Company Response
1/22/2024
January 22, 2024
Business Consumer Alliance
315 N. La Cadena Drive
Colton, CA 92324
CASE: Ms. Kemp
Dear Business Consumer Alliance-
Thank you for providing us with an opportunity to respond to the complaint submitted by Ms. Kemp to the Business Consumer Alliance ("BCA"). Ms. Kemp enrolled into the Medical Billing and Insurance Coding ("MBIC") program at UEI College- Tacoma ("UEI") on May 25, 2022 and graduated from the program on March 28, 2023.
Ms. Kemp previously submitted a similar complaint to the Better Business Bureau ("BBB") on January 2, 2024. UEI responded to the BBB on January 3, 2024. The BBB closed the complaint on January 4, 2024.
Ms. Kemp was Advised of Diploma Program at the Time of Enrollment
In her complaint, Ms. Kemp claims that she would "earn a certificate" upon graduation from the program. As stated in our previous response to the BBB, on the first page of the Enrollment Agreement which Ms. Kemp reviewed and signed during the enrollment process, it expressly states that the MBIC program is a diploma program. Therefore, a diploma is awarded upon successful completion of the program if the graduate has met all educational and financial obligations. The School Catalog provided to Ms. Kemp at the time of enrollment also states, "A diploma will be awarded upon graduation." Ms. Kemp was not advised that she would receive a certificate upon graduation.
Professional Certifications are Optional and are Not Required for Employment
The MBIC program is designed to provide graduates with the skills necessary to obtain entry-level employment in their field. The program does not provide professional certification. Professional certification is an optional step that the graduate can choose to pursue after graduating from the program. To obtain certification, the graduate must successfully complete an exam such as the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist ("CBCS") exam through the National Health Career Association ("NHA"). Graduates that are interested in pursuing certification may contact the NHA directly for information on the certification process. It should be noted that professional certifications are not required for employment.
Ms. Kemp Obtained Employment after Graduation
Ms. Kemp states that she was advised that UEI "would help place me [in a job]." Following graduation from the program, the Career Services team assisted Ms. Kemp by providing her with access to potential employers. Our records confirm that Ms. Kemp obtained employment in her field on August 28, 2023. As with all graduates, Ms. Kemp is eligible to receive placement assistance. If Ms. Kemp is interested in obtaining new employment, she may contact the Career Services team at (253) 210-3595.
Graduates must be Current with their Financial Obligations to Receive a Diploma
UEI's policy is that students must be current with their loan payments for diploma requests but the policy does not require that the loan be paid in entirety. This policy is in full compliance with all federal and state regulations and is no different from other accredited institutions. Ms. Kemp was advised via her signed enrollment agreement that "the Diploma will be issued after the completion of the entire program and all tuition and fees are paid in full."
As stated in our previous response to the BBB, Ms. Kemp currently has an unpaid student account balance of $66.63. Although Ms. Kemp is not eligible to receive a copy of her diploma until she addresses her student account balance, UEI is happy to provide an Education Verification for any potential employer. It should be noted that Education Verifications are typically accepted by all potential employers as proof of a graduate's status. Ms. Kemp may request an Education Verification at: transcript.uei.edu. Ms. Kemp may also discuss an Education Verification request with the Transcript Department at (888) 585-0530.
UEI Respectfully Declines Ms. Kemp's Request for a Tuition Refund
In her complaint, Ms. Kemp states that the UEI should "give me most of my money back an[d] my certificate of completion." As demonstrated in our response, UEI provided the education that Ms. Kemp contracted for, and she also obtained employment in her field. As stated previously, Ms. Kemp still owes a balance on her student account. Therefore, we respectfully deny her request for a partial refund of tuition.
At this time, we have provided a detailed response to provide context to Ms. Kemp's concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Sherer
Regulatory Compliance Communications Specialist
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