainful employment in the graphic design field, were a joke.

As far as my tuition is concerned, I had moved to the Phoenix area from out of state in May of 2010 and started at Collins College on October 15th, 2012 and was told I did not meet their requirement for in-state tuition so I was charged out of state rates. I could go on and on as I’m sure many of you reading this would be able to do the same. We are here for various reasons regarding this for-profit College, however, we all share a common goal. I hope that I can be of some help in the collective effort to relieve some, if not all of the burdens that have affected our lives for many years. Collins College has left many of us with financial debt, caused bankruptcies, forfeitures, causing former students to default on private student loans with interest rates so assanine that people are still actively making payments on a $25,000 dollar loan for the past twelve years while not ever having worked in the field in which they studied at this false accredited school. Alumni are the ones left to suffer and scrounge to try and get back on track while a select few reap the financial benefits and it needs to come to a stop, and now!

My son attended in 2009.  We had been "hard sold" by the recruiter. My son started the realize it was a scam "for profit" school in the first few months. He returned home depressed and very unhealthy. Between the school and the housing company they were linked to, we still owe over 10k for him being there 6 months.

My name is Mathew and I too went to Collins college in Phoenix AZ I graduated in 2014 and got my associates degree in graphic and web design but so far I cannot get a job in graphic design or web design as well one person I worked for for about a month thought of me and my degree as a joke. He hired me for college credit and then when I asked to be put on for pay he let me go and told me that Collins was a joke and that I don't need to get paid for wiling for him, after that I could never get an interview I did recieve three total and when they heard me say I go to Collins college they gave me a look and said I'll call you but never got a call I worked at Walmart and Burger King and I have not yet to work in an office that deals with what I learned.

Attempted a class action suit in 2001/2002 but dropped because "nobody's going to believe a bunch of kids". Everything stated here is true, and I'm surprised at many other "issues" that haven't been brought up. If this ever goes to class action, or if someone else can benefit from my previous suffering at the hands of this scam that looks like school I'd love to be involved. I still have contact with most of the students from our original attempt.

Is this class action suit still taking on people?  I was a student at Al Collins Graphic Design School or Collins College whatever they are calling themselves.  I was a student there from 1997-2001, I received my associates degree and my bachelor's degree all with promises of a job when I was through.  I worked hard to get those degrees and averaged a B in my time. When my demo reel and portfolio were ready , I went the job placement office for help. They handed me the want ads from the paper, the ads that said no Collins graduates were very real.  Now over 10 years later I am still not working in the field I went to school for because no one will hire me and I have a student loan hanging over my head that I have not been able to pay much on. I have to choose between rent or my student loan.  

In addition I have also requested a copy of my transcripts so I could try  to go back to school at a reputable school .  I have made repeated calls to them over 2 years still no transcripts. 

 I’m from the Sacramento area in California and me, my wife, and son moved to Mesa just so I could go to school there. I graduated in 2002 with an AA in Animation.  Had my video tapes ready, my portfolio set, I was ready for the job of a lifetime that they said I would get. I got nothing.  I moved back to Sacramento.  I applied to over 100 different places with movies, TV, and video games.  Nothing.

 When I called the school to ask for help (I don’t remember her name, only that she was an 80’s rocker chick) she said apply to here, here, and here. I would and got nothing.  This went on for over a year.  Only a few places actually replied back saying that I needed more experience. Now I’m suck with a fat bill.  But I did come home with a bunch of art supplies that they made me get and we never used in any of the classes. 

The whole program was rushed and never got to create anything worth showing.  The group project at the end would have been great if over half the people in my group stayed with the project.  The place is crap and I’m pissed. 

I now work for the State of California and oil paint as a hobby.  Still not getting paid at a job that I went to school for. If there is a lawsuit, I’m in.

Include me in the lawsuit when there is one, I was one of the first students through this school in the early 80's and in all the time since have not been able to use any of the useless training.

I graduated in 2002 and got my AA degree. Collins never helped me get job placement that they promised. I couldn't find work at all since. While there, the teachers didn't help teach they were mostly former students trying to use and figure out the equipment to help themselves get their own jobs and passed out papers of "how to" figure out the programs ourselves. Here I am 12 years later STILL PAYING A 25k SALLIE MAE STUDENT LOAN. I have yet to get ANY work from. This school is still sucking money out of me. My loan was 25k and I am still having to pay 16k left plus interest .. I'm sure I've paid more than that over the last 12 years. I have never received any help that school promised in finding employment. In 2008 I had a very hard time financially (as most did) I went through a separation and unemployment for a while and had moved across some states as a single mom and couldn't pay my loan and had deferred that sallie mae loan to it's limit. Ended up any money I made and taxes were being garnished.. I am now on a loan rehabilitation program.. now I'm a self employed musician which is not a steady income.. this school is a scam. If we can be forgiven of these shackles of loans from this school I'm in!

