So disappointed with TESC

[njdre80]

I just wanted to vent a little over the frustration I am experiencing with TESC. Mainly the length of time it takes for anything to be accomplished. I don't understand why it takes 6-8 weeks for a course to be put on the evaluation when they receive the transcript a week after the issuing institution sends it. If they can get someone to update the system that it has been received, can't they just see that I passed, punch up my student ID# and enter the credit? It doesn't seem that difficult or time consuming that it takes 2 months for that to happen.

A bigger and more important issue is my frustration with one of my mentors. The one I have now has posted one grade for an assignment that was due over a month ago, no other grades have been entered, yet 2 additional assignments have been submitted. I have no idea if I am meeting the requirements because nothing else is graded. I email the mentor and get no response, I email the mentors@tesc.edu and get no response. If students are expected to hand in assignments by a due date, a reasonable amount of time should be expected to receive a grade, especially before the next assignment is due. I understand that mentors have other jobs and responsibilities but so do the students. Many students are going back to school after years of not attending, have careers to manage, and family obligations, yet are still able to submit an assignment on time. So this is no excuse for a mentor. It a shame that they operate this way and that the college does nothing about it. The school is a business and I am the customer and am clearly not getting what I paid for. All I want is to know how I am doing, is that so hard to ask of a school and teacher? Because of this these issues I have lost all motivation for school and now do it because I have to versus because I want to. I am so frustrated with everything that I am considering complaining to the state board or some other department outside of the school. I know I am not the only one as I have two friends going through the same exact issue.

I will never recommend TESC to anyone, the only reason I am continuing is because I am 4 classes away from finishing. I have never experienced all this frustration and disappointment with a business as I have with TESC. If only they did what is expected of them (and i'm not asking for much) my feelings would be completely different. When I do finish my courses, I do not even want to go to the graduation, initially I was excited about it, but my feelings have completely changed due to this school being so poorly run and managed.

[nick94]

Thanks for the Heads up! I had been thinking of going through TESC. Is everything bad? I don't exactly don't know what I'm going to get my bachelor's in but I wanted to get it in Economics. TESC is the only place I could find the degree in Economics without having the degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration.

[njdre80]

You can get your degree from them, just be prepared to wait for everything to happen like I mentioned. I guess if I knew it was going to be like that from the beginning I wouldn't be as frustrated as I am now. I won't like I am very impatient. In my work life I get things done ASAP, if someone needs something I will get it to them. If I have a deadline I meet it before its even due. Being around that I have similar expectations. TESC clearly does not thing like that. I would love to know what they do all day. It seems like one person runs the whole school for the length of time something takes to be done.

Aside from that, I started this year with 67 credits from my prior school, took a bunch of FEMA courses to get 14 free elective credits, did 4 dantes exams, and took 4 classes so far. So i have 1 class left to take and then do 4 more dantes exams and I will have my degree. So they do give you a good way of getting your credits from different areas and stay true to their promise. It just seems to take an extremely unnecessarily long time.

[nick94]

That's good, I don't know if I would like the wait any more than you do but thanks again for the warning!

[brothermike]

I too have found that they take way too long to update my eval but have also found that if there is a real need for an update, I can call my academic advisor and he/she will get it taken care of for me in less than 24 hours. He/she specifically told me that when it comes time to apply for graduation next month that I will need to call and he/she will see to it that all of my trancripts are recognized in the system. No, I will not give out a name but there are two people in that department that I have found to be very helpful. You just need to book an hour long counseling session and form a relationship with your adivsor. If you don't like your advisor then choose another one.

I also feel your pain with the mentor issue. I was having the same issue and brought it to his attention and he has graded my last two writing assignments within 1 week.

For anyone considering TESC, I would suggest maximizing tests and minimizing online classes, TECEPS, and PLA's as much as possible.

Moral of the story, TESC is a great place to earn your degree if you can form a relationship with an advocate on the inside and are able to stay on top of them. Otherwise you can get lost in the shuffle. But no matter how you slice it, if you are self motivated you can earn your degree much, much faster than the old brick and mortar route.

[Farmerboy]

I just wanted to vent a little over the frustration I am experiencing with TESC. Mainly the length of time it takes for anything to be accomplished. I don't understand why it takes 6-8 weeks for a course to be put on the evaluation when they receive the transcript a week after the issuing institution sends it. If they can get someone to update the system that it has been received, can't they just see that I passed, punch up my student ID# and enter the credit? It doesn't seem that difficult or time consuming that it takes 2 months for that to happen.

A bigger and more important issue is my frustration with one of my mentors. The one I have now has posted one grade for an assignment that was due over a month ago, no other grades have been entered, yet 2 additional assignments have been submitted. I have no idea if I am meeting the requirements because nothing else is graded. I email the mentor and get no response, I email the mentors@tesc.edu and get no response. If students are expected to hand in assignments by a due date, a reasonable amount of time should be expected to receive a grade, especially before the next assignment is due. I understand that mentors have other jobs and responsibilities but so do the students. Many students are going back to school after years of not attending, have careers to manage, and family obligations, yet are still able to submit an assignment on time. So this is no excuse for a mentor. It a shame that they operate this way and that the college does nothing about it. The school is a business and I am the customer and am clearly not getting what I paid for. All I want is to know how I am doing, is that so hard to ask of a school and teacher? Because of this these issues I have lost all motivation for school and now do it because I have to versus because I want to.

I experienced these same issues. The mentor issue never was resolved but I didn't really push it that hard. However, I didn't really care how long it took them to post my updated evaluation until I was pushed for time near graduation. If you call the advising department and tell them you are ready to graduate if they get their act together, they will move with amazing speed!

Just step back and look at the big picture. While the school may have terrible service, you are still getting a tremendous deal through them that is not available in many other places. I hope you make it through your last 4 classes!

[retake]

Wow.

I really hope that I get into my first school of choice (Troy), so that I don't have to deal with this. TESC is my second choice, but I'll be taking 20 courses through them over two years, which I think is a lot more than anyone here has ever taken.

Posts like this make me consider reevaluating my plans though.

[bawhitsett]

I only had to take one course thru them in order to complete my degree and would recommend, like others have, that you accumulate as many credits as possible through alternative sources. CC's are an excellent source of credit. Testing out is as well for those motivated enough to study for the exams. Granted you'll be waiting for them to post the credits to your transcript but if you stay on top of them you can usually get it done faster.

[alleycat]

Yes I found that you really need to stay on top of them to get your transcripts update. I did find that they do receive and note that they have them but they do not update. I was able to find a good adviser and when I emailed her asking why have they not been entered they all of a sudden appeared on my transcript. I honestly do not understand the amount of time it takes for updates but I am glad to be almost done.

[studyhard]

My experience was very similar. My mentor was pretty awful....took forever to answer e-mails (including e-mails requesting clarification about an assignment) and forever to post grades. And it took them forever to update my transcript too.

But hey, that's why we did all these CLEPs and DSSTs, right? So we don't have to put up with the nonsense of a B&M school! hilarious I just gritted my teeth, rolled my eyes, and endured it because, hey, I was almost done!

Hang in there! It'll all be over soon!