Complaint Review: University of Baltimore Master of Public Administration program - Internet

This school is nearly an HBCU due to the high number of African American students enrolled. In any setting where many minorities are represented, there are also greater incidences of racism and discrimination, and it is running rampant at the University of Baltimore.

While enrolled as an online graduate student, I experienced one of the worst forms of discrimination and retaliation, and was eventually ousted from the Master of Public Administration program. I took out more than $30,000 in student loans to attend that school and because I criticized Thomas Darling and Larry Thomas, I failed the Capstone course by .50 point. As a result of a letter, I also failed a basic technology course taught by a new professor named Sezgin Ayabakan. He too was part of the conspiracy to force me out of the MPA program, and it worked. These professors refused to grade all of my assignments, accused me of failing to turn in work and on time, accused me of poor basic grammar skills, and stated that I did not earn the right to receive a master's degree from that sorry school. After two years of complaints to various state and federal agencies, speaking with numerous lawyers begging them to take my case and blogging about my experience, I have come to agree with the morons who ruined both my academic and professional future. I do not deserve a master's degree from UB because I deserve so much more. I left that school with a 3.4 grade point average and rightfully earned more than 33 credit hours in the MPA program. Now, I am starting over at another university. A better university; one where women and minorities are treated with decency, respect, and fairness. A university where faculty members are held accountable for their actions and do not behave in hateful ways. 

Following my final semester at UB and upon learning that I had failed both courses attempted, I did what any student would have done. I contacted the University Dean's office for assistance and guidance with filing a formal grievance against my oppressors. Kathy Anderson, Dean of Students refused to allow me access to her office for a sit down meeting. This is a violation of federal law under Title VI. My rights were further violated when the dean of the School of Public & International Affairs appointed Debra Stanley to oversee the complaint and grievance process. In the end, my complaint and grievance were never reviewed by anyone at the university. I have Debra Stanley to thank for this elaborate cover up. She lied and claimed to have never received my complaint and grievance although I sent them via email. Email does not lie, however professors at the University of Baltimore do very well, and even to federal officials. 

Like I said, I am continuing my education elsewhere to move forward with my life. I have suffered from insomnia, depression, stomach ailments and unemployment since being ousted from the MPA program. I can no longer continue living as a hostage. As far as the student loans, I am not going to pay them. My husband and I own a very nice home, have three new cars and enough credit cards. There is nothing that I need in the next seven years which bad credit due to student loan default will prevent. In the meantime, I will let the world know what happened to me at the University of Baltimore and hopefully my story will serve as a cautionary tale for everyone, particularly those considering applying to the MPA program at the University of Baltimore.

Be very careful about that university; having a black university president means nothing to minority students. Kurt Schmoke is a very bad person who should be ashamed of himself. In fact, he is an embarrassment and I feel very lucky that I do not have that school's name on my resume.  

First of all relying on the concept that defaulting on the loan will harm the school because it affects their default rate is sort of like throwing an ice cube on a 3 alarm fire and expecting it to go out.

You seem to think that if you just "wait it out" you won't have to worry about having to pay back your Student Loans.

But the fact is that contrary to your beliefs a Student Loan is not like other "Consumer Debt". While the debt may be removed from your credit report after 7 years, Student Loans have no Statute of Limitations so collection efforts and enforcement can continue forever.

This collection effort can include anything from having your State and Federal Income tax refunds Intercepted to

being sued and having liens placed on any property you may own. It could also include Wage Garnishment even in States where Wage Garnishment isn't allowed for regular debts. In some cases you could have any professional licenses suspended. You will be hard pressed to find a judge who is going to buy your "discrimination" excuse as a reason why you stopped paying on the entire loan.

You talk about your credit cards. Realize that when you opened up your credit cards you gave them the right to periodically review your credit. This means that they can pull your credit report without prior permission. Many creditors will then close out the accounts of people who have collection accounts or other negative history, yes even IF you are current with that credit card company. So don't think that just because you have a credit card today..you will have one tomorrow.

You can NOT discharge it in Bankruptcy, as while they allow you to have the Student Loan discharged under certain circumstances where you can prove hardship. But having 3 cars, a house won't help you with that. It also requires you to show a "Good Faith" effort to pay the loan..again not your case.

You don't have to believe me, but before you go down this road you better talk to an attorney and in the mean time you can look at a link from the Federal Government on Student Loan Delinquencies.

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/default#consequences

I'm going to throw one more thing out at you. If you don't want to pay for the 2 you failed then that is a path you must take. But you have still taken 33 units and presumably with that GPA were able to pass them without issues. So you really have no justification to not pay for your entire education because of a dispute with 2 classes. Again throwing another saying at you that is like "Throwing the Baby out with the Bath water".

I appreciate your reply and advise.

However, student loan default rates negatively impact a university's credit rating with the U.S. Department of Education. And, per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, negative credit only remains on a person's credit report for a total of seven years. Whereas, student loan debt which is not in the same category as bankruptcy is reported for up to 10 years.

Again, thank you.

Not paying your student loans is not going to help your future, especially if you plan employment in your field of study. It would be better if you took your grievances to the courtroom or some other way to reduce or eliminate the amount due. Remember, the school has already received the funding. You are stiffing the bank that loaned the funds and not the school that received the tuition payments.  Unpaid student loans impact your credit longer than 7 years. They have special reporting periods. Please research your remedies. It sounds like you have established a nice lifestyle for yourself and your family. it would be a real shame if you hurt your future over this bad incident.