I posted this in a separate place on this site, but wanted it to be attached to this chain:

I myself have also been shafted by the wrongdoings of Collins and would love to join the Class Action vs Collins. I attended Collins, graduated from the Game Design program with my BA. Was promised by Collins to have job placement within the Game industry, which they never upheld amongst numerous other false promises such as being taught by industry experienced professors, industry standardized education and more. Find me on the "book face" find my company "steadfast studios llc" and can be found thru the about 

Attended the school and was a complete waste. Is this class action lawsuit going on? I would like to join.

I graduated from Collins college in 2009 and pretty much stuck in loans, this has ruin my life. When I graduate my class and got my BA degree in game design, I put my polished up resume to career services to get sent too the job industry. They fail to send it out to the industries. The advisor were bouncing it around the other career adviser and my resume end up back in my hand with edit marks on what to fix... but it was fix from the last advisor, it didnt make sense to me. I gave up on them and started looking for work to pay off my loans. Im stuck in 60k in loans and its just pilling up due to intrest from sali mae. No one wants to hire collins college students and the piece of paper doesnt mean anything and the school closed down, I want my money back so I can get this loans off me,

I went there until just recently and thought that the school was accredited now the 30,000 I spent to get my degree is gone and the school has closed and none of those credits will transfer to any nationally accredited school, does anyone know what I can do to get the funds back/ false and misleading by telling me the school was accredited and that the credits could be used. now I am out years of time and tens of thousands of dollars? What do I do?

I too would like to participate in this.  I have been seeking information regarding these topics since hearing about the closure of the school.

I am a former student (graduate) and would like more information regarding the situation.

I was a student at Collins College and feel that not only did the school rip me off but so did Sallie Mae. During the time that I was a Collins I was move class and teachers many times; this did not help with grades. The tried to make it right by giving us programs they but many of the programs were free to the school. Many good teacher left the school causing a lot of the switching of classes. Though I have gotten a job in the industry the Pay that the school said I would make was about half right. The school helped me a lot when I finished school to find work but not with out many of the needed tools that I feel i paid for. This is where I feel the school failed and lied about the school I would receive.

  The other issue that I have with the school is how it helped lie about the Sallie Mae recourse loan. While in school the people in the office helping with financial aid told me that the recourse loan and a different type of Federal Loan but now that I am out of work I can't stop the loan payments with out causing my loan payments to go up. I have tried to work with Sallie Mae but they will not budge. I feel that Sallie Mae used the school to make a lot of loans under fails and half truths.

Just one person voice.

Hi there, all the information you stated is true. Funny that they changed their name as their attempt to fix the bad word they have. I too have had many issues with the credit transfers.

I'll keep it short but experienced similar situations as those above me.  My greatest concern is the loan issues I've already paid the $28k they said it would cost to go to the school but I'm still in debt for $19k and I'm not sure why..  This was a FAIL of a college experience, I could have just started working in the design field at a crap job and got a better educaton.   PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THE LAWSUIT.

I am Collins College Alumni and would like to join this Class Action Suit. Please send me information on how I can join.

Thank you,
RB

Hello, my name is Corey Miller, I am a grad from Collins with my BA in Game Design; same story of how horridly horrid this skool truly is. I am quite interested in joining the lawsuit, as I feel quite ripped-off! I still live in tempe. Though, instead of throwing myself at companies I have made my own , cause I have seen how harshly almost every professional "industry standard" company views Collins grads, and it is fraked up, because we have been robbed of our time, money, and force fed lies they call curriculum! 

this is the way to say hey


c
Tempe, AZ

Like thousands of others I have been scammed by this school.  I signed up for the school got all my paperwork done got my co-signer for my loans and started classes.  A few months in and they told me I had to sign a loan document so I could continue going to school.  This happened three more times before I finished my classes and after I graduated I contacted my co-signer and worked out a deal where I just paid him a payment every month and he paid the loan.  A few months after we finished paying off the the loans $25K + interest I was contacted about the loans I signed to stay in school.  I thought the loans where part of my school payment not an additional payment to the school above the $25K I agreed to.  Now I'm getting wages garnished and income tax returns taken until I pay off an additional $15,000 + $6,000 in interest after I've already paid for my student loans...  I'm so mad at them for pulling one over on an 18 year old with no business sense. 

