<p>First of all, one must assume that the following is true. I’m a skeptic myself and at face value it would not be difficult for one to imagine how a student whose unpaid $30 parking tickets have racked up to the point he or she can’t register for classes next semester or they’re unable to receive a copy of their official transcript or even a student who flunked out of school all together and feels it isn’t their fault might take it upon his or herself to fabricate a scenario, essentially, for the purposes of bashing High Point University or attempting to tarnish their good name. For the record, though, this is a posting I provided on another site evaluating my academic experience at High Point University. </p>
<p>I have had a wonderful academic experience with High Point University (HPU) until approximately one year ago. A fellow student was accused of plagiarism after submitting a project to her instructor in 2009. She was devastated after having been formally accused by her instructor of committing such an immoral act. After consulting with several of the university’s faculty members, as well as with professionals in surrounding areas whose careers directly relate to her field of study, she concluded that she, in fact, had not committed an act of plagiarism, but had simply completed the assignment wrong. </p>
<p>After having received this information, she arranged a meeting with both the instructor of the course and the dean of (reluctant to disclose), and presented them both with an official copy of the student handbook in an attempt to discuss their erroneous accusation. During their meeting, she clearly explained how incorrectly completing and submitting the assignment in question could not in any way be construed as plagiarism, and produced a copy of the student handbook section addressing plagiarism in order to corroborate her claim. The student then requested for this formal accusation to be removed from her student file and that she be allowed to resubmit a corrected version of the assignment. The meeting was dismissed immediately following a denial for her request that the accusation be removed from her file, but not before the dean insisted they had done her a favor by not dismissing her from the program all together.</p>
<p>Following this unpleasant experience, the student composed and sent an email to the president of the university, the provost and vice president of academic affairs, the vice president of student affairs (who deals with sanctions such as plagiarism), and the two individuals mentioned in the foregoing paragraph; which summarized the series of events that had occurred up to that point in time and addressed her concerns relating to the unusual situation.</p>
<p>As you could imagine, the student was contacted by the dean of (once again, reluctant to disclose) and was requested to attend a follow-up meeting. As requested, my colleague attended the meeting where she was verbally assaulted and berated for “sending letters all over campus” for what should have been a “confidential situation” and “making a mountain out of a molehill.” The dean insisted that the student had “received a slap on the wrist” and that the student should have “taken her punishment, learned from it and moved on.” The student again questioned the definition of plagiarism, as defined in the university’s honor code found in the student handbook, as compared to the accusation of her instructor, but the dean insisted she supported the instructor’s decision completely. The dean then informed the student that as a favor she would be allowed to redo the assignment, but would receive a zero regardless. The student was then asked how she would like to resolve the situation, and, once again, requested that the plagiarism accusation be removed. The dean’s response was that it could not be removed and referred to it as a “confidential matter.”</p>
<p>The following week, my fellow student met with the vice president of student affairs (who deals with university sanctions) to discuss her formal accusation, however, the vice president explained she did not have any knowledge of the accusation, and that her not knowing was indication that the situation was being handled internally. This was not indicated in the letter which the student received from HPU accusing her of being a plagiarist. Her sincere belief was that she had been charged and would be given the opportunity to be heard by an impartial audience of the Honor Court at HPU. Given the circumstances, she would have been found not guilty. The student contacted the president’s secretary and requested a meeting him.</p>
<p>Following these bizarre situations, my colleague withdrew from the course and registered for the upcoming semester’s classes. Soon after, she met with her advisor to discuss graduation and the completion of the Product of Learning and the Capstone Experience. Her advisor, who traditionally supervised this aspect of the Capstone Experience, then stated that the dean of (reluctant to disclose) required the student meet with her prior to approval. In reference to the plagiarism accusation, her advisor suggested she write a letter requesting that the charge be removed from her file. The student contacted the president’s secretary again to request a meeting with him.</p>
