UC Berkeley Extension

This review is for the Belmont campus only. Note: my professor here is excellent as is the course itself.
Every Thursday this semester prior to class, I’ve set up at this campus and study prior to my physics class, since I live over an hour away. The setting used to be excellent — students could study in any empty classroom.
However, the last several weeks, I’ve been continually kicked out of classrooms mid-​studying for unknown reasons, and advised to take my studies to the «student lounge» — which consists of several cafeteria-​like tables, incredibly noisy vending machines and serves as a common area for students to socialize. Not exactly conducive to studying.
Today, I arrived to find the entire extension section of the building locked. I have a physics final this evening and am studying in the hallway outside. This is very displeasing when we pay $ 1000+/course, and it’s certainly not conducive to the success of the students.
If you’d like to take a course from Berkeley extension, I hiiiiighly recommend avoiding this campus. The Berkeley location has actual areas to study (cubbies, quiet, etc) and open classrooms.
I hope extension decides to make student study areas a priority in the future — it is absolutely essential to any academic institution.
Edit (5÷27÷14): I received a phone call a day or two after writing the above review from a very nice woman who asked what could be done to improve study areas. She was extremely understanding of my concerns, and our productive discussion concluded with an agreement that additional study areas should be made and that front desk employees would be informed that they could indeed allow students access to quiet classrooms if we make our presence known.
I was happy with this agreement and looked forward to asking the front desk personnel (this time at the Berkeley campus) for use of a classroom for my next exam four days later. I also was eager for the opportunity to revise my review in accordance with these changes.
However, upon my arrival on Exam Day #2, the secretaries were not only unaware that classroom usage was allowed again with my presence being known, but became increasingly condescending as I explained that the nice woman I spoke with the week prior had said this would be made known.
These women continued to respond to my «hello» /​«how are you?» with patronizing remarks when I passed by them in hallways and elevators in the days following.
It is not my desire for anyone to be personally implicated for this behavior, nor will I avoid specific individuals or modify my course schedule for the remainder of my study here– my studies are more important than that, and many of my professors have been amazing. However, my experience with Berkeley Extension now also encompasses not only the severely inadequate study facilities, but also the rudeness of some of the staff, and disregard for calm, respectful personal interaction with hardworking students who have made a substantial financial investment with them.
I personally see these things as generally rudimentary concepts for an institution providing a service that we are paying for, and sincerely hope for positive changes to be made soon.

STAY AWAY FROM U.C. BERKELEY EXTENSION.
HERE IS MY CLAIM:
I issued a complaint to U.C. Berkeley Extension regarding a professor’s incompetence to teach. They merely brushed my complaint aside. When I asked for a refund for the class, they stated this on their generic rejection for refund e-​mail as one of their reasons: «Refund and Transfer deadlines are determined in accordance with UC Berkeley Academic Senate guidelines in order to maintain educational accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.». From this statement, I understand that they refuse to grant me a refund simply because they would like to maintain their image.
U.C. Berkeley Extension did not seem to care about the fact that my instructor only held one laboratory session. I was also rudely spoken-​to by a certain «Richard Wilson», in a manner as if I did not know how to read. Every department that I called to help me out simply told me that they were not the person who I should speak with. Mr. Wilson told me that his rejection for refund e-​mail which he generically sends to people, stated not to call them back on reasons why my refund appeal was rejected. He simply reiterated the e-mail’s terms to me over the phone, and told me not to call back.
This is a snippet of the letter (which was rejected by U.C. Berkeley Extension) I sent to them about my instructor’s incompetence to teach:
«1. Mr. _​_​_​_​_​_​_​was never prepared when he would come to class. He would dictate to us that we were paying him, hence we should be the one doing the lessons – i.e., asking him questions. I did not learn anything from each of his class sessions every Saturday, because it was a strictly-​student-​ruled class, with the absence of an organized lesson-​plan whatsoever. I did not pay $ 855.00 to take a class which would be based on the orchestration of students.
2. The class sessions were based on student’s questions (to build on point 1). Sometimes we would drift of-​topic because other students (who were in an Organic Chemistry class) asked him to answer questions pertaining to their Chemistry class, because Mr. _______’s specialty is in fact Chemistry.
3. Mr. _______’s class failed to live up to the name „Physics II Laboratory Class“ because we only had one lab session. I was very disappointed about this because I took the class to gain hands-​on knowledge about Physics II. Instead, his class was consistent with that of a Physics II Lecture class.
4. I have been withholding my complaint since Day 1 of our class, however, I decided to push-​through with finishing my Physics II Laboratory class, thinking that it would be better to finish the class so as not to delay my projected graduation date, despite the flawed quality of instruction, and so I forced myself to work with his style of teaching. I did all my homework and submitted the single lab report which he required us to do.
5. Mr. _​_​_​_​_​_​_​never updated us as to our progress. He never returned a single paperwork which we submitted to him, hence, I was unaware as to what my standing was in his class.
6. Mr. _​_​_​_​_​_​_​claimed that we lacked access to laboratory equipment, being in Cañada College’s campus, which he used to justify his decision to work on only two – which later turned into one lab report.
What I would like to get out of this complaint is a refund for my Physics II Laboratory class. I would have complained sooner, although I was constrained (this was back in August 2013) because other students did not agree with me, simply because they favoured the light „workload“. I decided to keep my mouth shut, but at this point, my instructor is just being unfair.
I regret to say that U.C. Berkeley Extension failed to live-​up to my expectations. For instance, I did not expect that there would be problems with holding laboratory classes at Cañada College. The lack of equipment in general, compromised the „Laboratory“ class as a whole, and my instructor’s unwillingness to take the time to retrieve equipment for his class sessions, further complicated the matter of my instructor’s incompetence to teach.»
At this point, I filed a complaint with the Western Accreditation for Schools and Colleges, against U.C. Berkeley Extension. I have yet to hear from them within 30 days.

I had a wonderful physics teacher here and really enjoyed the class. The Belmont building has a free parking lot, but I must warn you the building is kept chilly so bring a sweatshirt! My only complaint is that it takes FOREVER to receive your final grade in the mail – even though my teacher had submitted them one day after the final exam.

I really enjoyed my class and the instructor for my project management class. My professor taught the class well, and kept everyone very engaged through classroom activities and group projects.
The classrooms were large and relatively clean. The facility could partake in some more modern upgrades, but overall it wasn’t bad. The location wasn’t too ideal for me, since I was commuting from the East Bay, but I can’t complain since it was right off the freeway! The facility closes promptly after all classes are ended for the day, which made it a little difficult to stay late and work on group projects. Overall, I had a great experience with Berkeley Extension though!

Not my first choice of locations to take a class, but for what it is the place is decent. The extension center is located on the 4^th floor of the building. If you get lost in the evenings you can ask the security guard to direct you. Side doors are locked, so go through the main entrance. Parking is free and in a lot.
Classrooms are fairly large. Projector and whiteboards standard. Clean facility. As for teachers, I’ve only had one class here. Prof. is decent, nothing stellar and nothing horrible. I met one in the elevator that seemed pretty nice (microbio).
Personally, I feel pretty safe taking evening classes here. It’s surrounded by hotels and near the on/​off ramp of the freeway, so ok location.