Concordia University - Portland Reviews - CLOSED

"I have a doctorate degree in education from Concordia. I really love Concordia actually! I am sad to hear people with bad experiences. I am also sad to hear that the school is closing after 115 years in existence. It sure does put Toys R Us at ease a bit. The only bad experiences I've had were with Blackboard at times. The system didn’t always submit my assignments on time. I have attended several other brick and mortor and Ivy League schools, and have found Concordia University Portland to be very user friendly. That said, you have to use what they offered. You also have to do the work of finding your own path with during and post graduation. I am so proud of my education and very thankful for the diverse faculty! Great school."

"I am willing to place a wager that eventually someone will shut this online program down for good. I attended USC for my Masters and it was an online class that ran smooth. The professors were on time when responding and provided valuable feedback. This university if you can call it that is nothing more than a sham. I received more messages from my lame faculty advisor telling me that he was unavailable than available. He was inconsistent, arrogant and most of all incompetent. There is no real leadership. The advisors are spineless and lack answers; I am not sure what their job involves. What a clown show a waste of time and money!"

"Please, please do NOT consider CU for online doctoral programs. They will tell you anything to get you enrolled. I have never experienced a more significant waste of time and money as I have with this school. I am all alone in this endeavor and have received ZERO support throughout the program and was left to figure out everything on my own including how to write and defend a dissertation. Written guidelines provided were my only lifeline which I had to analyze and then figure out how to implement what I THOUGHT the university was looking for only for committee to tell me multiple other ways they expected me to write it, conflicting with the university's own standards! I was bounced around between faculty members and am convinced no one really has a clue about what their responsibilities are within their own roles at the school. The library has been the most helpful aspect of the school and I have always had outstanding support the few times I needed them. Student services are an absolute joke and you will find an obscene lack of professionalism and lip service only. I am so very disappointed in myself for not choosing another university. I am embarrassed to be connected with this institution. Do your homework and really make sure the school you pick is the right one and steer way clear of Concordia University Portland Online."

"What a super group of professionals trying to work our programs so we may be able to work and get what is needed for our professional future. I am also pleased we are supported and blocked from individuals like a Sasha Saibi who took advantage of others as professionals to get what he needs as he ran through the system to step on others, gets military aid and is able to get full pay, housing, books, tuition, credits earned for military paid full tuition and four kids, two adults and a mom supporting him in the meantime. Be careful of those chorts who are cutting and pasting."

"People an Concordia University Portland lied to me. Teachers don't respond to emails. They just don't reply if they don't want to. I got the feeling that they thought they were better than everyone else. I also wondered if some of them were doing things they shouldn't be. They seemed so secretive...."

"I had a successful first year on-campus and was granted a 3.5 GPA. At the beginning of my second year my cohort had left Concordia University Portland to move to different Universities to restart their MBA and Doctoral Degrees. I believed I could continue my second year as an on-campus student. Officially this was true, but I was dumped into an extremely poorly operated on-line system with no contact with any of the other students or adjunct teachers controlling the Learning Management System's classes. Upon requesting my advisor to allow me access to learning teams, teacher or student access in the EdD program, he said he would not provide them for me. Effectively I would be working alone with an online Learning Management System that is not certified to serve learning disabled students with Dyslexia. Unlike other universities and colleges I've attended this school has no computers set up to assist learning disabled students. When I was shoved into the on-line class study program the material was scattered all over the Learning Management System and hidden away. A single screen computer would never be capable of navigating these micromanaged Easter egg hunts. The school only provide student with single screen, smaller monitored computers. The day Concordia accessed my FAFSA funds for the two online classes they deposited the funds into their account then immediately shut off all access to the classes. They blocked all further continuation into the program. Student Services and Financial both claimed my GPA was below 2.0, refused to allow FAFSA funding to continue and they would keep the money four the two courses. They'd locked me out of their system. I went up the the chain to the director but still wasn't allow my funds back. I filed a complaint with at least four bureaus including the US Department of Education but the time I spent trying to access the funds and continue in course study, the USDE representative informed me my time limit was already used up, that I should have filed a complaint with them immediately, not months later. The three other bureaus including the SARA System, Concordia claims student should use, said the issue was out of their jurisdictions. They include in total, at least the Oregon State's Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), SARA, US Dept of Education, as well as BOLI. This University appears to be exceptionally good at staying protected from outside interference from our student protection systems. Unlike my other six universities and colleges I'd attended where I'd receive Honor Role and three successful degrees. This Concordia EdD program actively blocks student success by various mean including using disinformation and dirty tricks. As a student I was not allowed to meet with any of the financial group's team members. The financial group work from a locked building many miles away, off campus. I was not allowed to meet with the Dean. When I discovered this I attempted to speak with the acting director but he just told me "Why can't you just keep up with us?" as he acted as he was totally unaware of the financial group and Student Services blocking access to classes and had taken the funds from me. I believe this EdD program is a sham, a bad actor and no matter what their retorts may say it is likely only cover up to what the real issues are with this so called learning institution. The students who enter the EdD program are extremely intelligent. They have passed their Bachelors and Masters degrees with flying colors. At this level these students truthful and are not stupid by any means. This joint acts as if we are stupid. If their are similar complaints about this EdD program I would tend to believe them. Thank you."

"I found Concordia to be a great program for my needs and support me in pursuing a higher degree. The program was flexible and allowed me to continue working as well as keep up with my busy family. All of the professors were interested in ensuring I learned and was successful. My dissertation chair was awesome! He supported me and pushed me to achieve more. Overall, it was a fabulous experience being a student with this university."

"I enjoyed that each class was only 5 weeks long. Most of the professors were helpful, however, if I got a professor that was not as helpful I knew I only had to deal with them for 5 weeks. The classes are rigorous and they get you thinking. Although it is a Lutheran based college, the Master's program did not involve religion aside from a weekly inspirational quote or scripture on the Learning Management System welcome page. I felt that the courses were easy to navigate and the expectations are clear. You do have to be able to manage your time though as something is due just about every day of the week for most of the classes. There is limited time off so if you are expecting a spring break or summer vacation this is not the program for you."

"I would highly recommend Concordia University-Portland to any student looking to further their career as a teacher or school administrator. The program was very well run, professors were very knowledgeable and directed us to learn about techniques we could practice in our classroom if we were teaching or what to look forward to as a teacher. There are so many great resources at your fingertips that make this journey so special. And in only a year. Great experience and highly recommend."

"When I was done with my Bachelor degree, I knew I wanted to get a Masters. I looked around for a school that I could do it in a year or so. Concordia was that right fit for me. I was able to do the classes at a quick pace and enjoyed the program and gained a lot from the classes. When I was done, I thought about getting my doctorate also but then decided to wait. I am glad I waited a few years now I am in the EdD program through Concordia, and I love it. There are struggles at times, but I am being pushed to learn more and get involved in more in-depth learning."