<p>The following week my colleague met with the dean of (reluctant to disclose) to discuss her Capstone Experience, but was denied the request for her advisor to supervise the student, and instead stated that she would be supervising the student, and that she has appointed herself as the student’s new academic advisor.</p>
<p>One day, the student received a call from the president’s secretary and scheduled a meeting with him…She went to the meeting to discuss the false accusation and requested the charge be removed from her file. She described her conversation as very motivating.</p>
<p>During the following scheduled meeting with her new advisor and dean of (reluctant to disclose), my colleague and the dean discussed the requirements for her Product of Learning. My colleague brought with her the handbook she had received upon acceptance to the program and asked the dean about the possibility of completion of National Board Standards for ******* ********* instead of the Product of Learning. The dean insisted that National Board Certification was not an option to fulfill the requirements for graduation. However, it is included as an option in the handbook. The dean reiterated it was not an option and reminded the student again how lucky she was to have not been dismissed and that she was “doing her a favor by allowing her to remain in the program.” The student reminded the dean that she was never given the opportunity to defend the plagiarism accusation by appearing in honor court nor was she a plagiarist. My colleague further asserted, having not been provided with the required directions for the assignment in question resulted in it being completed in error which does not denote plagiarism. All references were correctly sited as recognized by copyright law. The dean of (reluctant to disclose) then told her that doing an assignment wrong as a graduate student was plagiarism and that she could assure her that the honor court would have agreed with her. The two arranged to meet the following week and my fellow student left the campus in tears.</p>
<p>The following week, the student met with the dean of (reluctant to disclose) to share information about her interpretation of the Product of Learning assignment and was told it was incorrect. A well-respected, knowledgable and very well-known faculty member helped my colleague research her final project, but also had difficulty understanding the assignment, and what information was needed. The student arranged another meeting for the following week with her new advisor so that she could present potential topics.</p>
<p>The next week, the student met with her new advisor to discuss potential topics. According to her advisor, my colleague’s interpretation as to the expectations of the assignment was, once again, incorrect. She then explained to her new advisor that none of the classes she had taken at HPU had prepared her for the Product of Learning and this assignment. Her new advisor then became angry and told her she was not graduate school material and “how dare she come into the office of the dean of” (reluctant to disclose) “and question her!” Her new advisor then explained how she was not endearing herself to her and that my colleague was burning bridges. The dean of (reluctant to disclose) then suggested that if my colleague did not like how things were, she could go downstairs and withdraw from the program. She also informed her that she could go talk with the provost and vice president of academic affairs, and go talk to the president of the university if she’d like, but it wouldn’t change anything…My colleague left the campus crying, once again.</p>
<p>She described this verbal assault to me and how she felt intimidated and how she felt threatened. She explained how she had never been treated so unprofessionally by anyone at HPU or any other university she had attended. </p>
<p>My fellow student met with another student who had recently graduated from HPU; more importantly, though, is the fact the other student had graduated from the same program and earned the same degree which my colleague has been diligently pursuing. The two discussed the Product of Learning and the other student explained her interpretation of the assignment; however, when my colleague met with the dean of (reluctant to disclose) at their next meeting, once again, her new advisor told her that the former HPU graduate’s interpretation was incorrect</p>
<p>So my colleague met with the superintendent of a neighboring county’s school district to ask him to address how 21st Century skills impact the resource classroom, as the assignment requires, and he explained “we are pretty far behind.” She then explained the requirements of the the course to him and he suggested that she ask her advisor to set up an observation of a 21st Century classroom. The superintendent gladly offered to accompany her to this observation.</p>
<p>When she met with the dean of (reluctant to disclose), my colleague told her about the conversation she had with the superintendent of the neighboring county’s school district and her advisor said, “What are you people doing in ******** County?” She then suggested that the superintendent take some classes at HPU. My colleague explained how she is a visual learner and needed to see examples of what is expected in the 21st Century resource room. Her new advisor responded, “Why do you need to see someone else’s work?”</p>