If there is a lawsuit of any kind please contact me asap!  I have all kinds of paperwork to prove my claim and I am currently seeking legal advice in any possible manner.

I see this was posted back in 2008 but I'm hoping I can get in on this as well. I too was fooled into enrolling at this terrible place. I have nothing to show for it except a nauseating amount of debt. When I woke up three quarters through the program and discovered this was not a nationally recognized or respected school I then withdrew and transferred to an accreted college. Unfortunately none of the classes I took at Collins would be excepted to transfer so I had to retake classes adding even more debt. Upon first registering at Collins College I met with financial aid and it was not explained to me the lending process, interest rates, or payback guidelines. At that time fresh out of highschool I didn't understand what I had agreed to. This must be stopped please contact me with any details of how I can be involved. Thank you.

#24:

You definitely raise some valid points about many of the lackluster students who went to Collins. My class of 40 was reduced to a class of about 12 because of these students failing out, and we were considered a rather large class at the end. It is true that a many students failed because they felt entitled to having everything handed to them. I also agree that many of them try to blame the teachers when they were not at fault. I loved my teachers, they were about the only good thing in my experience there. 

But this marks where our agreement ends.

What you fail to take into account is that a majority of those who have posted here are alumni, AKA those that have graduated. Most of us are not people that dropped or failed out because of our own laziness. I personally made all A's and B's and graduated with a 3.7 GPA. My demo reel is still displayed in the schools front office. In other words, I worked very hard.

Now I am not noting this to sound arrogant or superior, but to make a point. Your experience is not the experience most of us have had. You were lucky. You shouldn't make assumptions about the rest of us, accusing us of being lazy or stupid, when it is quite clear that it is not the case. 

most of the issues that I, as well as many, had with the school were in regards to the administration, not the teachers or even the education. The administration are the ones who lied to us and stole from us. Just because you didn't have a bad experience at the school doesn't mean the rest of us hadn't, and to argue that all of our pain and misfortune is irrelevant because YOU didn't have a bad time is both insulting and unfair. I am sincerely glad you found a job and are happy with your education, and I hope this continues for you, but I would appreciate if you would stand back and let those of us whose lives have been severely harmed by an unfeeling and remorseless thief of a company get our chance at reparations. Thank you.

I want to be included in the class action lawsuit.

I am a former student, teaching aid and housing assistant for Al Collins. I can tell you that from experience this is just a tiny bit of what was going on. Yes, a lot of it is true and most students did not get placed with jobs like they were promised. Housing was terrible and a lot of crime was covered up during my time working there. 

As a housing assistant I had a script I was given to read to all perspective students being placed. I was also coached on how to deal with the parents that would call. Any time that I noticed any thing wrong or questioned the methods that were being used I was quickly reprimanded. I was also a student so I know that what these other students are saying sounds like they are being bitter and lazy but I don't believe it to be the case in most. The financial aid would tell students that they were running out of money and would not be able to complete their degrees unless they found some more money. A lot of us got our poor parents to sign for parent plus loans and that still did not cover it. Housing was such a mess we placed kids that clearly should not have been put together in the same apartment. There was a lot of drugs and sexual assault I was told was being dealt with, was never even handled. Students were required to pay their rent, usually $1000.00 a month. It did cover some utilities and furniture rental. The apartment complex was getting such a high kick back for each student. A typical 2 bedroom apartment would house 4 students at $1000.00 each although rent for similar apartment rented on your own is $1000 for entire unit. You could not break the lease if you did not get along with your roommate. Sometimes I would switch people around when my boss was not, around to help them out.

As a teaching assistant I was told by the teacher to assist the students to help them pass. The teachers would not tell them directly what they needed to do to pass the class. They made me do that dirty work. I was told to tell them what things would be covered on tests, what projects to complete at a minimum to get credit for the class. I was told that if I did not do these things I would not get the TA credit time as I did not perform the duties.

