Tawanda Y. Sanders vs. Capella University

Claimant's opinion: I started at Capella University the Fall of 2002 as a Family Psychology Doctoral student. I successfully completed all of my course work, attended all of the required residential colloquials and passed my comprehensive examinations by 2006. I worked on my dissertation research from the onset of my entry into the program. My research methodology focused on a qualitative methodology. I was assigned a mentor and an advisor. While working on my dissertation I was required to registered for a number of dissertation classes with the sequence numbers beginning in 9901. By 2008 I had nearly exhausted my government financial aid resources. I requested a change in mentors and selected a dissertation committee with experience in phenomenological research. I had taken 2 quarters off to save my financial resources so that I could complete the program and I worked independently on my research. When I returned I was told that the program had changed and I would have to register for additional courses even though my dissertation proposal was complete and only needed a final review by my committee for submission to the IRB. I had to complete a Methodology Review Form and register for “Milestone Courses” and would have to enter into a new program catalogue. My Methodology Review Form was passed. My dissertation committee worked closely with me on my dissertation proposal. I hired two professional editors, I met with other academics from other universities and passed my work on for review to other academics to ensure that my dissertation proposal would pass. My dissertation committee member met with me 1:1 and reviewed my proposal line by line before my submission to the International Review Board. Two attempts to get my project passed by the committee were denied. After the second rejection I was told my study placed children participants at risk for harm. There were no children under the age of 18 years old in my study. I was finally able t to speak with the IRB chairperson, Dr. Robert Schneider, after he reviewed project he stated he did not see why my proposal failed and he could not over-turn the decision of the evaluator. I made many attempts to contact the reader of my proposal and I was advised by a Capella representative that I should stop making any attempts to talk with the individual who failed my dissertation proposal because she would not respond to telephone phone calls. I was also advised that since I had balance owed of $5000 owed to the university a note would be placed on my record that I should not be allowed to speak with anyone from my dissertation committee or administration until my balanced was paid in full. By 2013 I had paid the balance in full. I contacted my dissertation committee who was agreeable to working with me to complete my dissertation, I only had 2 chapters left. I had obtained a private scholarship and my employer, who was contracted with Capella offered me tuition reimbursement, discounts and grants to complete my doctorate. From January of 2013 to March of 2013 I made repeated attempts to contact the Capella after they cash the scholarship check. In April 2013, Capella notified me that my application for readmission was denied. I was offered a Master’s Degree if I agreed to take 5 more courses. All of my doctoral coursework was accepted and yet I was denied the opportunity to complete what I had spent years working on.. (Optional)

Claimant's opinion: Add any detailI started at Capella University the Fall of 2002 as a Family Psychology Doctoral student. I successfully completed all of my course work, attended all of the required residential colloquials and passed my comprehensive examinations by 2006. I worked on my dissertation research from the onset of my entry into the program. My research methodology focused on a qualitative methodology. I was assigned a mentor and an advisor. While working on my dissertation I was required to registered for a number of dissertation classes with the sequence numbers beginning in 9901. By 2008 I had nearly exhausted my government financial aid resources. I requested a change in mentors and selected a dissertation committee with experience in phenomenological research. I had taken 2 quarters off to save my financial resources so that I could complete the program and I worked independently on my research. When I returned I was told that the program had changed and I would have to register for additional courses even though my dissertation proposal was complete and only needed a final review by my committee for submission to the IRB. I had to complete a Methodology Review Form and register for “Milestone Courses” and would have to enter into a new program catalogue. My Methodology Review Form was passed. My dissertation committee worked closely with me on my dissertation proposal. I hired two professional editors, I met with other academics from other universities and passed my work on for review to other academics to ensure that my dissertation proposal would pass. My dissertation committee member met with me 1:1 and reviewed my proposal line by line before my submission to the International Review Board. Two attempts to get my project passed by the committee were denied. After the second rejection I was told my study placed children participants at risk for harm. There were no children under the age of 18 years old in my study. I was finally able t to speak with the IRB chairperson, Dr. Robert Schneider, after he reviewed project he stated he did not see why my proposal failed and he could not over-turn the decision of the evaluator. I made many attempts to contact the reader of my proposal and I was advised by a Capella representative that I should stop making any attempts to talk with the individual who failed my dissertation proposal because she would not respond to telephone phone calls. I was also advised that since I had balance owed of $5000 owed to the university a note would be placed on my record that I should not be allowed to speak with anyone from my dissertation committee or administration until my balanced was paid in full. By 2013 I had paid the balance in full. I contacted my dissertation committee who was agreeable to working with me to complete my dissertation, I only had 2 chapters left. I had obtained a private scholarship and my employer, who was contracted with Capella offered me tuition reimbursement, discounts and grants to complete my doctorate. From January of 2013 to March of 2013 I made repeated attempts to contact the Capella after they cash the scholarship check. In April 2013, Capella notified me that my application for readmission was denied. I was offered a Master’s Degree if I agreed to take 5 more courses. All of my doctoral coursework was accepted and yet I was denied the opportunity to complete what I had spent years working on.s here. (Optional)

