Pierpont BOG AAS Transcripts

[jeffreymb]

I just now received the following from Nancy:

Update:  We are now looking into the system after discovering that the student's unofficial transcript does not indicate specific degree referral.

We are working with our Registrars' Offices to see if we can remedy this for future students.

Thank you in advance for your patience with this process.  We are also in the midst of reviewing August graduates of currently enrolled Pierpont students, so this may not be immediately remedied, but it is definitely on our radar.  In the meantime, I can continue to generate a letter for anyone who may need one.

So, there may be hope yet!

[allvia]

This morning I sent the following email to Nancy:

I've been following some discussion about your inability to produce a transcript when all credits are transferred. It seems quite out of the ordinary that an institution not produce a transcript for a degree they conferred.

Can you provide any more clarification on this issue? Are you working on resolving the issue with your system's inability to produce a transcript?

To which she replied:

Many people find it great news that they can be granted a degree from an institution from which they have taken no credits at all, so the lack of a traditional transcript is something the few students this affects have been willing to accept--especially because they can submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions and get a letter from my Office explaining this unique method of degree conferral.  

 Please feel free to share this verbatim on the forum you referenced so future students can consider this before applying to the program. 

So, it doesn't seem hopeful that they will be supplying a transcript any time soon.

wow and wow.  
Suck it up because we're doing you a favor?  Uh, no.

Here is Nancy's boss - in issues of student services, there is no higher ranking admin:
Lyla Grandstaff
Vice President of Enrollment Services
Office: 248 Hardway Hall
Telephone: (304) 367-4503
E-mail: Lyla.Grandstaff@pierpont.edu

I'd like to suggest we start emailing Mrs Grandstaff. The issue of not getting a transcript is unacceptable.

I do think it is a good idea to move this issue up, but I will remind people to focus on the issues/problems not getting a transcript causes (such as proving you have an Associates degree for an employer or for a school, such as WGU, to advance your education) than blaming or attacking Nancy or the school itself.  I would recommend you go with an approach that "this is a great program that you offer, but...(this is why and where it fails the student)"

I'm posting this because I'm sensing a great deal of anger vs disappointment, and it is important that we stay focused on motivating a solution to help the (all Pierpont BOG) students; not just complain about how something we've earned for free is failing us (the limited few).  I am certain that it is not and was never the intention of the program to cause harm or hardship for its degree recipients. Other schools in the region have been able to produce the transcripts, that does not mean Pierpont knows this - or (yet) how to do it.   I believe if they understood the harm and pitfalls of not providing a transcript is a better path in motivation towards having them do so than taking an argumentative stance.  After all, I doubt that Pierpont would accept a letter alone from another school to confirm that a student had obtained a credential (they'd be looking for the "whole picture" and that means a full and formal transcript, including courses transferred in)

[dfrecore]

I have a feeling that this final option to get a BOG AAS w/o any residency requirements is going to go away sooner rather than later. It's a bummer, but it's probably not worth it to them to spend time on something that generates no money. For students, not getting a transcript is also not useful, so it's a lose-lose at this point.

It was good while it lasted, but really, I think it's probably best for people to move on and look for other options. TESU or COSC is probably your best bet if you absolutely must have an AA at this point.

[bjcheung77]

Another option if you really need the AA/AS is to get it en route to your BA/BS - the courses all get transferred into your Bachelors in the end and it won't even cost you a set of transcripts, it's included when you send them in for the BA/BS!
The Big 3 offer Associates, but not WGU - if WGU is your end goal of getting a Bachelors, you may want to wait and see what outcome entails - Pierpont maybe in the process of creating transcripts.

[Tedium]

I was wondering if they weren't going to change the rules before they finished my evaluation, since they take so long. I think you're right: it's easier to just require a residency than to change their whole system to accommodate people who aren't paying anything.

