My experience with the Art Institute Online. READ BEFORE YOU ENROLL!!!!

When I first started at the Art Institute Online, AIO, I was so impressed with the enrollment councilors, the finical aid officers, and guidance councilors; they were kind helpful and very informative. I would have to say, all in all my first year and half was a very pleasant experience. At the beginning of each term each of my instructors would call me on the phone to get acquainted; my guidance councilor would call me at the beginning of each term, periodically though out the term and at the end of each term to see how things were going. I truly felt that the institute had my best interests in mind and that I was getting a quality education. If I had a problem I had the numbers of my instructors, and had accomplished a relationship with them that made me feel comfortable contacting them. If I had a need to contact my councilor, my calls were returned promptly. If I had technical issues they were address immediately.

After I had gotten past the half way point towards getting my degree things began to change. I was assigned a new guidance councilor who has treated me like I am a bother, does not return phone calls or emails. None of my instructors called to introduce themselves, or return any emails that I send with questions and concerns. Last spring I was three days away from finishing the term, had an A in both of my classes, I had a huge personal tragedy, and a horrible car accident took 3 members of my family. Needless to say school was the last thing on my mind. I would think that after completing all but 3 days of a term, and having an A in each class, one of, or both of my instructors, or my councilor, would have at least inquired on why I had not finished up the two classes. I was just given an F in both classes, and 5 days later when I contacted the school I was told that they were sorry, and I was more than welcome to retake the courses (at my cost!)

Again it happens. Schools spend millions of dollars promoting themselves and a jerk or two destroys all the goodwill money can buy. If done on a more timely basis, shining light on cockroaches makes them scramble for a hole to hide in. A little TV coverage would have left the roaches squirming.

There must be an appeal process. If not, find out who owns the school and ask them if you could have a review of the situation. Send along documentation. The powers that be should, and probably would, be emarrassed by their own insensitivity.

I second this. News outlets would salivate over a story like this. Here's an idea: Tell this story to a video camera and post to You-Tube. Then send to the school and blog sites.

THE ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH - ONLINE IS RUNNING A BUSINESS THAT PREYS ON THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY!


When I went back to college in the fall of 2006 I was so excited about my future career. I researched the on-line programs and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online had many good reviews. I called to get more information about their programs and talked to the nicest gentleman. He assured me that they were accredited, that they had a fantastic financial aid department that would bend over backwards to make sure that I got the funding needed to pay for my education. He told me that the instructors were all at the top of their field, and would be in close contact with me during each course. I would be assigned an advisor to guide me during my time at AIO and would always be there for me if I had any concerns or issues. He personally guaranteed me that I would receive the best education possible.

I have to admit, when I started at the Art Institute Online, everything he said was true; I had a wonderful advisor that I developed a one on one relationship with. She kept in consistent contact with me and was very approachable. I had a cont in the financial aid department that was familiar with me. Each and every one of my instructors would call to introduce themselves before the term would start, and would keep in touch with me thought each course.

The first class I took at AIO required me to develop a 5 year plan, mapping out my goals educationally and professionally. The major part of my 5 year plan was that after graduation from AIO, I would continue my education and earn my Masters. My instructor was very supportive of my goals and my advisor seemed to share the same enthusiasm for my plans for my future. I was never informed that the credits that I earned at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online would not transfer to and institutions offering a masters degree, even though I made if very clear that was my intention.

For over a year I was content with my education, and maintained a 3.65 gpa. Then things began to change. I was assigned a new academic advisor. At first I thought that I was just missing the connection I had with my previous advisor, but then I realized it was more than that. My new advisor only called me at the very beginning of a term to remind me that the term was starting, and then at the end of the term to tell me it was ending. He rarely returned my phone calls, and when he did return them it would be at 5 or 6 am because he could not keep straight what state I live in, and what the time difference is between the east and west coast. Most of my emails were ignored, and the responses I did receive appeared to be automated.

I no longer got calls from my instructors and the interaction from them in class became less frequent.

As time went on I would try to log in to class and I would have a message that I was blocked, I would try again 10 minutes later or on a different computer and I would be able to get right in. I called tech support about the problem and they would tell me to contact my advisor. When I called my advisor he would tell me that I needed to contact tech support. I was unable to complete my courses, or receive grades that did not represent my efforts or abilities because I could not access my classes. Because of this I made the decision to with drw form all classes until this issue was resolved. I followed the AIO guidelines, only to find out later on that I had not been with drawn from the classes, and therefore received a F in each class and was also charged for the courses.

At one point I received a statement saying that I owed $450.00, and then a few days later got a bill stating that I owed $3500.00, and then a few days later received a refund check for $900.00. HOW IS A PERSON TO KNOW WHAT IS OWNED OR DUE?

THE ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH - ONLINE WAS DISHONEST WITH ME FROM DAY ONE. THEY MISREPRESENTED THEIR ACCREDITATION AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION THAT I WOULD BE RECEIVING. THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES ARE UNRELIABLE AND UNETHICAL. THE COST OF A DEGREE AT AIO, WHICH IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY CONVENTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, IS MORE THAN WHAT IS CHARGED BY MOST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. THEY ARE RUNNING A BUSINESS THAT PREYS ON THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY!