Central Maine Community College — Local services in Auburn

Programs seriously out of date, worsening with tech sectors and nursing (as reported by ten other students). They were still selling Intro to Computer Forensic degrees using XP as an OS months after Microsoft announced it had completely discontinued support of XP (in addition to the Heartbleed virus problem). Intro to Networking is also taught on XP--effectively ensuring that your degree cannot be used anywhere with a decent tech base or expectations of technical training. CM Connect itself is a nightmare to navigate and will often have a DNS error prohibiting students from accessing the portal.

Additionally, basic web functions standard to all websites where data entry on a large text scale is done are not present on CM Connect. There is no save function, there is no post-edit (which even YouTube and FaceBook have), there are no standardized layouts for online classes which leave the student confused from one class to the next. Neither are forums locked or stationary in position, but will jump ahead in the forum list. Timeout problems arising from DNS resolution conflicts also abound and the WiFi on campus appears to have been patched together by kids, as the signal is always in flux for duration and strength. Registering for classes online is often tricky because classes that may have a prerequisite may not display that they do.

Class availability is exceptionally limited, online classes rarely have video instruction and never have a live chat function for students to discuss material. Faculty office hours are also tricky, as most of the faculty are adjunct staff---or staff that split their time between CM and other colleges. This also adds to the problem of it being nearly impossible to get accurate grade listings through CM Connect as well---something that became additionally problematic when a teacher retired mid-term.

Mostly great teachers with some phenomenal professors, however, there are also some who believe that students should be taught by disparaging words and discriminatory behavior. While unprofessional, CMCC not only tries to prohibit students from documenting abuses, but also takes no action against offending faculty. This forces the student to hold off on their degree and retain a lawyer. Meanwhile CMCC acts as though they're selling gold and can do no wrong---even when their degrees are worthless outside of Maine (including much of New England).

There is little or nothing to do unless you're in sports. What few clubs do exist usually run through class hours or far after buses stop running, making it impossible for students to build lasting peer bonds with collegiate colleagues. The school will stay open during gale force hurricane weather, so be prepared to have cab fare if you ride the bus because you will not be excused and will be expected to put your own life at risk just to fill a seat. (The school president will tell you that in the same breath as telling you that you pay a pittance of fees---only 27% by his calculation, meaning that CMCC also has astronomical administrative costs.) Do not expect to be notified if there is an emergency, such as the standoff police had in a neighboring parking lot two years ago. They will not notify you, will not post anything on the doors, and will expect you to walk home if you cannot pay for a cab and buses are detoured due to said emergency. (In fact, they are rather callous about this.)

Rather than updating technology, they build new buildings and update the mail room..........

Lastly, do yourself a favor and do not attend CMCC unless you are able to pay for all classes and expenses (including woefully out of date textbooks) out of pocket, are over the age of 25, are not of what they consider to be typical economic status quo (for you to count as a human being, you must have a vehicle), and do not attend if you are an immigrant or disabled, or have children as some teachers will hurl insults your way.

According to e-mails from CMCC, students are also not allowed to bring children on campus, however faculty are permitted to...

Initially my experience with the college was a mixed one, now I'm contemplating not attending at all. This is the only time I have ever applied to any college, and I regret it being my first. Don't expect any direction or competent help from the staff.

I attended an open house in early April which sparked my interest and finally gave me the courage to follow through with an application.

Throughout my application process to become accepted I was met with varying, conflicting answers from different people in admissions. This even applied when asking the same question for clarification purposes. It was never entirely clear what was needed or how I should provide the documents necessary to become accepted. This resulted in numerous phone calls to admissions, with little reward.

Finally, after providing all of the information necessary I was told I was accepted by Andrew, head of admissions. Side note; doesn't know what "transmit" means.

Here's a slight forethought; I completed everything necessary to be accepted and with no outstanding issues. This includes my financial aid, which I received no notification that further information was required. It very clearly states in my email confirmation for my FAFSA processing that the school will reach out if necessary to obtain additional information.

Today, May 10th, I attended a brief orientation and a couple of advisors assisted me with registering for my classes. Their names were Eric and Rebecca. All seemed to be fine and in order. I registered for classes starting the Summer semester, May 15th and the following Fall semester. Considering the semester starts so soon, I decided to purchase textbooks the same day. This is where my experience went from tolerable to downright awful.

Upon the attempt to buy my textbooks I was informed I did not have any funds available via my student ID. I thought this was a simple issue with my financial aid considering I was just registered the same day, and again, under the impression my FAFSA was successfully processed with no fowl.

The store clerk advised I go to the business office (mistake) where I spoke with an older woman, the one closest to the desk. By far the worst customer service I have ever experienced. I asked her politely why I did not have any financial aid, in which she told me it was never processed due to a lack of information. After she found this fact, it became apparent that it was no fault of CMCC's whatsoever and she cared very little about what I had to say.

I attempted to understand the situation, why it wasn't processed, told her I was never notified the college needed additional information, and how I even received an email that it was processed.

Keep in mind, I was extremely calm the entire time. However, she's yelling at me and demanding payment considering I registered for classes without payment or aid. I was NEVER told this was a requirement.

Frankly, this is where I consider whether or not I ever wanted to return to the college. She made an already unpleasant experience unbearable.

Afterwards, I spoke with the financial aid office whom were perplexed as to why the two advisors even registered me for classes despite not confirming payment and/or my acceptance of financial aid.

Now, I'm expected to drop all classes I registered for, provide the remaining documents for financial aid, then re-register. Again, somehow, entirely my fault. I'd be more forgiving if the college accepted that they could've been more proactive AND if that woman in the Business Office wasn't excessively rude. Zero...

If I could give this school zero stars I would. I went to this college when I was a teen and it was great. I guess my parents are the ones that dealt with all their crap. I decided to go back as an adult, completely remote, because I work. My major was medical coding and electronic health records. I had to take bio classes, normal, I know, but do I really need to know the ins and out of cellular mitosis and cellular respiration? Anyway, I should have run for the hills when they couldn't even sign me up for classes and give me info on financial aid until the three days leading up to the start of the semester. Then they told me they did not want to go into the paper records to check my transcripts from high school. So my high school did it for them and sent them again. My classes started and one of my classes was titled medical coding, but was all about financial stability while in college and was all you tube videos from local colleges. Quality education right there. My bio class was all you tube videos geared towards high school students from Covid times, and the lectures were all done by the TA from a few years ago. I only heard from my teacher when I emailed her to tell her that her labs were wrong. One of my other classes was so poorly set up that the dates were all wrong and the teacher would not change them. I finished the semester and was moving on. I tried to get a hold of the financial aid department for question for three weeks, no answers. I finally emailed my advisor, again in the days leading up to the start of the semester. I also asked her why I was missing a class. Her response was that I got a C- in my Bio lab class and did not pass. A C- minus is passing. Even the dean of the school said it was, but not in this particular class. Never one was it communicated to me that I needed a C or better to pass. Yes, I talked to the Dean of academics, all the good it did. He decided to stand with his teachers that don't teach their own classes. I commend him for his loyalty to his teachers, just not the students who actually pay their salaries. I was told I have no recourse except to retake the bio lab class. No one could explain to me the financial package that was offered either. They wanted me to take out a 9500 dollar loan for two semesters. Even when I screenshot the page and sent it to the dean he kept saying I was misreading it and that would be for 2-3 years of school. Mine was only a 2 year program. I maintain that I passed and should not have to retake the class. Do not go to this school, it is not worth your time or frustration. Do not even get me started on the platform they use for classes. There is obviously more to the story but this is as short as I can make it. Thanks...