[cookderosa]

I sent an email yesterday, haven't received a reply yet, but in short, I took a different approach- I explained the 3 potential problems that would stem for me (my son) if I don't have a transcript.
(1) I explained that in my experience, the main reason people can't produce an academic transcript is that they are not in financial/good standing with the bursar's account - something that will be assumed about me if I am asked and can not produce a transcript easily and immediately.
(2) While the letter will work today, it's based only on Nancy's term of employment. If Nancy leaves, I may not be able to verify my credentials.
(3) Future college, if I pursue it, will ask me to disclose this degree - a degree that I can't verify. If I choose not to disclose, besides being unethical, I put my future degree in jeopardy.

I have not decided whether or not my son should go forward without a transcript, I'm going to wait and see how this plays out over the next few days.

[quigongene]

I sent an email yesterday, haven't received a reply yet, but in short, I took a different approach- I explained the 3 potential problems that would stem for me (my son) if I don't have a transcript.
(1) I explained that in my experience, the main reason people can't produce an academic transcript is that they are not in financial/good standing with the bursar's account - something that will be assumed about me if I am asked and can not produce a transcript easily and immediately.
(2) While the letter will work today, it's based only on Nancy's term of employment. If Nancy leaves, I may not be able to verify my credentials.
(3) Future college, if I pursue it, will ask me to disclose this degree - a degree that I can't verify.  If I choose not to disclose, besides being unethical, I put my future degree in jeopardy.

I have not decided whether or not my son should go forward without a transcript, I'm going to wait and see how this plays out over the next few days.

Thank you for doing this, Jennifer.  Even though I can request a waiver from WGU, there's nothing saying I'll be able to do the same in the future with another school.  I really hope this situation changes direction.  It's pretty terrible currently.

[cookderosa]

I sent an email yesterday, haven't received a reply yet, but in short, I took a different approach- I explained the 3 potential problems that would stem for me (my son) if I don't have a transcript.
(1) I explained that in my experience, the main reason people can't produce an academic transcript is that they are not in financial/good standing with the bursar's account - something that will be assumed about me if I am asked and can not produce a transcript easily and immediately.
(2) While the letter will work today, it's based only on Nancy's term of employment. If Nancy leaves, I may not be able to verify my credentials.
(3) Future college, if I pursue it, will ask me to disclose this degree - a degree that I can't verify.  If I choose not to disclose, besides being unethical, I put my future degree in jeopardy.

I have not decided whether or not my son should go forward without a transcript, I'm going to wait and see how this plays out over the next few days.

Thank you for doing this, Jennifer.  Even though I can request a waiver from WGU, there's nothing saying I'll be able to do the same in the future with another school.  I really hope this situation changes direction.  It's pretty terrible currently.

It IS terrible!!!
I used your name in my email, I said that I was alerted to this by my colleague ____ and had some concerns.

[Life_One]

I sent an email yesterday, haven't received a reply yet, but in short, I took a different approach- I explained the 3 potential problems that would stem for me (my son) if I don't have a transcript.
(1) I explained that in my experience, the main reason people can't produce an academic transcript is that they are not in financial/good standing with the bursar's account - something that will be assumed about me if I am asked and can not produce a transcript easily and immediately.
(2) While the letter will work today, it's based only on Nancy's term of employment. If Nancy leaves, I may not be able to verify my credentials.
(3) Future college, if I pursue it, will ask me to disclose this degree - a degree that I can't verify.  If I choose not to disclose, besides being unethical, I put my future degree in jeopardy.

I have not decided whether or not my son should go forward without a transcript, I'm going to wait and see how this plays out over the next few days.

Thank you for doing this, Jennifer.  Even though I can request a waiver from WGU, there's nothing saying I'll be able to do the same in the future with another school.  I really hope this situation changes direction.  It's pretty terrible currently.

It IS terrible!!!
I used your name in my email, I said that I was alerted to this by my colleague ____ and had some concerns.

 Thank you for sending this e-mail. I hope we all can get some closure from it.

[Life_One]

@cookderosa have you heard from Nancy?