Colleges and Universities
Eastern Kentucky UniversityThis business is NOT BBB Accredited.
Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Colleges and Universities.
Complaints
This profile includes complaints for Eastern Kentucky University's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see
Customer Complaints Summary
- 2 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 0 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
If you've experienced an issue
Submit a ComplaintThe complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.
Initial Complaint
Date:02/27/2024
Type:Product IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
EKU Aviation, for lack of better phrasing, is a patchwork of a program. It's a 40 year old program that consistently violates 141 rules. The aircraft are not mechanically sound, the flight instructors are not trained on the GPS's they're teaching, and the SOP is created in a way to price gouge. They say "see a problem report a problem" but good luck finding ways to do that. If you cancel a flight due to safety concerns you're charged. You complain about your flight training? Charged. I have spent thousands of dollars simply trying to correct a problem they swear up and down that is correctable and it has not been. Months ago I had an issue with the training, instead of finding ways to rectify it, they simply changed the time of a flight block then continued charging me under threat of charging me more if I didn't show up. EKU Aviation is a total scam, illegally run, and really needs to be audited by the FAA. For instance, the 141 commercial ground class doesn't even offer the required hours, we have to make up 10 hours of 141 commercial ground training on our own. This apparently has been happening for the last 39 years as they just found out THIS semester (semester of spring of 2024) to which they made no effort to then correct the problem. All the while, the student base was victim to criminal activity (see Kyle Knezevich articles) and they tried to sweep it under the rug. This program should be avoided at all costs and really needs to be audited by the FAA.Business Response
Date: 03/08/2024
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find attached Eastern Kentucky University’s Response to Complaint ID ********. We appreciate the Better Business Bureau affording us the opportunity to contest these allegations and demonstrate the University’s compliance with all applicable laws and policies.
Thank you for your consideration and assistance. If additional information is needed or should any further questions arise, please feel free to contact me at the information listed below.
Sincerely,
******* ** ****** ****
Deputy Counsel
Office of University Counsel
Eastern Kentucky University
*** ********* ****** *** *** * ****** ******** *** ********* ** *****
****** ***** ******** **** ***** ********Customer Answer
Date: 03/10/2024
Complaint: ********
First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to investigate the issue. I am accepting the denial of the refund for the entire training process, however, I am rejecting the notion of recanting the entire refund because:
I believe the program acted accordingly as per SOP. However, another issue arises when we want to bring the SOP on the table. Section 13.3.a(1) states, "FAA written knowledge tests are required for Private, Instrument, Commercial, and Flight Instructor. The fee for these exams is included in the ground school fee that students pay when registering for a ground course (i.e., AVN 161, 220, etc.)." I have paid for both my instrument knowledge test of $175.00 and my commercial knowledge test of $175.00 entirely out of pocket. The university had linked documents stating I agreed to this. That is why I am willing to reduce the refund amount from the initial $60,000 (estimated cost of training thus far) to the $325.00 I am owed as per SOP.
Sincerely,
******* *******Business Response
Date: 03/18/2024
Good afternoon. I was logged in the portal and attempting to provide the attached supplementary response on the above referenced Complaint when the portal timed out and thereafter posted, “Business has not responded to the consumers Rejection.” While notice on this matter was sent to a representative of Eastern Kentucky University by email on March 11, 2024 with a request for response within five (5) business days, the University was closed last week and, accordingly, did not receive this second request for response from the BBB until today, March 18, 2024. In any event, though, by my calculation, the University should have had through close of business today to timely respond. Further, the Complainant in this matter, ******* ******** in his “rejection” raised an entirely new issue not previously addressed in the initial complaint, necessitating more time for the University to investigate and properly respond. So, in actuality, the University should arguably have received a full ten (10) day response timeline when the consumer’s rejection was really an entirely new complaint.
In any event, I would appreciate the attached being taken into consideration along with the University’s previously filed response to this Complainant. If there is a way for me to submit this through the portal, please advise and I will gladly file that way as well.
Should you have additional questions or concerns, please let me know.
Sincerely,
******* ** ****** ****
Deputy Counsel
Office of University Counsel
Eastern Kentucky University
*** ********* ****** *** *** * ****** ******** *** ********* ** *****
****** ***** ******** **** ***** ********
Customer Answer
Date: 03/18/2024
Hello,I am just following up with the previous statement. EKU was indeed closed, it’s fine with me if they need more time to investigate. I would like to add I believe in my previous message the disputed amount I had put in error was $325. The correct amount would be $350.
