Upper Iowa University

I think other people have different experiences with regards to attending on campus, but I opted for the self-paced option due to constrictions (it's really the only option that makes sense for me) and I initially really looked forward to it. However, UiU's websites are incomprehensibly terrible and their held-desk system (which operates apparently on more than one site, so you never know which you're getting or whom you'll speak with) is the worst part of it all. Also, I've been through two advisers... Read More with the school and the first made a huge blunder which almost derailed my whole degree plan, the second seemed to prefer arguing with me than helping me. Anytime I've gone to sign up for classes now it's been a nightmare. I won't go into the specifics because it's a lot, but what's advertised is not what you get in terms of service and in terms of the program. If I had any other choice at this point, I'd go to a different school altogether.

Had an excellent experience with distant learning. I was able to continue working full time and obtain my degree. Classes were 8 weeks in length and can be rigorous in the amount of work that is expected. Lots of researching, reading, discussion forums and papers. Overall it was a great experience and plan on returning to finish my MBA. I will say that the online classes are more geared towards those that already are working in a chosen field of study and want to perhaps open up the possibility of... Read More applying for management positions. I know some organizations like you to have a minimum of a 4 year degree to even be considered. I could see how some of the other comments found it hard and unsatisfying if they were hoping to learn a new career. I personally feel that online classes are not a great start to hoping into something new, but rather building on an industry you have a passion for. After all you get what you put in when it comes to distance learning.

I only took classes online, never on campus so I'm not sure if those would be different. However, online they do nothing to teach you real skills they only prepare you for going on for a masters degree by making you write countless papers. There are quite a few classes that go way over the standard 15 hours of work per week. International Management is basically a full time job, again teaching you nothing but to write papers, same with Quant.. Decisions in Business. For the most part the instructors... Read More don't teach you anything, you teach yourself and basically all your teaching yourself is to write papers in proper APA format. It's too bad they are so focused on participating in discussion posts and writing papers as they are really setting people up for failure once they get out into the working world. Thankfully I was a returning adult student with some work experience behind me because I can safely say I didn't learn anything from the 16 classes I took her, I learned everything in technical school and on the job training. I look at the experience as a very, very expensive way to learn how to write a proper APA formatted paper.

Because of my work schedule the Distance Learning / Self-paced program was a great fit for me. Instructors ranged from incredible to disengaged which has been my experience with virtually every work group I've encountered in my life so there is no surprise there. I never had difficulty reaching anyone at the college either by phone or email. The courses were generally challenging. The support staff was extremely helpful. I would recommend the school in a heartbeat. I can't speak to financial issues... Read More as I did not receive loans or assistance - I paid them and they properly managed the accounting end of it.

If you're planning on taking online classes only do not bother with this university if you actually want to learn anything. All the instructors do is require that you post long winded discussions and require responses to discussions as well as research papers and I'm talking every class requires research papers even the computer classes! You don't really learn anything other than how to write a paper! You won't leave with any real knowledge of how to do your job but you'll definitely know how to... Read More write a paper in APA format!

Like the other reviews you will see about UIU I have had many issues with the school. When I transferred from DMACC classes that should have applied to my bachelors degree like Business Law 1 and Business Law 2, and multiple others they were refusing to accept because they were not 300-level courses. DMACC classes are level-200, and I was told by UIU that the classes had to be 300-level to be applied and that is why certain classes are sup post to be taken at UIU. It does not state anywhere on the... Read More 2+2 agreement between Dmacc and UIU that certain classes were different levels, must be taken at UIU and would not be accepted. UIU tried to get me to retake classes I had already passed, and pay for them. It was only after some intense arguments with the acting UIU president at the time that they applied the classes.Constant issues with financial aid, academic advisors have no clue what they are doing, my academic advisor quit after having a baby, and I was left wondering why my classes had not been approved. No one at the school can take responsibility for their actions, no one has the right answer, and you just constantly get shifted from person to person with no one knowing the answer. It leaves you exhausted and frustrated. Most recently I became unemployed and I have ten years management experience, and I have been applying for HR jobs for two years with no luck and only one phone call back. Started the MBA program and was not even getting calls back with working on MBA. I went to the academic advisor and said I want to change careers, and switch over to graphic design. The academic advisor's were not very happy, and I had to write out a three paragraph statement for their boss on why I wanted to change careers and this move was looked at as being stupid by the university. I told them a degree is sup post to help you get a job and I even went to the extent of paying 300.00 to have a professional resume done to get a job. When I tried to give them feedback about what the students need in terms of being employable, I was told that were not here to train you for a job, were here to teach you theory and practice of the field. I told them they needed to teach a HRIS systems classes so students could learn the HR systems being used. Many employers are not willing to train on this. I have taken three MBA classes that have been the exact same material in the books and class. I do not fill the school is up to date with what current employers are seeking. I should not have to explain why I want to change careers, or majors. I have never went unemployed for over six months before and I finally just got a full-time job. Lastly, I told the counselor what benefit is there is having a discussion question, if all your doing is taking the answer right from the book and quoting it and citing it. What is this teaching us, nothing. Like so many other frustrated students I would have transferred out to take my graphic design degree elsewhere, but only need the ten classes of design courses to get my degree. I have decided to quit the MBA as I do not see it as being helpful in my long term career goals. I am sorry that I want to do retail for the rest of my life and work 50-70hrs a week for low pay. My suggestion spend a little more money and go to another college. UIU is all about the money! money! money! money!, not about you the student. Finally be very careful of UIU sup posed start back up deals where they offer 600.00 off if you start back up in a particular term. I did this and they only applied 200.00 to both classes when it should have been 600.00 on each class and then told me that I was past a certain credit threshold to receive the full discount. Good Luck, I would run from this school as fast as possible.

My academic advisor enrolled me in classes that I had already taken at Iowa State University. Upper Iowa University did nothing to correct the issue, but rather suggested I change my major and then they could apply the transfer credits. Sadly, I only transferred to UIU because they told me they would take my transfer credits. I had an idiot academic advisor who never looked at my transfer courses when he enrolled me in the classes. Since I looked to him as an "advisor" and acting in my best interest,... Read More I went ahead and took the classes that I had already completed at ISU. Waste of time and waste of money.

Professors are great. My only complaint is with the financial aid office. You take 8 week courses and they wait to release your student loan money until the 5th week of the program so don't expect it if you need it to live on. They also use a bank that has a card ( no actual bank). but there are numerous fees attached with taking out your money better to transfer to your own bank which will take even more days because it has to go through the one to the other. Also the ATMs they claim are free from... Read More charges have always charged so BEWARE.

I love this school! All of these other reviews are complaining about lack of structure or teacher involvement which I do not get! A syllabus is provided the first day of class that clear lays out all of the expectations for the next 8 weeks. And, you cannot expect every teacher to be the same or have the same requirements. All I know is if you read the syllabus and do what you are supposed to when you are supposed to you shouldn't have any problems! I did have one negative experience with an instructor... Read More who was not active in our learning, graded everything weeks after it was turned in, etc... but I notified the school and it was taken care of. That is another great thing about this school, the ladies working in the office and the advisors are so extremery helpful! I have called with too many questions yo count and not once have I felt like a problem or left with an unsweetened question or the help I needed. I highly recommend this school!