4 years ago
I had trouble for months. The student services ad...
I had trouble for months. The student services advisor was great, he was very helpful and genuinely cares about the students. Teachers are pretty good. However, when it came time to go on extern, everything changed. I was responsible for finding my own extern site which I was told was not my job to do. I found a site and worked at the site as well as extern on separate days. When I left my job for a better opportunity, I was told by them I wouldn't be able to continue extern there. Kevin, the one in charge of extern at UMA told me I needed to find my own site again. He blamed me for not being able to extern at that site anymore, told me I have no commitment, threw in my face that the site won't accept anyone from UMA because I left them for a better job opportunity, he was rude and degrading every single encounter I had with him. He was the same way with multiple students I still keep in contact with. I finally found a new site and left several voicemails and sent multiple emails. No response. Finally after reaching out to other people at UMA, Kevin contacted me. He asked me to come in so I did. I had to set up my level 2 background check. I did. After I left, I got a phone call that it was set up at the wrong location with the wrong company. I had already picked my children up from school and my son was sick so I couldn't drive 45 minutes back to the school that day. My only available day (brand new job, calling out or leaving early would look extremely bad, wasn't willing to lose a very good job with great benefits) was the following Wednesday so I offered to come in then and start at my new site the same evening so I could post time and be considered active so I can walk with my class that Saturday. I was then told I also needed a TB test and it had to be read in order to start which takes 48-72 hours. So obviously walking with my class was no longer an option because I wouldn't have everything done in time and have my test read in time to start, post time, and be active to walk with my class. I started trying to brainstorm. I asked if I could extern at my job for a few hours to simply post time so I could get things going so I could attend my ceremony. I called from my phone and my call was ignored so I called from my work phone and, surprise ,my call was answered. I was told "No I would have to do a site evaluation on Friday and I don't have time, sorry." and then was told "You cannot attend your graduation ceremony, sorry." If my calls would've been returned for the two months I tried contacting Kevin, none of this would have been an issue. If my background check was scheduled right the first time, that would have been done in advance. If they would've told me I needed a TB test, I would've done that ahead of time. This was just a huge mess and I definitely regret attending UMA at this point. I will not be returning and I would not recommend anyone coming here if they don't plan on doing pretty much everything, things they should not be responsible for, on their own. I wasted money on a cap and gown I was told to order. I wasted time trying to run around and find a site on my way. I wasted time trying to contact everyone I could possibly think of to get things in order and done so I could post time, get back into extern, walk, and finish extern just for it to be ignored, shot down, or not done at all.