Apologies for any commotion this has stirred, however, I firmly believe if EKU Aviation is going to hold students to the fire in regards to their SOP (that was clearly never read by faculty), they should display the same accountability they expect from us as students.
Sincerely,
******* *******Customer Answer
Date: 03/19/2024
Complaint: ********
I am rejecting this response because:Hello,
I am just following up with the previous statement. EKU was indeed closed, it’s fine with me if they need more time to investigate. I would like to add I believe in my previous message the disputed amount I had put in error was $325. The correct amount would be $350.
Apologies for any commotion this has stirred, however, I firmly believe if EKU Aviation is going to hold students to the fire in regards to their SOP (that was clearly never read by faculty), they should display the same accountability they expect from us as students.
Sincerely,
******* *******
Business Response
Date: 03/22/2024
To Whom It May Concern:
This is to confirm that, for the same reasons stated in its filing dated March 18, 2024, Eastern Kentucky University (“University”) declines to refund the Complainant any written examination fees previously paid, whether such total or $325 (as Complainant previously requested) or $350 (as Complainant is now requesting). To summarize the University’s prior filing, Complainant knew or should have known of the written examination fees and has not demonstrated good cause in his complaint that would justify the University to refunding to him these fees. Accordingly, the University continues to staunchly deny the Complainant’s allegations and will not agree to Complainant’s proposed resolution of issuing any refund amount.
Sincerely,
/s/
******* ** ****** **** ****** *******Customer Answer
Date: 03/25/2024
Complaint: ********
I am rejecting this response because:
I believe whoever responded did not even research. I am requesting that amount because the SOP says those fees are covered in the course fee when I register. I linked the screenshot you may review since you clearly did not. You stated the university acted according to SOP and that is why I could not be issued the initial refund amount. I agreed, it did act according to SOP, so I then showed you where it did not. It has been essentially scamming all professional flight students out of 175 dollars each time they sign up for a knowledge test because PER SOP (13.A.1), the document we all signed and document you stated I can’t be refunded because the university was just “following SOP,” These SOPs only exist to appear as though the program is following any rules set by the FAA, and the program only uses this standard operating procedure when it’s convenient to it. Therefore, I am rejecting this response because 0 research has been done into what the SOP said (because they changed it last week but I did not sign any document or agree to the conveniently modified contract). I am still requesting the amount of $350.00 be refunded to be for the two knowledge tests I have taken and as per SOP have already paid for in the course fees upon registration.
Sincerely,
******* *******Initial Complaint
Date:07/05/2022
Type:Product IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Students at Eastern Kentucky University are required to have a meal plan. The minimum meal plan is a $300 "Flex" plan per semester, and students with this plan are supposedly offered a refund for any unspent money at the end of the school year. Wanting to save money and avoid spending money for overpriced food on-campus, I purchased the mandatory $300 plan each semester but used very little. In total, I was due $577.19 from Eastern Kentucky University. I received an email on May 6th with instructions on how to request a refund. The refund period was between May 15th-June 16th. I created a reminder on my phone and completed the form at the beginning of June. Thus, I expected to receive my refund of $577.19 by June 30th, the date I was given. On June 29th I checked my account balance to withdraw my refund and noticed that the refund hadn't appeared in my account. I emailed EKU, and after some back-and-forth emailing, they stated that they do not have on record me requesting a refund. Thus, according to EKU, my $577.19 is "forfeit". EKU proved unhelpful at resolving this issue, instead opting to effectively steal a sum of $577.19 from me. Upon asking other students about their refund, it appears that I am not alone, and that others are also having trouble receiving their refunds. Attempts to call EKU have simply led to me being forwarded to other departments at a dead end. The billing department states that they do not have control over the situation. It is to the best of my understanding that $577.19 has been effectively stolen from me, let alone what was taken from other students. We students at EKU seek a peaceful resolution via a refund of our rightfully owed money. Thank you, ******Business Response
Date: 07/12/2022
Please see attached.
Eastern Kentucky University is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.
To become accredited, a business must agree to BBB Standards for Trust and pass BBB's vetting process.
Why choose a BBB Accredited Business?BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.
BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile.
As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation. BBB charges a fee for BBB Accreditation. This fee supports BBB's efforts to fulfill its mission of advancing marketplace trust.