El Paso Community College - Transmountain Campus - EPCC TM — Local services in El Paso

It was the last week of July 2018 and I called Alma Valadez about an independent study in Art that Dean Eveler had approved and had directed Alma to take care of it. The approval had been given the last week of classes of the spring semester. So Alma had had at least two months to follow the dean's instructions. So I called in July and she started to argue with me because it was not her job to request an independent study. When I reminded her that the dean had instructed her in detail on what to do, she hung up the phone on me. I called back and told her that if she hung up again on me, I would report her. She did not apologize for having hung up. I was calling on behalf of my son who has special needs. Needless to say, the argument continued. She wanted me to do the leg work for her and I said that was not my responsibility. I was speaking for my son. I have power if attorney. She said that the power of attorney is not valid at EPCC although they know very well why I always go with my son to the counseling sessions. EPCC is always looking to grow the number of students and struggle to keep them from dropping out. With such unprofessional personnel, it is no wonder the drop-out rate is so high, especially in the students with special needs group.

It is a year later. My son did not go back to EPCC and never will. He now has his own art studio. He is surrounded by good people who are considerate and who share the same interests. They treat him as their equal. This is something he never experienced at EPCC Transmountain. If Alma Valadez is still working there, it is a disservice to the students who need more help. She may have a degree but her dealings with the public leave a lot to desire. She is the reason my son stopped attending EPCC. If she treated me like that, I can only imagine how students with disabilities are treated. Shameful! She gets paid to help them, not to hang up on parents who are inquiring about their children with disabilities. The worst part--board members, administration, and other staff turn a blind eye to this behavior. And they call themselves educators and leaders of the students. Thanks but no thanks. My son now leads a very satisfying life without all the mistreatment and neglect he suffered at the hands of a so-called counselor....

Office staff needs SERIOUS work. Financial aid office and admissions office never answer the phone. Their policy for ONLY taking transcripts through the mail is absolutely ridiculous. ITS 2018! Most other schools accept transcripts by fax or have other options. They give you the run around just to try to squeeze extra money out of your pocket with late fees (that they caused) or have you register for the wrong classes that you have to drop later (another fee) all so they can get more money. My social security number mysteriously was switched around causing me to be unable to receive financial aid until EXACTLY a day after it'd be considered late (convenient right?) so they tried to convince me to take an emergency loan for a small, wait for it... FEE. This school needs a very serious update. I've traveled to many states and attended other community colleges and this one was hands down THE WORST. The teachers were the only positive thing about the school but you have to go through hell just to get to that point. VERY dissatisfied. Get it...

For those new students. All of EPCC kind of sucks when it comes to getting enrolled, but if you are trying to continue your education, I would suggest getting everything done at Valle Verde campus, while taking courses at the campus near you. TM is the nearest to my house and the professors don't reflect the other staff. Be sure to do your own research and what not, because there is a good chance you will be going in circles trying to get stuff done (happened to me both semesters I went here), but VV beats the staff at TM. TM has quite possibly the worst counselors in existence...I'm not joking either, they are literally the bottom of the barrel garbage. It kind of ticks me off because I'm sure there are many qualified individuals dying for a position like theirs, but instead TM continues to keep counselors who don't even want to counsel and just sit and get mouthy with the students who...