<p>After several more meetings with her new advisor and with very little guidance offered; my colleague met with HPU faculty members to gain a better understanding, and also met teachers at two separate nearby schools whose positions and duties coincide with a number of components required to be evaluated in her Product of Learning. Having made progress with her assignment, my colleague submitted her paper to her new advisor who then accepted her work and stated she would provide my colleague feedback and mail these items to her over the summer.</p>
<p>That was May 2010. In September 2010, my colleague met with the dean of (reluctant to disclose) per her request, to be questioned whether she’d had a chance to complete the assignment. My fellow student explained numerous time how she had already submitted the assignment, only to be ridiculed by her advisor who began to explain how out of all of the students who have come through the education program at HPU she has never seen anyone other than her who could not comprehend the expectations of a simple assignment. </p>
<p>After berating my fellow student, her advisor asked if she would like to arrange to meet again the following week…My colleague describes her condition after leaving her advisor’s office as her having been emotionally and physically sick.</p>
<p>The following day, my colleague received an email from her advisor stating, "As indicated yesterday the paper and flash drive have been located. Implying that the two had spoken at another time which my colleague explains is not true.</p>
<p>It was at this point that she made the decision to share these horrific experiences with the president, the provost and vice president of academic affairs and the vice president of student affairs. For self preservation, my colleague stated she will not meet with the dean of (reluctant to disclose) again. </p>
<p><em>READER’S NOTE</em></p>
<p>My colleague has a cumulative GPA of 3.667, yet, her newly self appointed advisor and dean of (reluctant to disclose) has suggested that she is not graduate material AND that my colleague could tell the president, and the provost and vice president of academic affairs but that nothing would change…</p>
<p>My colleague’s advisor speaks the truth ladies and gents…Nothing has changed, and she sent a letter, certified mail, to high ranking HPU officials (whose positions are mentioned in the foregoing text) which explains, in sequence and in far greater detail than I have provided you with here, the ongoing abusive and unorthodox treatment she has been subjected to at this institution.</p>
<p>You know what they did say?</p>
<p>My colleague received a one page, typed response explaining how she has put too much effort and spent too much money to let something like this stand in the way of earning her degree. Not a single one of her concerns was addressed. The provost and vice president of academic affairs, who signed the letter, went so far as to suggest that she meet with her advisor as soon as possible to resume working on her project. </p>
<p>I believe that some form of corruption exists on every level of virtually any one of society’s institutions. As a current student of High Point University, let me send you an email from my @highpoint.edu; at the bottom you will find the school’s vision, the university purports “At High Point University every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.”</p>
<p>I have experienced the care of this university first hand, with a situation I won’t disclose here. The damage I suffered was considerably less detrimental than that of my colleague’s, but nonetheless, I too have gained exposure to just how genuine and caring their sterling faculty truly is. And extraordinary is in stark contrast with any one of the flowery adjectives I would choose to describe this institution.</p>
<p>I hope I have not discouraged any of you prospective students, or your parents for that matter, from joining HPU to try and help bring up their 56% graduation rate. . .(sarcasm)</p>
<p>I doubt this type of situation occurs very often, perhaps this is even the only situation like this that has occurred. But I would like to impart with you this: If this multi-million dollar business sells by advertising their inspiration and their care for the students, then why should my fellow student be any exception? Why, after crying in the office of the president of such an EXTRAORDINARY institution has she been treated so dismissively? Why has she not received the the care purported in their vision that seems to be stamped or embroidered on any piece of HPU paraphernalia that one would likely make the mistake of purchasing?</p>
<p>Because it sells…Period…The fountains, the ice cream truck, the Starbucks, the NASDAQ bell ringing…It all may very well seem so aesthetically pleasing but at the end of the day, it’s unfathomable how HPU’s little demigod continues to draw students in from all over our nation when he fails to deliver on the first and, seemingly, most simple promise to his students, caring.</p>
<p><em>The factual assertions made in the foregoing text are all backed by empirical evidence</em></p>
<p>If you wish to inquire further, feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:litleblackduck@gmail.com">litleblackduck@gmail.com</a> I will happily provide you with specific details to substantiate these claims, and to expose the truth about High Point University.</p>