ComplaintsforVancouver College of Counsellor Training

• Initial Complaint

  13/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  From March 16 to May 20, 2022, I paid VCCT $9916.00. VCCT committed to offer me 15 courses from April 4, 2022 to Feb 24, 2023, mostly on-campus (Registration Form); I have the right “to be treated fairly and respectfully by the institution,” and “to access the institution’s dispute resolution process and to be protected against retaliation for making a complaint” (Student Enrolment Contract, p.3). But from April 28 to July 11, 2022, VCCT recklessly and repeatedly intimidated and retaliated against me when I refused to be silenced when faced unfair and disrespectful treatments. * **************** ********* ***** **** ****** * ** ** ** ***** **** ********* **** **** ******** *** refuse to lie down when being badly mistreated. VCCT manipulated and contravened its policies and processes of Dispute Resolution, Grade Appeal, and Dismissal stated in Student Reference Manual. In addition to written records, I have audio files recorded from May 2 to July 11. VCCT was well aware of all my complaints throughout, orally first and then in writing. At one point it offered a full refund for me to withdraw, but quickly engineered a shamble grade appeal review and dismissal investigation against me. Wrongfully dismissing me via “administrative withdraw” with a partial refund on July 11, VCCT saved $5,000 or so. I did not and will not accept this partial refund. VCCT's extraordinarily reckless attacks wore me down, and I started feeling unwell in the second week of May 2022, and later had a panic attack in class triggered by an instructor. VCCT’s further manipulation and abuse of grade appeal and dismissal policies and processes in June and July traumatized me. I have been suffering the negative effects emotionally, psychologically and physically since. Thus, I seek a full refund of $ 9916.00, plus $22,000.00 compensation by the end of March 2023. Individuals engineered my wrongful dismissal are: Lydia M****, Dale B*****, Pauline O’******, Elmira F****, and Kari-Ann T***.

  

  Business response

  14/03/2023

  Students who apply and enroll at VCCT explore new careers in counselling to acquire theoretical knowledge and background of academic and ethical standards in this field. All students who apply and are accepted into the counselling programs at VCCT must abide by a general code of conduct.
  The integrity of the college and workplace is of high importance and VCCT expects all students to conduct themselves in a positive manner while adhering to all policies. Page 8 of the Student Manual outlines these conducts clearly.
  *** *** was interviewed and accepted on the premise, that she was emotionally ready to commit to the intense counselling program as all students who attend need to be. When asked she attested to the emotional readiness to enter the program.
  The Diploma of Professional Counselling she was registered in was from April 4, 2022 – April 3, 2023. During her second course (Advanced Skills of Counselling) which started April 25, 2022 several disruptive incidents occurred between *** *** and two other students during their practical counselling sessions.
  As *** *** presented a transcript for Basic Skills, she entered the Advanced class on campus. Originally, she requested to take this course via distance education.  During the first week of this class (week of April 25) several incidents occurred which were of great concern to the instructor as not only were students affected by *** ***s judgmental and personal language calling one student a liar, but also her emotional, volatile meltdowns, including an attack on the instructor.  After consideration and consultation, on day three of the class a decision was made to offer the remainder of the class to *** *** via distance education. This was not acceptable to *** *** so when *** *** declined our offer we agreed to a meeting on May 2, with Dr Dale B***** (Academic Director), Lydia M**** (Executive Director) and Pauline O’****** (Instructor). This lengthy meeting appeared to conclude satisfactorily after VCCT agreed that a hasty decision perhaps was made for *** *** to continue via distance education.
  Initially the instructor refused to have her back due to her extreme reactions and inappropriate language in class and the entire learning environment was put at risk including the safety of other students who were also affected.
  Students were consulted and agreed that *** *** could return. *** *** returned to the Skills Class on May 3rd. On May 5 Ms.Han came to my office to discuss Pauline O’******, the instructor at which time I reiterated that a positive conclusion was made in the meeting and that I was happy she was back in class. *** *** acknowledged this and gave me a “hug” and said, “Thank you”.
  On May 12 & 13 *** *** emailed to say she would not be attending class as she was unwell.  
  On May 20, the marks for the advanced skills class were given. All instructors hold a master’s degree and are professional therapists. On receiving her mark/grade, *** *** asked for a Grade Appeal. Dr B***** agreed to review the mark on his return from vacation during the week of June 13.  *** *** indicated there was no rush but wanted an answer before her next course because she may want to move forward with other aspects of her life.
  *** *** indicated that her mental and physical health was being affected therefore she was offered several times to speak with Support Services about her concerns. I offered *** *** a full refund at this point as clearly, she was not happy, and she said she may want to move on.
  VCCT had serious concerns reading *** ***s derogatory comments and volatility towards instructors and undermining their professionalism publicly. Her repeated audio recordings in the classroom when comments were made asking her not to record as this was a violation of student privacy and a great concern ethically for VCCT when consent was not given, and the safety of the learning environment was put at risk.
   A letter was written to *** *** on June 17 (see attached) to address these concerns.
  It is important to know that throughout *** ***’s concerns, several students came forward with serious complaints about her behavior and conduct. A few were brought to tears.
  Dr. B***** offered to speak with *** *** and a phone meeting was arranged on June 22.
  On June 24, a detailed letter (see attached) was sent to *** *** from Dr B*****, Academic Director and she was given 7 days to respond. On June 28, *** *** responded that she disagreed with every point in the letter. On July 29 Dr B***** sent an email to reiterate *** ***s options to either continue via distance education or withdraw from the program. A further email was sent by Dr B***** to *** *** on July 7 asking her to respond with her decision by July 11 as to whether she had decided to continue with distance education studies as this was the deadline. Copies of incident reports from instructors and students were forwarded to *** *** upon her request.
  On July 11 a Withdrawal Letter (see attached) was sent to *** *** as she did not respond with her choice as to whether she wanted to continue with distance education or withdraw from the program.
  We offered time and space for *** *** to be heard and to express her complaints. In no way was *** *** manipulated, mistreated or intimidated. VCCT was doing our best to protect the learning environment and safety for our staff and students at all times.
  
  

  Customer response

  17/03/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: In this response, VCCT management, particularly the respondent Ms. M****:

  1. Continued to manufacture a narrative of how innocent they were, by including only false accusations of me while leaving out all the details of how they manipulated the policies and processes each every step of the way. As the saying goes, "the devil is in the details." Please see attached files for details of how I had repudiated their manipulations of grade appeals processes, including refusing to provide a time line WHEN THEY WERE BUSY ENGINEERING the dismissal warning by gathering false accusations; how I had repudiated their abuse of the Dismissal Investigation; and how they fought each every step NOT to release the original accusation documents to me after the so-called disgraceful "dismissal investigation." 

  2. Further falsely *********** ** *** smeared me for "emotional instability" - this is unethical and DEEPLY CONCERNING for a counsellor training college;

  3. Further falsely accused me of audio-recording in class without students consent - I hope they understand that they need at least some evidence to make such an accusation.

  ** ****** this response is but another example of how VCCT management has been seemingly cleverly dishonest, manipulative, and unprofessional and unethical in dealing with my reasonable questions, requests and complaints. And they don't seem to know the difference between facts and assumptions, which is a basic distinction for counselling.

  I reject this response 10,000%.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** ***

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