Dear Claudienne,

I am writing to seek your help with problems I am having with the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech). I have sent UTech several e-mail about an error on my transcript and have been trying to find out why I have not been able to get my certificate of completion for the Associate Degree in Business Administration that I completed in 2014.

I have been working since 1998, mostly hand to mouth, to support my family. In 2008 there was a recession and I was working 2-3 days per week at my then job as an administrative assistant at a business establishment.

My supervisor always told me that I had potential and that I should try and find a way to further my education. By then my sister had started high school and I was the sole breadwinner for the family.

As I did not want another recession to come and find me not being able to take care of myself and my family, I started doing evening classes at the Institute of Business and Professional Studies where I achieved six CXC subjects between 2010 and 2011 in mathematics, accounts, information technology, social studies, human and social biology, and English A.

Upon completion of those subjects my supervisor encouraged me to pursue tertiary education. That year, Jamaica Institute of Management (JIM) was merged with UTech and was then called UTech/JIM.

I signed up in Port Antonio with UTech/ JIM for a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, but after the management at the Port Antonio campus broke down I was informed that I would have to complete the associate degree studies at UTech’s Papine campus.

I completed the UTech/JIM course in 2014 but was unable to pay UTech the $230,000 I owed them due to debt I incurred for my mother’s funeral.

Fast-forward to May 2021 when I was able to pay off my UTech debt and received my transcript. I, however, did not receive my certificate of completion for the Associate Degree in Business Administration from UTech.

I have sent UTech numerous e-mails but to date (June 27, 2022) have still not received it. Of note also is that the university put a C grade for information technology on the transcript, although I had obtained a B- for that course.

I have become very frustrated over the last year trying to get my certificate, with no end to this saga in sight. I desperately seek your help as I need my certificate to further my education and also to gain employment.

I had a job interview and when I gave them the transcript that UTech Academy provided, it was poorly presented. Because of the errors on the transcript the prospective employer asked for the certificate to prove that I had completed the course. I told the employer about the situation and when she phoned the office on April 6, 2022, was told “Mr FS is aware that his certificate is being processed.”

For the life of me I cannot understand why this has taken over a year, with no end in sight.

FS

Dear FS,

Tell Claudienne has been in communication with the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) about your concerns and has received the following email response from the associate vice-president for advancement:

“Kindly be advised of the following:

1. An officer of UTech Academy has been in touch with FS.

2. His transcript has been corrected.

3. He is being facilitated with requested transcript and completion letter.

4. Arrangements are being made for the printing and issuing of his certificate in short order and FS has been advised accordingly.

5. While I do not have all the details of the reason behind the delays at this time, I have asked the requisite officer to address the matter satisfactorily.”

You have informed Tell Claudienne that the error on your transcript has been corrected and we will continue to follow up this matter with UTech, Jamaica.

Please let us know when you receive your certificate.

We wish you all the best.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 876-936-9436 or cell # 876-484-1349 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or email:edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.