As a student the credits I had received were not transferrable to any school I have yet to find. No company I have found will consider my schooling as actual training. Employment assistance was a joke. I was not offered one opportunity to showcase my skills. I am still to this day buried in debt as are my parents as they were talked into signing for a parent plus loan. I was a victim of sexual assault and went to counselor for assistance as I did not know what to do at the time. They told me to fill out paperwork and sent me to the hospital 3 days later and gave me $50 for the hospital visit when evidence was no longer. The other student had nothing happen to him. I had to fight to get put in different classes (night shift) to avoid being near him. I was in the same apartment building as him and even being a housing assistant I was not approved to be transferred to another apartment complex. Due to these circumstances I was forced to leave school in my last year and left with bills, no job, no transferrable credits, no possibility of getting a job without a degree, and mental anguish of what happened to me and my dfrminuby4vtrc2zw    family because of this place.

I was an instructor there from 1999-2001. I can tell you that that there was no shortage of poorly prepared students, or students that had very little knowledge of what being an adult required. However, I can list the MANY conversations with administration that openly admitted that such students were the taget market, and thus, our 'customers.'

As best as I and a handful of the faculty could manage, we tried to implore the directors to institute solid industry standards and hold every student accountable to those standards.

Basically, anything that might require the target market's poor abilities to get 'too' challenged were often argued off the table, or given as an option to whatever faculty wanted to use them. So, I might require a class to do 30 thumbnail sketches, and another only 5 or so (if they even required anything).

We'd often get students in the later quarters that were completely misdirected in skills of pre-press, production, design fundamentals, or critical thinking. Unbenounced to those of us who were simply requiring industry standards, we now had a class mostly full of unacceptable skill sets.

Guess what the administration had to offer that dilemma? NOTING! I had numbers of students who failed my classes given passing grades by middle management (so the upper management wouldn't be liable).

As much as I despised having to teach some of these people against their will, the administration had far too many power-players enabling them to skirt by. Imagine my horror when animation students complained that I was requiring them to have competent skills in sketching (not even good drawing).

I'd be happy to share any of this in a deposition.

I went to Collins College, for both my AA & BA. I not only graduated early but with good grades.

I got a job in the industry 3 months into my degree, my Associates degree program. I saw so many people throughout my time at Collins that didn't care, didn't do homework, and expected everything to be handed to them like it was high school all over again.

These were the same people who complained about everything. "Unfair" teachers or "Mean" teachers. Grow up.

I have been working in the industry since 3 months into my AA program. I have never had anyone tell me "No Collins Students". In fact, (untill 6 months ago) our entire art dept. were ALL from Collins.

Those who are looking into filing a Class Action Lawsuit should stop and decide if they actually put the effort and time into the school. I put in my time and effort and I'm thankful for the time, education and experience I got.

I also went to Collins college in the 90's. I was lied to by the admissions department. I could only complete one term due to the fact that there was a mandatory 3 hours of homework everyday and I had to work full time to pay my rent. I was told that there was housing for students. That was a joke. I am getting harassed weekly about the student loans.

I would like to join the class action lawsuit. Please contact me and let me know what's going on with it.

Thank you

I found this article when looking for information to include in a speech to my Public Speaking class (In an actual legit school now, thank god) about how much I hate this school. I want to join and I know several other alumni who would jump at the chance to join this lawsuit if it goes to court. Not only am I an alumni of a now defunct program (Animation) but I am also an ex-employee and dated a current instructor for many years (note: I dated him before he was an instructor).

Like most people I have the same complaints against the school. I was lied to about the success rate and the amount I would be paid after schooling, I am wallowing in debt and now that I am trying to go back to a real legit school, I am having a helluva time getting financial aid. I agree with everything being said above and want to simply add a few more stories:

1. They lie about being able to help special needs students. My current Boyfriend, also an alumni, has dyslexia and struggled a great deal with his classes. The school was informed of this and promised they could help him. They did not. Not only was he not given any sort of tutoring or note taking or extra time, as you would in a legit college, but they repeatedly tried to kick him permanently out of the school so they could get his money and not have to deal with him. He paid for several classes many times over simply because he wasn't given a chance to get the education he needed. The teachers had little interest in helping him and the school didn't have any programs set up. My friends and I, who were ahead of him, were the only help he got and we were in the same boat because of the sh*ty education.

