Monroe College - Trina Cherisse Thompson V. Monroe College, The Office of Career Advancement

Trina Cherisse Thompson V. Monroe College, The Office of Career Advancement

A 2009 notice to sue filed by a Monroe College graduate brought unfavorable attention to the complainant (who was satirized in The Onion and pilloried in mainstream press and social media) as well as unfavorable scrutiny to the college in the press (e.g., in New York Magazine and in readers' comments).

On 4 July 2009, Trina Thompson, age 27, filed a notice to sue Monroe College in Bronx Supreme Court. Her handwritten complaint sought reimbursement of the approximately $70,000 she spent on tuition and an additional payment of $2,000 for "stress" associated with her job search. Thompson claimed the college had promised leads and career advice, which the school's Bronx Office of Career Advancement on the Bronx campus did not provide, and that she was unable to find gainful employment since receiving her bachelor of business administration degree in information technology in April 2009.

CNN reports:

"As Thompson sees it, any reasonable employer would pounce on an applicant with her academic credentials, which include a 2.7 grade-point average and a solid attendance record. But Monroe’s career-services department has put forth insufficient effort to help her secure employment, she claims."

“They’re supposed to say, ‘I got this student, her attendance is good, her GPA is all right — can you interview this person?’ They’re not doing that,” she said.

The Monroe College Office of Career Advancement advertises lifetime free service for graduates, and the college released a statement saying that "while it is clear that no college, especially in this economy, can guarantee employment, Monroe College remains committed to working with all its students, including Ms. Thompson, who graduated only three months ago, to prepare them for careers and to support them during their job search."

The New York Post reported a harsher response from the school spokesman: "The lawsuit is completely without merit", Gary Axelrod said. "The college prides itself on the excellent career-development support that we provide to each of our students, and this case does not deserve further consideration."