As a non-traditional student at Champlain College, I want to warn other older adults about the lack of equity and inclusion in the Office of International Education. I applied for, was officially approved for, and began preparing to study abroad. Shortly before departure, Champlain abruptly canceled my approval. The explicit reason given to me by staff was that I was "too old" to participate.Denying an approved educational opportunity solely based on age violates the core spirit of federal protections under the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, which applies to institutions receiving federal funding. While the statute of limitations prevents me from filing a formal federal complaint today, Champlain's administration never took accountability for this actions.Champlain heavily markets its "Inclusion" value and diverse campus community in Burlington, but my experience showed that this commitment does not extend to non-traditional or older students seeking global experiences. If you are an older adult or adult learner considering Champlain's programs, please be aware of this bias and ensure you get all administrative decisions in writing. read more

Champlain College has fallen from grace from the early 2000s and is a rundown mismanaged nightmare. I loved it in 2018 but the place is dirty, things barely function, and when there are increasing concerns about safety, ADA compliance (Wick Hall is no longer as the ADA entrance wheelchair opener fell last year and is just a hole in the ceiling now), fireplaces are out-of-date for safety inspections, Compass Student Services is rude and unhelpful. Worst of all is the event center staff who don't care for students and care whenever there are other events not hosted by the college. I have emailed multiple times about broken and missing door handles to one building. It has been a year. NOTHING has been done and apparently being able to enter is becoming quite difficult as the S.D. Ireland building is missing a handle, 194 St Paul St missing a handle, and I think Aiken is as well. Honestly, the school hasn't truly seen any care since 2000 as a fire alarm just went off recently from how dusty it was in the Garden House. read more

While the campus is beautiful and much of the faculty are perfectly fine, the administration at the college is garbage. I've been attending since 2016 and everything had a strong start, but since being here, it's quickly gone downhill. I started off in a major not for me and failed out of it after the first year. That was *mostly* my fault. Year 2, I went into the Communication major. It felt like a better fit, until I was met with a certain professor who acted like we were in 5th grade max. It was awful, I failed the class. I learned that Communication, Media Writing was for news writing, which was definitely not for me as a fiction writer. In my 4th year, I'm trying to switch into Computer Science. All is going better, and COVID-19 hits the fan during Spring Break. Our Spring break is extended another week which is nice. I started a new job during the original Spring Break, that'll come in a bit later. During this "second" Spring Break, my roommates and I applied to stay in the apartment-style living for the campus shutdown (April 6) at least. A few days later, yesterday, we are emailed in the afternoon and told to fill it out again if we have "a hardship that prevents you from going home or to another safe location." I fill it out, stating that I just got a new job I can't just leave and that I have people at home who might be at risk. I also let them know that my home internet will not be strong enough to support myself and my two siblings doing online classes. Now, I need to wait to hear back on approval. If I don't get approval, I need to be out by Sunday at noon. I live over 400 miles away from Champlain. Outside of not handling COVID-19 well, Champlain appears to not care about students unless they're excellent students or in the Game Design major. If you aren't a flawless student, or you don't want to be in Game Design, I would not recommend attending Champlain College. Update 3/20/2020: They are letting me stay while all this happens. But, I got the approval email at 6pm. If I had been denied, I would've needed to be out by Sunday at noon. That's nowhere enough notice. read more

I have been attending Champlain college for 2 years and will be completed in August. I've never had as many issues as I've had this past year. The academic advisor I have been assigned to is almost non-existent. I have updated my phone number in their system multiple times but yet they keep calling the wrong number. They will email you halfway through your appointment and even if you respond back they will not call you back. I am in the accelerated program and recently got hit with an academic integrity warning and there's no option for fighting any of this unless you submit in writing to the dean for a review on the matter but it has to be by end of semester which semesters only last 7 weeks and I was given this notice on the weekend after the semester ended, giving me no time to submit a grievance. I've tried reaching out to anyone I can and there's no one I could speak to other than my academic advisor on the issue which I could never get a hold of. All in all, it's been a horrible experience. I would say about half of the professors really care about their students online and the others are just quick to give you a grade and send you on your way. read more