2. The teachers are often unqualified. My ex, who shall not be named because I am not a b*ch, was an adjunct teacher who went almost directly from being a graduate to being a teacher. I am talking within a year. He had no formal education on teaching and yet they had him teaching up to three classes a semester. Not only that, but they often had him teach classes he had never taken himself! I remember many nights he would stay up into the wee hours of the morning learning how to do the thing he would be teaching the next day. It was no more then glorified tutoring. Not only that but they f*k the teachers over financially as well. He was getting paid 2000 a month for a 5 week semester, which was awesome when he was teaching 3 classes per semester, but when they expanded the classes to 10 weeks, they did not increase the pay. So his pay was cut in half. And then he was told he couldn't have as many classes and could only do one a semester... so he went from making 6,000 a month to 1000... and that is how much I make at a crappy retail job. Yet did they lower tuition? F*k no.

3. If you go, you will have a hell of a time going somewhere else. I recently decided to attend a community college to hopefully get a non worthless degree and when I started I was informed, to my surprise, that Collins credits only work at other CEC schools. They told me they were accredited at most schools, but failed to tell me that it was only other trade schools. I had to start over with everything because of this and will have to pay much more now. AND I have a hard time getting loans because I already have a degree and as such, I can only be a 'maximum time frame student' where they will only pay for the classes they deem necessary. If there is an extra class I would like to take, even if it is for my degree, I have to pay out of pocket. So I am a 'freshman' whose previous experience means nothing... BUT I am treated like a Bachelor student for financial aid... all because of Collins and their lies. 

4.. The housing can kill you. I don't even mean that they put you in very bad areas... it could literally kill you! My first year in AZ, and at Collins, RnR put me in Hayden Place (I think that was the name... its been a while). It was a sh*ty apartment in a sh*ty area. There were already girls living there and damage had already been done to the apartment from previous tenants (More on that in a second). A month or so goes by and things are fine, but around October we start to have issues with our airconditioning dripping all over everything. They sent someone who did a sh*t repair job and gave us 50 dollars off our rent. It begin to leak again shortly after and then completely died. About the same time, the disposal started to back up and filled our sink with garbage sewage. They sent another inept repairman out who pulled out a small clog and basically told us "It's your fault" and didn't offer anything in return. No big, so we thought.

Thanksgiving comes around and I am the only one in the apartment. I am sitting with my BF at the time, just chilling, and we hear the telltale sign of the sink backing up. I ignored it at first because I knew it always stopped at the edge and would slowly filter out. Then I heard water hitting the floor. We went in to find sewage water spilling out of the sink and onto the floor and carpet. We tried to pour it into a trashcan and filled the trashcan (13 gall) and still had a 2-3 foot radius of water soaked into the carpet. Since it was a holiday it took 2 days to get a repairman out there, this time he found out that the issue was much deeper in the system (And not our fault). There was a huge clog that was causing 5 apartments worth of garbage disposal sewage to come out of our sink. That is rotten food and raw chicken grease soaked into our carpets. The air conditioner was also fully broken at this time.

This isn't even the worst part. We complained to the housing immediately and it took 2 weeks before someone came to clean the carpet or fix the AC. Since I didn't have a car, I lived in a sewage soaked apartment with no AC in Arizona for weeks. What did they give us in return? Either 1 month free of rent or we could break our lease for free, but not both. Oh and I couldn't have my security deposit back because of the damage caused by tenants before me. I moved out, needless to say, and never returned.

However, here is the kicker, my other roommate moved to a nicer apartment complex through RnR and spent the money for her own room. A few months down the road and she started to consider leaving to live with her BF. RnR got wind of this and since they had some prospective, and presumably rich, student whose parents were willing to pay for her to have her own room, they jumped on her and offered to give her back that months rent, let her break her lease for free and give her the deposit back IF she moved out that week so they could move this other girl in. It is all about the money with those bastards and you can bet if I had gotten poisoned by the raw chicken/turkey grease, they would have tried to shove it under the rug.

Whew that was nice to get off the old chest. Also, if we want something done, we should also all go bombard the better business bureau. They have Collins listed as an A+ school because only 6 complaints have been filed. That is insane. Collins should have an F... no, is there a grade worse then that? Because if there is one, they deserve it.

How do I join? It has been 6 years since I've gone to that school and it is still haunting me in the form of student loans. Sallie Mae is charging me 17% interest on a loan that was originally 10,000. It is sitting at 70,000 the last time I looked. I have contacted Sallie Mae they have not returned my calls, and recently sued me. I had applied for two loans, while I was going to school there, but after deferment, they tell me I have 10 seperate loans for this company.

I dropped out after seeing the ad"no collins college" This school has ruined my life, I cannot go back to school without finincial aid.

