<p>Hey all, I have a rather complicated situation. I was hoping you guys could help.
I graduated from this particular university with a Bachelors of Science. This program was paid for in full with my own funds and student loans which enter repayment soon (this is not an issue).
Soon after I graduated, I enrolled into an accelerated nursing program at the same university, with it's own tuition. This program granted students with an existing bachelors degree another bachelors in nursing at the completion of the program. I had completed up until the last class of the last quarter of the program.
Due to personal problems (a fire at my house) that placed a financial/mental strain, I had to withdraw before I could re-take the class. I still owed tuition the last half of this second program. Because of this, they put a financial hold on my account.
Fast forward 3 years, and I now have some ability to return to class. The college told me I could pay the hold (which pays off the rest of the nursing program) but I would not recieve credit for any nursing classes I had completed. They wanted me to retake the entire program again, and pay it's tuition separately.
Even if I lift the hold, the nursing classes I took would mean nothing.
Understanding that I could not get credit for the nursing program credits, I simply asked for the copy of the diploma I had already earned (which was lost in the transition of moving during the fire). They told me they could do no further service for me until I lift the hold.
With this rather complicated history now explained, my question is this:
Is the school acting within it's limits by withholding a copy of degree that in essence is already paid for, due to a hold from another program? It seems like everyone I talk to at the college throws me around a phone maze and just gives me a hard time instead of someone who can give me a straight answer other than "you have a hold".
Any information you guys have is deeply appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>I agree that the school is overstepping by using the copy of the degree as a bludgeon, but I do want to ask why having the diploma is such a big issue for you. Since I got my BA a jillion years ago, my diploma has been sitting in a drawer. It’s not like anyone is ever going to want to see it as proof of your degree. Your more pressing problem is that you will at some point want a transcript issued to a potential school or employer, and the college will use this same tactic. It seems to me that you do owe them money for the classes you took, and they will not be cooperative until they are paid. (I’m guessing that the refusal to grant credit for courses taken three years ago is because they believe your skills could have gotten stale in the interim, or because completion of the full degree in a certain amount of time is a normal requisite of the program. What rationale do they give you?)</p>
<p>Maybe that’s where I’m kind of wrong, I guess…people have told me that having an actual diploma on hand isn’t as big of a deal as I’m making it out to be…I just assume that without actual proof, I can’t do anything without it, you know what I mean? It’s just personal to me, I guess…because I don’t have ‘proof’ that I got something that I worked so hard for. </p>
<p>With repeating the entire nursing program, they did tell me that it was because there was a three year gap and that they felt as if my skills could have gotten stale, which I completely understand. I just can not do it at this certain institution right now because of how expensive it is.</p>
<p>The billing department and I talked about setting up a payment plan to pay off the rest of the balance that’s due for the nursing program ( which is something that I am willing to do ) I just don’t understand why they are being so difficult in giving me anything that deals with my prior degree ( including transcripts ) that have technically already been paid for?</p>
<p>IIRC, most schools will not replace a diploma that has been lost, stolen or damaged. I know even in high school, they will not replace a diploma. IIRC, the school will issue a certificate of graduation (but not another diploma). My D was actually informed before hand that they do not replace them, so we had copies made and framed the originals. (yes, my undergrad degree is in my junk drawer).</p>
<p>However, if you owe the college any kind of money for whatever reason a hold is placed on your account. This means, no registration, no transcripts an in your case no replacement diploma (if they provide this service) or certificate of graduation. While you may feel that it is unfair, it is the only leverage that a school has that the student will pay the outstanding debt.</p>
<p>This is probably waaaaay off the wall, but…</p>
<p>Did you have “replacement value” insurance on the house that burned? In order to “replace” the burned diploma, you need money to pay the outstanding loan balance… hmmmm… :D</p>
<p>Less off the wall…perhaps the claims adjuster from your insurance company can intervene? I know when I had a theft, the claims adjuster was able to pull a lot of strings to get info I couldn’t get for myself.</p>