Claimant's opinion: Add any details I started at Capella University the Fall of 2002 as a Family Psychology Doctoral student. I successfully completed all of my course work, attended all of the required residential colloquials and passed my comprehensive examinations by 2006. I worked on my dissertation research from the onset of my entry into the program. My research methodology focused on a qualitative methodology. I was assigned a mentor and an advisor. While working on my dissertation I was required to registered for a number of dissertation classes with the sequence numbers beginning in 9901. By 2008 I had nearly exhausted my government financial aid resources. I requested a change in mentors and selected a dissertation committee with experience in phenomenological research. I had taken 2 quarters off to save my financial resources so that I could complete the program and I worked independently on my research. When I returned I was told that the program had changed and I would have to register for additional courses even though my dissertation proposal was complete and only needed a final review by my committee for submission to the IRB. I had to complete a Methodology Review Form and register for “Milestone Courses” and would have to enter into a new program catalogue. My Methodology Review Form was passed. My dissertation committee worked closely with me on my dissertation proposal. I hired two professional editors, I met with other academics from other universities and passed my work on for review to other academics to ensure that my dissertation proposal would pass. My dissertation committee member met with me 1:1 and reviewed my proposal line by line before my submission to the International Review Board. Two attempts to get my project passed by the committee were denied. After the second rejection I was told my study placed children participants at risk for harm. There were no children under the age of 18 years old in my study. I was finally able t to speak with the IRB chairperson, Dr. Robert Schneider, after he reviewed project he stated he did not see why my proposal failed and he could not over-turn the decision of the evaluator. I made many attempts to contact the reader of my proposal and I was advised by a Capella representative that I should stop making any attempts to talk with the individual who failed my dissertation proposal because she would not respond to telephone phone calls. I was also advised that since I had balance owed of $5000 owed to the university a note would be placed on my record that I should not be allowed to speak with anyone from my dissertation committee or administration until my balanced was paid in full. By 2013 I had paid the balance in full. I contacted my dissertation committee who was agreeable to working with me to complete my dissertation, I only had 2 chapters left. I had obtained a private scholarship and my employer, who was contracted with Capella offered me tuition reimbursement, discounts and grants to complete my doctorate. From January of 2013 to March of 2013 I made repeated attempts to contact the Capella after they cash the scholarship check. In April 2013, Capella notified me that my application for readmission was denied. I was offered a Master’s Degree if I agreed to take 5 more courses. All of my doctoral coursework was accepted and yet I was denied the opportunity to complete what I had spent years working on.here. (Optional)

Claimant's opinion: Add any details here. (I started at Capella University the Fall of 2002 as a Family Psychology Doctoral student. I successfully completed all of my course work, attended all of the required residential colloquials and passed my comprehensive examinations by 2006. I worked on my dissertation research from the onset of my entry into the program. My research methodology focused on a qualitative methodology. I was assigned a mentor and an advisor. While working on my dissertation I was required to registered for a number of dissertation classes with the sequence numbers beginning in 9901. By 2008 I had nearly exhausted my government financial aid resources. I requested a change in mentors and selected a dissertation committee with experience in phenomenological research. I had taken 2 quarters off to save my financial resources so that I could complete the program and I worked independently on my research. When I returned I was told that the program had changed and I would have to register for additional courses even though my dissertation proposal was complete and only needed a final review by my committee for submission to the IRB. I had to complete a Methodology Review Form and register for “Milestone Courses” and would have to enter into a new program catalogue. My Methodology Review Form was passed. My dissertation committee worked closely with me on my dissertation proposal. I hired two professional editors, I met with other academics from other universities and passed my work on for review to other academics to ensure that my dissertation proposal would pass. My dissertation committee member met with me 1:1 and reviewed my proposal line by line before my submission to the International Review Board. Two attempts to get my project passed by the committee were denied. After the second rejection I was told my study placed children participants at risk for harm. There were no children under the age of 18 years old in my study. I was finally able t to speak with the IRB chairperson, Dr. Robert Schneider, after he reviewed project he stated he did not see why my proposal failed and he could not over-turn the decision of the evaluator. I made many attempts to contact the reader of my proposal and I was advised by a Capella representative that I should stop making any attempts to talk with the individual who failed my dissertation proposal because she would not respond to telephone phone calls. I was also advised that since I had balance owed of $5000 owed to the university a note would be placed on my record that I should not be allowed to speak with anyone from my dissertation committee or administration until my balanced was paid in full. By 2013 I had paid the balance in full. I contacted my dissertation committee who was agreeable to working with me to complete my dissertation, I only had 2 chapters left. I had obtained a private scholarship and my employer, who was contracted with Capella offered me tuition reimbursement, discounts and grants to complete my doctorate. From January of 2013 to March of 2013 I made repeated attempts to contact the Capella after they cash the scholarship check. In April 2013, Capella notified me that my application for readmission was denied. I was offered a Master’s Degree if I agreed to take 5 more courses. All of my doctoral coursework was accepted and yet I was denied the opportunity to complete what I had spent years working on.Optional)