When I decided to resume my formal education after a hiatus, I chose Champlain college online as they sold my employer their "truED" partnership, which was nothing but vapor. Among the things they touted heavily was the ability to "test out" or otherwise prove competence and achieve academic credit for subjects in your curriculum which you might have gained knowledge of through professional experience. Sounds compelling, right? Although this was true when the sales pitch was made, it was disingenuous, and essentially a complete lie; because they changed this program almost immediately, all but eliminating the ability to earn credit except through them or via transfer from another college/university. Moreover, they try to sell you on the flexibility of online learning, but in reality expect you to spend 20 hours a week or so on "online discussions" in which you must post at least 3-4 times per week, which then becomes more painful and inconvenient than driving an hour to attend class in person. Not to mention that you're essentially helping them to teach the class if you know the subject matter, and if you don't - you're trying to learn from students at the same level as you, not someone who actually knows the material. Although there are some decent faculty, they seem to be the exception and not the rule. Not worth their "discounted tuition" unless you're okay with spending 20+ hours per week (per 3 credit hour) for 5 years earning an undergraduate degree. And, good luck in getting support with any of their online learning tools. Their support model is to ignore you until you go away. In summary, you're likely better off just going to another accredited college or university which has a more robust value proposition, including the ability to earn credit through other means. You get what you pay for, and Champlain College Online is an example of the corollary: you don't get what you don't pay for. The most important thing I've learned at Champlain College Online was that it was a mistake to enroll with them. read more

I think I got in at Champlain at the perfect time, right before they started changing the things that I liked most about it. When I started in 2006, majors were based off of an "Upside Down curriculum" where you got in classes that actually pertained to your major right away. I LOVED it and loved my classes. I had fantastic professors in the Marketing and Graphic Design majors but warn incoming students about the pressures of double majoring. It is NOT encouraged by the academic advisors, and majors are not usually set up well to be double majored in. The cafe got better and better as the years went on, thanks to a rocking head chef. The campus is GORGEOUS and it is nice and small so you get to know everyone and grow together as a community. There were a lot of housing issues, but hey...what colleges don't have those! The dorms are beautiful though, which helps make up for it. read more

When I applied to Champlain college, I was promised a safe and healthy learning space with decent campus life and a wealth of clubs and campus activities. i was excited to live in a dorm with a smaller group, and an old, victorian feel. When I arrived on campus, I quickly came to find out the audience this campus attracts. 90% of the student body consisted of furries and smelly gamers who did not shower. I am so serious, they have to put in the syllabus for the game design students that they are REQUIRED to shower. I befriended the only women that made me feel safe and comfortable, and found myself spending most nights sitting in a room doing homework. No clubs that weren't game related, and the night life was nonexistent. I also love the gym and was excited as I was relatively close to the campus one, but I found myself being harassed by the men in this specific gym. Not a single day went by without getting catcalled, stared at, or straightup touched by the men that frequented this gym. While it was not the school's fault, I also noticed that they chose to do very little about this. When I would return to my dorm, the male cleaning staff consisted of a man who frequently catcalled and objectified me. There was also consistent break ins into the hall I was in as the door was broken and automatic and it would stay open for a solid five minutes once opened. The food was barely edible and mostly consisted of beans and rice, with no alternative options and resulting in a LOT od food poisioning. I was treated as an outcast for having interests that weren't "quirky" or enjoying things like sports, parties, and just general college experiences. I transferred as soon as possible, but I warn you, if you are looking for a genuinely exciting and bountiful college experience, then please do not consider this place. I made genuine friends here and enjoyed my professors but the entire thing is a scam. It is way too expensive for what they provide, and the "modern" form of education consisted of people showing up 15 minutes late to class in cat maid outfits and us sitting in a circle and talking about our day. I wish I was kidding, and it seems almost unreal, but trust me firsthand, if you are a woman looking for a safe space to grow, Champlain is not it. They simply care about the money more than the wellbeing of the students. read more

I am a rising senior at Champlain College and will be graduating in 2012. I love Champlain! It is in a beautiful portion of the Hill Section of Burlington, and provides easy access for anything downtown. The faculty and staff here at Champlain are more than willing to go out of their way to assist students and to help provide them the best overall experience possible. The cafeteria provides edible food. Don't expect a four-star restaurant treatment, but if you are hungry, the caf will fill you up. The price tag associated with Champlain IS fairly high (it is a private college,) but you will definitely get an experience that is worth your investment. Set up an appointment with a friendly Admissions Director to learn more about Champlain and what it has to offer you! read more

As an alum and former staff member I've benefited from the curriculum and the professional development. Beautiful campus, innovative programs, talented faculty and staff. Five stars, without hesitation. read more

I recently started their Accounting Certificate Program, and lasted a little over two weeks. I have a BA, and graduated with highest honors, and I was doing more work for this single class than I did taking 5 classes while getting my undergraduate. They use Pearson Labs online text and workbook. The format is very confusing, and it's difficult to ask questions through email. I tried to get help through their online tutoring program, but the tutor's sentence structure was disjointed and confusing. My bosses tried to help me with one of my homework questions in my second week, and they were both shocked at what I was being asked to do. They each advised me to leave the program and look elsewhere. I was not particularly impressed with the professor. In the feedback for my first assignment, he quoted Ronald Reagan, which seemed unnecessary and inappropriate in an accounting class. A classmate made a racist comment in the discussion, clearly meant as a joke, and it was never addressed. When I withdrew in the third week, I still had to pay for most of the class. Don't waste your money. read more