I too as so many others was told lie to get me in only to find myself drowning in dept with no way out because the education they ware selling only looked good on papers they printed! My photo class was taught by a high school gym teacher, my audio program never worked with the computers they gave us that "were the most current standard in the field" I had to take mine in to apple withing 6 monthes to replace the hard drive only to find out that they had it sitting on a shelf at the school for a full year before selling it to me! so no warranty! lucky for me I bought an extended warranty from apple. that is just the tip of the ice burg. I could go on all night but I would love to be in on any lawsuit against those pirates! I think there would be a lot except they make sure the victims are so in dept they will never be able to afford a lawyer! I have just one question, How can they tell you it will cost $20,000 for an AA and a quarter of the way though demand another $20,000 and another $20,000? over $60,000 in dept before interest, no degree working at pizza hut. Please can anyone tell me a lawer that would even talk to me?

back in 2007 i was suckered into going to the school in my high school art class they did a presentation, right out of high school i started attending got the loans for the first quarter of the school and stopped going when they asked for an additional 12,000 dollar loan to continue my classes which at that point i felt i had not gotten the first 15,000 dollars worth of schooling. The Teachers where a joke, and the "advanced  classes" were more like basic lessons i could of gotten of youtube, i get filled with hate towards that school every time i have to pay them for wasting my time there, count me in on your suit.  I dont want them going to our high schools if they still do, to sucker students into their great programs and end up stealing their money

Please count me in the lawsuit! 

I graduated in 2009 and I have gotten nowhere!  I'm STILL working crappy jobs at $9 an hour, ugh!

I attended Al Collins back in the early 90's. I quit because of student aides were grading final projects. I also think my name was forged on loan documents. I sent the Department of Educationii a letter to complain but never received a response. Please contact me!

I would like to join the lawsuit if it's still an option.  I graduated from Collins in 2009 and was constantly lied to about price, class schedule, student loans.  It's been a nightmare since I graduated.  Let me know if the lawsuit is still happening.

I am and former student with 4.0 GPA and have seen the "no collins" job ads. I have my own grievances. I would like to be contacted by the law firm handling the case! Thank You.

I was 23 when I tried to attend that college, and am STILL paying for it!!!  I knew nothing about getting student loans, but I did have some questions regarding them.  When I was discussing it with the student counselor, I made sure that I asked this specific question.  "How much per month would I have to pay on these loans?" She told me at the least $50 per month, but she failed to tell me that there would be 5 DIFFERENT LOANS to pay on, so that makes, at the least $250 per month, and that would ONLY pay the interest!!!  I was unable to finish due to my eyes giving me trouble w/depth perception & mild color blindness that I was not aware of until after I was attending & had to specify things on a computer screen.  Not to mention that unless you are a computer person, I know I didn't understand & could not keep up w/the computer classes, but I managed to have a 3.8 GPA.  Now, my wages are being garnished for just 1 loan at $100 a month, which only pays PART of the interest on this loan!  If the woman in the student financing department would have specifically told me that there may be more than 1 loan, I would have NEVER done it...I was young & didn't know any better, and they KNEW that...them & the financing institution....so if you want to contact me pls do so...I'm wondering if I can sue them for this?  If you have any info it wld be helpful.  I am a single mom w/no money...so asking a lawyer is out of the question for now....lauriemayd3@yahoo.com...thanks

I used to be an instructor there in 1999-2001. I know of a number of cases that involves students that had failed my classes being given passing grades by administration. I'd be happy to share if the time line does not make the information too old for deposition.

Hello,

I am also a former student of a CEC school and I am very interested in any information regarding a class action lawsuit against them.  I was mislead and lied to about many things including graduation rates, job placement, accreditation and credit transfer, and much more.  I have lots of paperwork, and would love to help. Please contact me ASAP, and keep me informed of any new information.

Thank you sincerely

I have been in contact with an Attorney who is handling a class action against CEC Corporation who owns Collins College as well as many other colleges in the US. He is out of CA. He advised me he cannot take the case until he was through with the one he was representing. This was shortly after my post here in 2008. I will be contacting him again to see if he is willing. Please stay tuned and I will update after speaking with him.

We will need as many people as we can get with as much documentation as we can get. If anyone has a copy of the infamous newspaper ad for a designer in Phoenix ( years ago) stating "No Collins College Graduates Need Apply" That would be especially helpful. Old catalogs with career statistic, placement statics and the such would be helpful as well.

