My question involves an education/consumer law issue in the State of: Ohio
I apologize in advance as I am writing this very quickly...
Hi, I attend a public university where I pay over $5,000 a semester and am told I essentially have no real choice over my class schedule for next semester. I am in the nursing program and for some reason scheduling does not work like it does for the rest of the university. They schedule your courses and what you get is what you get! I am a commuter (on average 40 mins) and work, as well as have a one weekend a month reserve military commitment. I am concerned about driving conditions in the winter during early morning and would like a schedule to fit my needs. I told them I didnt want them to create any special classes for me, but that I just wished to be allowed to work within the system. Meaning that if a later morning class is available, I would like to take it instead of the 7:30 am one, as the roads would be better in the winter months at later hours. And there seems no sense having the worry or the liability of driving on dark, icy roads when there are later classes offered and when I pay good money to attend the school. I am not the best or most comfortable driver and I have a small vehicle (small tires and definitely no 4 wheel drive). Now I requested classes early and I have one of the earliest registration dates/slots university-wide. If every other class at the university is scheduled on a first come first serve basis (of course there are sometimes major restrictions and having certain prerequisite courses), why is the nursing program not the same way? I was not informed of this before applying to the program and now feel trapped! As I have two semesters of courses taken at this college and the nursing ones will not transfer to another school of course. So I feel like I either transfer schools and waste money, or put up with the fact that I have essentially no choice in my education here. I am at the mercy to the whims and capricious decisions of nursing staff, whether they want to grant my request for the next three years or not...not based on any university wide policy. And when I met with the program course coordinator she was by no means understanding and even had the audacity to compare my situation to hers....she told me that she commutes so and so minutes to work. I attempted to tactfully point out to her that I understand, however, she gets paid a decent salary to be there, whereas I PAY them $5000 plus to be there. It's not the same situation. I should have some right to choose a schedule that fits around my wants and needs, no? What am I paying for? This school claims to be a commuter friendly school but I don't see it so far. Am I not a customer and are they not providing a service, in this case education? I am frustrated and wish to know what my rights are as a student? Thank you and I appreciate your reply.

