TESC Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! ANTI-MILITARY!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by recruiting, Jun 9, 2006.

Loading...
  1. recruiting

    recruiting Member

    On the TESC website it was indicated that there was different pricing for military personnel taking the TECEP exam.

    Oh yes my friends, it's $182 PER CREDIT ($546 for most tests) opposed to the $70.00 per credit for non-military. The $70.00 price tag is for "enrolled" students, the non-enrolled test takers pay $140 per credit. When I asked the person why this was so much higher than EVERYONE ELSE, she said "hey you get all your education for FREE what is the problem with paying for something yourself". Needless to say I was so damn mad I could have screamed!

    Now I am sorry I paid the $75.00 for the credit evaluation/application fee- :( :( :( :( :(
     
  2. little fauss

    little fauss New Member

    How about an equal protection claim? What's their rationale? You're not a suspect class (legal term of art), but even though the college's action would be subject to the lowest level of judicial scrutiny, they at least have to have some rational reason for it, or it gets tossed out under the 14th amendment. You have all the elements here so far as I can see: state action and an asinine bit of dicrimination that, on its face, doesn't appear to have any rational basis.

    At the very least, I'd send some info to Fox News and other media outlets if I were you. I can see Fox parading that about like a peacock: "Our nation's colleges discriminating against our brave soldiers who give their lives for us." Sean Hannity would likely have you on his show, he'd get one of the administrators on the line and give 'em you-know-what. You know, that might be the most effective means of dealing with this.

    I just gotta wonder, though, is there something I'm missing here? This seems a bit through-the-looking-glass.
     
  3. little fauss

    little fauss New Member

    OK, after a bit of research, near as I can tell, they charge $145/cr hr for regular out-of-state enrolled students, and $184 for the special military degree completion program. What I'd want to know is if that higher rate brings with it greater services or increased costs for the university. If that's the case, then the 14th Amendment is not likely to help. It's not uncommon for degree completion programs to be more expensive, either because of simple supply-and-demand, higher costs to the school offering them, or both.

    Did you get in touch with an administrator rather than the rude lady with whom you spoke? You were obviously upset, and it sounds like she reacted unprofessionally. Talk to someone higher up, and report her if you can remember her name. As near as I can tell after a quick perusal of their website, the difference isn't so great as you've been led to believe and TESC loves the military, but the person on the other end of your call might well be anti-military and need to seek employment elsewhere--it doesn't sound, from your side of the story, that she's enhancing their goal of working hand-in-hand with the services.
     
  4. recruiting

    recruiting Member

    Little Fauss,

    Thank you for the reply and research. She was not the best person to be dealing with new students.

    She said that the higher cost was because we (the military) did not have to pay the yearly fee to attend the school? I have not been told about a yearly fee to attend that school.

    I was not going to be entering a military completion program as well.

    My wife (military also) has been going to TESC for over a year now, and she HATES the customer service there. Bad CS scares me as I hate to be left holding the ball when I need answers.

    My goal was to TECEP out of most of the BS/Human Services program and move onto a Masters. I just don't want to pay for the entire thing when I get TA from the Army. That would be stupid on my part.

    That woman also stated that DANTES would pay me back for the cost of the tests? I have yet to see anything on that ANYWHERE!

    Mystery, or fantasy, who knows....
     
  5. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    If nothing else, TESC seems to have a serious PR disaster in the making. Now is not the time to appear anti-military.
     
  6. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    Write your congressman

    That is a very inappropriate statement from a TESC representative. I believe TESC is part of the New Jersey school system. You need to write the congressman/woman of New Jersey and tell them who said this to you. Being in the military does not mean that you get a "free education". Believe me that benefit costs military folks and veterans big time! You put your life on the line, you serve your country for a meager salary and hopefully you come home alive and with all your limbs. How does that equate to a free education??

    Please write your concerns to the government officials of New Jersey. TESC needs to be put in their place!
     
  7. aplcr0331

    aplcr0331 New Member

    TESC

    If you live near a military base then go to the education center and have them order the TECEP for you. It cost them the regular rate ($70) and then you can take the test from them (Base Ed). On active duty you do not have to pay for DANTES and CLEP tests, you take them for free, provided you pass the initial practice test. I am not sure about whether or not you have to pay for the TECEP test or if DANTES picks up the tab. The Base Ed officer will know. You get reimbursed the $90 it costs to take the GRE, so I do not see why you couldn't get the same thing from TECEP's. When you join the MDCP at TESC you are considered to have paid the yearly tuition and then you can pay the reduced rate for the TECEP's.

    Going to TESC is like dealing with military admin. The only way to get something done is to do it yourself. I was in the Military Degree Completion Program and really did not have any problems with it.

    Good Luck
     
  8. recruiting

    recruiting Member

    This has been bugging me all day! I will be writing to "someone" that oversees that school (president, dean, who?) BTW, it was the BURSAR's office.

    I called DANTES today and they said they used to repay students that would pay the bill up-front for the TECEP exams. He then went on to say they had taken that program away from them because "TESC abused it". I could not believe it! (probably the OVERCHARGING for military testing is my guess)

    Today, I told a few of the soldiers that I was in class with about that statement and they were Pis**d off. One soldier lost his brother over there and he said "if this is free, I would rather pay triple" (the rest of his statement is EDITED).

    That statement coming from him put the entire situation into perspective-:(
     
  9. recruiting

    recruiting Member

    Well, I wrote to the NJ Governor, The NJ Council on Higher Education, The NJ Department of Education.

    There is no email contact for the president of TESC! I may have to use snail mail for him!

    It's a start-
     

Share This Page