Falsifying Transcripts: How IUPUI Plans to Screw an Honors Scholar Out of Law School

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Vincennes University's Official Response: "Emily who?"
Ivy Tech's Official Response: "It's how IUPUI reports it. We've tried to help our former students resolve the issue. No one at IUPUI is returning the registrar's call."
IUPUI's Official Response: "We can't just change your transcript. Sorry if you can't get into law school."

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Yesterday I got word that my scholarship money is tied up in the bureaucratic ether. I would be stressed about it, but I have more important and infinitely more annoying problems with my beloved university.

On the official transcript they sent to the Law School Admissions Council, IUPUI reported that I have transfer credit from Vincennes University. I have never attended Vincennes University in my life. I did, however, take classes at Ivy Tech Community College--not one of my finer moments, but I worked there and it was free. Ivy Tech and VU had a bureaucratically arranged shotgun marriage, so some course identifiers for my classes matched those at Vincennes.

For example, I took HEW 102, a composition course. That course identifier was used by Ivy Tech and also Vincennes. So the admissions people at IUPUI designated those credits as originating from Vincennes. There are a few other courses on my transcript like HEW 102.

After the LSAC got my transcript from IUPUI, they sent me a message:

WARNING: you have an unacknowledged transcript from Vincennes University.

It's interesting that the Ivy Tech transcript--where IUPUI insists the problem originates--doesn't say a damn thing about Vincennes University. The IUPUI registrar representative I spoke to said they did it because the admissions office told them to. The admissions representative at IUPUI told me, "Well, we can't just change a transcript."

"Why the hell not?" I wanted to know. "Apparently you can just make up whatever the hell you want to put on a transcript." IUPUI has falsified my transcript!

I called the LSAC to see what could be done. There are only two remedies: 1. get an official transcript from Vincennes; or 2. have a corrected transcript submitted from IUPUI. Option 1 is out. I called Vincennes University and, go figure, they've never heard of me.

I asked the LSAC another question. "At IUPUI they tell me there are little Vs on the Ivy Tech transcript. I don't have the benefit of actually seeing my own transcripts because they have to be sealed when they're submitted to you. Can you tell me if there are Vs anywhere?"

The lady at LSAC was as helpful as she could be. "Nope. No Vs that I can see."

If IUPUI keeps me from law school, they're going to have one angry Masarachia Scholar/Honors Scholar/Student Ambassador/3.9 GPA Student/Crisler Scholar on their hands. I didn't work this hard just to be screwed over by my own university.

Three Ways You Can Help!
Just copy and paste the addresses, add your comments, and link to this post.

1. E-mail these folks with the subject line "Correct Emily Johnson's Transcript Now" and write a little note asking them to correct the error: issue resolved. see updates.
2. E-mail these folks with the subject line "Falsifying Transcripts: How IUPUI Plans to Screw an Honors Scholar Out of Law School" and a link to this post to let them know what's going on: issue resolved. see updates.
4. Stumble, Digg, and otherwise encourage everyone on the internet to participate.

Comments

[Antman]

Not cool at all. It is unbelievable they won't fix it. If it were the other way around they'd be all over it. Dang!

[Two Write Hands]

Thanks for your support, Antman. I'm hoping they won't drag their feet on this issue any longer.

[Writer]

Enily,

You should also write to each of your elected representatives.

You'd be amazed what they can accomplish.

Writer

[Eva J. Mah]

I feel so bad for you, Emily. Having gone through the grad school application process more times than I care to admit, I understand what a huge problem this is for you.

I went to a school that now no longer exists. It merged a couple of different times with other universities, as far as I can tell. I now receive alumni information from a school I never attended, but since it is in the same area as the school that no longer exists, I am fairly sure that is how I am getting that info. Try the contacting the alumni associations both schools. Maybe other people have encountered the same problem you are having, or maybe they can help if they forsee this becoming a problem for others. The alumni association will NOT like the potential negative PR.

Good luck,
Eva

[Two Write Hands]

Thanks Writer and Eva. Excellent suggestions to use as campaign add-ons if no one at the university feels obligated on Monday.

[Maria]

I emailed it!

That's all bull.

[Avery]

That reminds me of the government. The DMV messed up my husband's name on the title of his boat, and they won't allow him to change it because the name on the title doesn't match the name on his license. Well, no shit, Sherlock. You screwed up!

Ugh. Hope it gets resolved for you soon.

[Two Write Hands]

Thanks Maria!!!

[Paul]

Well, at least IUPUI (do you pronounce that 'whippy' or 'yippee'?) has things in the right order. It is far safer to screw someone over before they go to law school.

[creechman]

You realize if you sound out that acronym, it's "You Peeyoo". How ironic.

Emily, it's going to work out. Don't take "no" for an answer.

Meanwhile, I'll lob them off a nicely-written, stern letter.

[Two Write Hands]

Thanks, Creechman. You know, IUPUI is also a palindrome. We're quite proud of that. And people around here pronounce it "Ooey-Pooey" because it's much more fun to say.

[creechman]

Wow, the palindrome escaped me.

"A man, a plan, a canal - Panama"

I can't believe a sweet young thing like you is having so much trouble dealing with school administration.

Just be politely insistent, and it will all work out.

Anyone who uses the term "bureaucratically arranged shotgun marriage" in the wisp of a smooth sentence...

Well that's actually terrifying.

[creechman]

Emily, I'm going to write to the recipients of your #1, but I would like an email address to copy you on. Which do you prefer?

[Art]

That sucks. Sorry to hear this Emily. Do you think the emails will really work? If so, I'm all in. And, since I have somewhere over a half dozen active email adresses, I could send the emails using each different address!

[heather]

i'm absolutely SHOCKED that this has happened. I will send an email on your behalf. I really hope you get this cleared up. You've worked too hard for too long to have to put up with this bull shit.

keep us posted!

[Julie]

I sent an email - Power to the Bloggers!