I will keep you all posted.

I actually just filed a report also explaining my story should be able to find under "forged student loans"

I also attended Collins College and am a recent graduate in Game Design. I had a similar experience regarding the school. From the beginning, I was very disappointed by the school since they gave me classes that weren't geared towards my degree. When other students and I confronted the school with our disappointment regarding our education we were asked what we wanted, and we responded with a statement to have our money returned to us. Instead, the school forced all of us to sign a statement that we would receive free hard drives for our silence. We were coerced into accepting equipment for our education. I was the leading voice in our protest against the school and have given four written statements to two faculty members by the name of Dev Jana and Gary Salazar. I have had numerous meetings with faculty members and the school president to rectify the situation, including conference calls with my parents and other parents with the school's president. During all these meetings, the school hired Dr. Tim Dosemagen, Vice President of Education for Collins College to handle all the student feedback reports and all the monetary problems associated with the school. Later, this person was fired after supposedly "failing" to solve the problems. I had most of the documents and equipment used to prove that the school bought our silence.

I have a very similar story. This school needs to have their license revoked to prevent any more people's lives being ruined. This school is a complete ripoff. The only thing that they do in any of their classes is give you a book and sit you in front of the computer and tell you to go through each lesson step by step. I cannot believe they charge about the same as a accredited university. I had to drop out about half way through the animation program because I knew I was being ripped off. My conscience would not allow me to continue to support this sham of a school. It was hard to leave after moving to Arizona just for this school. I now have student loans to pay off with nothing to show for it. It is a crime that federal student aid will give people loans to go to this school.

you can contact me at (((ROR redacted))). Was promised so many things, from housing to transportation. All lies to get money, they know you can not stop federal loans no matter what they get there money.

I am a previous student AND employee of Collins College (Al Collins when I went there). I would like to be a part of the suit. I used to work for the housing department and non-paid intern. I had to call parents and convince them to send their kids to the school. We had a script we read to students/parents! Rusty Walker was a teacher when I was there and had become the Director of the school later. Apartment complexes that couldn't fill vacancies would contact us for students to fill their empty apartments. This was typically due to dangerous areas, far from the school, far from mass transit, ect. The students were shafted. If we got complaints, reports, ect. they were not filed. I had to leave because I was made to do this or it was done for me if I tried to follow through. I have been out for 12 years and still have several thousand in student loans to pay off. They are all about money, not education. The Phoenix metro area has a large population but large majority of the school is from out of state because locals know to avoid this school!!! Be warned!!!

does this class action suit include other schools owned by CEC corporation with different names such as Sanford Brown college??? please let me know if i am eligible to join...i want in on this!!!! we ALL deserve justice for how all these schools are committing absolute fraud against sooo many students such as myself out there across the entire united states!!!!!! What they are doing is against the law and is a crime!!!!! and i don't feel i should have to pay money back in student loans for a fake degree, non-transferrable credits that are worthless, and every other lie that they told me about their school...and to say it nicely...EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME AND GUARANTEED ME AND PROMISED ME WAS A FLAT OUT LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please reply back to me and give me more information on what i need to do or how i need to go about joining a class action lawsuit against them. please help!!!! I will GREATLY appreciate any infromation you can send my way. Thank you so much!!!!!! I hope to hear back from you very soon!!!!

PLease contact me as well. I had to stop attending due to health reasons. When I went to go back to complete the bachelors program at Collins I was told that only 4 of my credits would apply. I had less than 6 months left to go and a 4.0 GPA when stopping. It wasnt even as iff I was trying to get my credits transferred to a different school. It is the same one. If they wont honor their own credits who will. sounds like fraud and racketeering to me.

I am getting close to graduating this summer, and have also had a horrible experience so far from Collins College. I have been trying to research online to see if there is anything that we can do against them because this school should not get away with taking advantage of students. I have gone to the president about all the issues I have had, and him and everyone else, basically did nothing. In the end, I will be stuck with no "real education" and a ton of student loans. I am no where near being ready to find a job, and will probably have to pay for more school somewhere else to even stand a chance.

Their high priced degree has got me absolutely nowhere and I've had enough! My credits won't even transfer to a Community College or University to further my education. I'm thoroughly embarrassed to admit I went to such a terrible school and am desperately trying to get back on track at a real college. They can have their crappy degree back I don't want it. I want my money back.

how do i join the suit?