Trina Thompson: Unemployed Woman Sues College For Tuition

NEW YORK — A New York City woman who says she can't find a job is suing the college where she earned a bachelor's degree.

Trina Thompson filed a lawsuit last week against Monroe College in Bronx Supreme Court. The 27-year-old is seeking the $70,000 she spent on tuition.

Thompson says she's been unable to find gainful employment since she received her information technology degree in April.

She says the Bronx school's Office of Career Advancement hasn't provided her with the leads and career advice it promises.

Monroe College spokesman Gary Axelbank says Thompson's lawsuit is completely without merit.

The college insists it helps its graduates find jobs.

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Information from: New York Post, http://www.nypost.com

Comments

[luvscricket]

janetshusb's assertion that the average high school college career counselor has 300 students is ludicrous. first of all, how many high schools have ANY career counselors? insead they have college advisors and in the overwhelming majority of shools, there are barely a handful to serve the entire school.

second if she was referring to college career counselors, in some of the large universities where there are say, 15,000 students (and thee are manyn of those), according to janetshusb they have 50 counselors. really janetshusb, find me one university with 50 career counselors.

your critique is absurd.

[Janetshusb]

Monroe may deliver an excellent education, superior career advancement services and Trina may be just lazy student, However, 'for profit ' 'job skills' colleges imply in TV ads and recruitment brochures that a job is assured because of their personal, professional career services. Many kids choose these colleges over 2 and 4 year public institutions offering the same courses at a cheaper price because they believe they have a better chance of getting a job after graduation. It's a mistaken belief. Extensive personal, professional career services cost money that cuts into profits. Monroe has 7 advisors (not counselors) for 6000 students. The average high school college/career counselor has about 300 students. Note that Trina has not asked that Monroe provide her with a job. She is suing because Monroe did not provide the career advice and job leads they had promised. Most 'for profit' colleges promise more than they deliver both in the quality of courses and in their job placement departments and it's time someone brought this to the public's attention. Go for it Trina!

[Cooltoad]

Janet's husband, you must know Trina personally or something. Just so you know what we're talking about: a recession, a mere 3 month job search period, and a 2.7 GPA. even MIT grads are having a tough time searching for jobs, let alone get employed. Trina is misguided and I believe, she is attempting to make 72K off of this frivolous lawsuit. While I understand her grounds to do this, its so not right. She didn't believe that 72K would buy her a job did she? I'm sorry for my harsh judgment but it annoys me that a 27 year old college educated student would attempt such an exercise.

[hatmaker510]

Trina....did you think the $70K was for job assistance and not the actual education you obtained (though I'll admit that very education isn't quite so apparent at present)?

[carlyt]

Give me a break. Is this person for real. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588

[cinefyl]

This has to be a joke--is she serious? Trina Trina Trina...you need professional help if you think that you can sue the college for not finding you a job. Education does not equal a job and the career services office at the school is there to HELP you find a job, not guarantee you get one.

This is the silliest thing I have ever heard...

I would HOPE that whoever first reviews this petition throws it out immediately.

[terrier1]

"and the career services office at the school is there to HELP you find a job, not guarantee you get one."

Not if she were at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. Perhaps Ms. Thompson should have looked there. Thomas’ Guaranteed Job Placement program (or G-Job) is the only one of its kind in the nation. No other college or university in America offers this type of job placement guarantee.

This is how the guarantee works: if a student doesn't secure employment in their field of study within six months after graduation, they can come back to Thomas to take an unlimited number of tuition-free undergraduate courses for up to two years or they can choose to take up to half of the graduate courses required to complete any one of the Master's degree programs at Thomas tuition-free. If the student does not find employment at all, they can choose one of the options above, or Thomas will pay their monthly federally subsidized student loans that they incurred while attending Thomas College for up to one year or until they get a job.

Thomas has been guaranteeing employment for its graduates, many of whom are probably not unlike Ms. Thompson, for many years and very few have had to take advantage of the guarantee because they have indeed found the job they desired. Thomas’ job placement rate averages 95%.

Check it out: www.thomas.edu

[Elizabeth V]

Absolutely absurd. I can't believe a C student would complain about not getting a job in this economy. There are plenty of A students from top-tier schools who are unemployed and under-employed in this economy. I do hope this story continues to circulate online and follows her through future job interviews--the litigious types with C averages (lazy and self-righteous) don't make the best employees...

[Janetshusb]

Jobs are hard to find and it is necessary to hustle and have a very good resume in order to find one. That being said, if you look at Monroe College's web site they have implied much more assistance than they could realistically give. They use the words "personal assistance" and "career advancement" together in ways that again imply an individualized effort on the part of the student that they can't possibly provide with seven Career Counselors on a staff that serves thousands of students

[zarraz]

Any future employers need to know about this lawsuit, it will not be her last. There are no guarantees expressed or implied in education. You are given a chance to succeed, it's up to you to make it happen.

What happened to the notion of personal responsibility?

[TazoWolf]

Did she ever stop to think that she might not be finding gainful employment because of
1. recession and...
2. maybe she's not presenting herself well in interviews, and...
3. Is she even hunting for jobs on her own, or does she expect everyone to hold her hand and do it for her?

[americanfabius]

Well said in all regards. This is simply asinine.

[redkittyred]

sounds like an episode of Boston Legal...

[sportswatch]

http://www.gotopgifts.com/sdp/765452/4/pd-4008597/5714871-1857304/ION_Sports_Watch_ION_Silicon_Watch_IMAZINE_Anion_S.html