Ashley R.
Yelp
I would call it a glorified community college - but that would be an insult to community colleges.
I have been to three schools (two in the metro Denver area, and two which are community colleges - my current school is University of Colorado but we will get to that momentarily) and NONE of them are as impossible to navigate and retrieve information from as MSU DENVER.
To start, I am 32 years old. I am fairly settled in my lifestyle. I own my car. I'm a homeowner. I have a career-oriented position at a nonprofit. I'm married with two adorable kids. I am deeply invested and involved in my community - volunteering my time anywhere I can. I've been in school off and on since 2004 when I still lived on the east coast. In other words I've seen a lot of BS and I'm tired, and I have high expectations when it comes to higher education and the people in charge of running these institutions. MSU DENVER does not live up to these expectations.
Two years ago, I applied as a transfer student. I received correspondence stating I had paperwork missing that needed to be turned in to complete my application process. I called and the work study customer service rep who took my call was totally flabbergasted. Did not take a message, did not tell me who to contact, just asked me to call back "the next day" to talk to "the supervisor". I called and emailed multiple times and never received any response, so I gave up and hung on for another year at the community college. This past year I applied for CU Denver and as a back up I applied again for MSU DENVER. Due to some paperwork hiccup at CU-D I was actually able to enroll first at MSU DENVER so I did. However, MSU DENVER then said because I was one credit hour shy from their 60 hour requirement that they needed my GED in order to clear me for financial aid. If I did not supply it my classes would be dropped. They would not budge. I couldn't get the state department of education to return any of my correspondence concerning retrieval of my GED transcript. During this period CU-D lifted their hold on my account and allowed me to register for classes so I did. I forgot all about MSU DENVER. On August 31, after learning they did not remove me from my unpaid-for courses, I unenrolled. I put it out of my mind, not even realizing I was 1 day late dropping them.
Until a month later, when the bursar of MSU DENVER called to say my account was past due.
I was livid. I went straight to the Vice President, who told me to submit an appeal. I did. I jumped through all of their hoops. I told the truth: I never attended a class there. I am a student of CU-D. I was told in two weeks the committee would meet and decide. I never received any correspondence. A month goes by and I receive another call asking me to pay "my" bill. I immediately contacted the bursar who told me my appeal had been denied by the committee and it was out of his hands - yet he is ON THE COMMITTEE...and HE IS THE ONE WHO SIGNED MY APPEAL DENIAL!
I truly feel as though this entire institution is run by buffoons. Chimpanzees could do a better job. I was given the runaround not once but three times. First it was impossible to get in two years ago. Then it was impossible to receive financial aid. Now it's impossible to get the hell away from them! They are rude, unprofessional, devoid of all sympathy and empathy, disorganized, and I believe corrupt. To have your BURSAR as the person who signs appeal denials and approvals (if such a thing ever actually occurs at MSU DENVER) is such a conflict of interest it boggles the mind. They are utterly unethical to the point that they may as well be immoral. How any student is admitted, let alone permitted to graduate, is completely beyond me. I have ZERO RESPECT for this institution and I honestly cannot comprehend how it ever made it 50 years or became accredited as an actual UNIVERSITY.
Bottom line - those in charge at MSU DENVER do not honor higher education. They don't see people, they see dollar signs. I have been told by others who "defected" from MSU DENVER to CU-D that the former doesn't care if you've had major surgery or if your child (!!!!) died, they'll still flunk you and/or go after you for every last cent if you don't do everything THEY demand by the letter (despite being totally absent on their end of things - I believe they count on people to give up and forget all about them so they can slap people with bills and take on more students to maximize their profits).
I firmly believe MSU DENVER is doing this to spite me. They know I can't afford to pay them - I'm on financial aid! They'll never see the money...not only because I refuse to pay, but also because I couldn't afford it even if I wanted to.
Parents, students, beware. MSU DENVER IS A SUNK COST EFFECT. THEY WILL IGNORE YOU UNTIL YOU WALK AWAY IN FRUSTRATION AND COME BACK DEMANDING MONEY THEY DO NOT DESERVE. Go CU-D!!!!!!