Reviews of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) (College)

Andrew Adams

I do not commonly write reviews about anything because I know that it will always go unnoticed by the company being reviewed, and anyone else on the internet. I know writing a review on the internet would be just as effective as me going onto my roof and shouting it at the sky and then hitting myself in the head with a hammer repeatedly until losing conciseness. Yet, the experience I had at this "community college" was so frustrating I felt compelled to write a review about it just to vent my feelings. First off I must say that the staff at this school are outstandingly friendly, and yet at the same time outstandingly unhelpful. Simply trying to register for classes at this college was an unbearable task. At the time of my registration I was a student transferring in from another community college in the state. I already had the knowledge of what I needed for classes and how the transfer program worked I just needed help registering for classes, and I told them this. I guess I didn't tell this to them the right number of times because they didn't listen and still sent me from location to location wasting my time when I could have registered for my classes and been on my way. Even when I finally got the chance to talk to an advisor I didn't even get registered for my classes. The advisor only told me which classes might be best for me and then said I could do it online on their WebAdvisor site. I wasted half my day trying to register for classes and in the end I couldn't even get that accomplished. Not only that, but I haven't the slightest clue how their WebAdvisor site works so I had to go through a whole other set of steps to figure that out on my own. It is as if the staff are trying to make the process as complicated as possible. Registering for college classes can be a very stressful time for students of all kinds, and the staff does not make it any less stressful sending you every which way to complete a task only for you to end up getting nothing accomplished in the end. Also, if you plan on sending your official transcripts to this school, don't even bother. You are better off delivering the sealed envelope to them yourself rather than leaving it to chance of them not losing it. AB Tech seems to excel at not having your official transcripts no matter how many weeks you send them in advance. When I think of an ideal college I think of efficiency, professionalism, and simplicity. AB Tech is none of these things. I could rant more about my distaste for this school, but I will leave that to others on the internet. If you are looking for a complicated, irritating, and unhelpful college than AB Tech is the school for you. If not, you must still have a functioning brain between your ears. Take it from me, you are better off spending your money at any other community college. AB Tech is like the DMV of community colleges. I will conclude with this: I hate Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

Benjamin Burns

Hey my name is Benjamin Burns and I'm currently a student at AB Tech in Asheville. I am here to tell anyone who is thinking about attending this school "Don't waste your time or money!". I am a veteran who did 2 tours in Afghanistan to earn the money to pay for college and at the end of my second semester AB Tech has made me feel as if I wasted my time and the money I EARNED going here. This school is all about money and not the needs of the student. I have the hardest time getting any help. The veterans officer here is nearly impossible to get ahold of. The recreational department is never available (gym, courts, etc.). Most importantly the instructors, aside from a hand full of dedicated educators, are the worst I've ever came across. I've seen teachers change the grades of the students just to make themselves look good. I also had an instructor ask us to not drop his course because his job was at stake and as long as we keep showing up we would receive an "A". Let me just say I have never wrote a review good or bad for anything in my life so for me to post this means a lot. I will be transferring after this semester but I know I will not get the time or money that I've lost back. However I can try to prevent this from happening to someone else.

Bryten Rene Phares

I have had 1/2 bad teachers out of 11 but the other 9 teachers would do anything to help you. They really act like they love teaching and want to help you understand. Kelly Randolph is one of the best instructors there, she's approachable and helps with any questions any students have. she always has time and has a vast knowledge of the business world so she really gets the material and helps reword it so it's understandable. The atmosphere is laid back and the classmates are usually super approachable and nice to be around. I've made many friends without even trying! I would recommend AB Tech to all students.

Greg Goodman

Good place for continuing education credits

Colleen Armes

I don't like that little guy.

Tristan Elliott

College acts Veteran friendly right up until they sink their teeth into your G.I. Bill then they start lying to your face. Grounds maintenance is atrocious. I've been showing up to class with a leaky roof for over a year. They don't sweep some rooms. The oreo on the second floor was practically the stuff of legend last year. When the A/C they are reluctant to ever fix right goes down they move classes. But when a tree they fail to prune drops limbs on somebody's car they call it an act of god, then hurry and cut down the tree so it won't happen again while denying insurance claims. Only they didn't just cut down the tree. They finally, belatedly, pruned that whole section of parking lot. Photographs were taken immediately after the incident and the following Monday after the trees were pruned. If it was an act of god, why cut the tree down and prune the parking lot so fast? Oh, it's because they knew they didn't maintain the grounds correctly raising the likelihood that such would occur. Most if not all of the instructors I have met here were stellar. THEY are NOT the problem with this college. The school has been on "differed maintenance" and "lean education" for years. They also refused to hand over insurance contact information as requested in writing. Update: I interviewed the grounds maintenance employees who all verified that the school only started trimming branches 'after a tree branch fell on a car the week prior'. They also informed me that the school had a history of not maintaining the grounds until after an incident despite employees begging for a 'preventative maintenance' plan be adopted. Upon confronting the administration with this newfound information in writing, they suddenly claim to be contacting the insurance company. I consider this change to be a written confession on the part of AB Tech. They did not even argue that my claims MAY be false. However, they still have not handed over the insurance company's contact information. It's been a month. Update: 2018/12/05. School plans on closing off elective class choices to 'improve graduation rate' like THAT is the problem around here... freedom of choice. To my knowledge this is still tentative, however. College also lost its only awesome PLC programmer this semester and if the content coming out of the other instructors is any indication this school will have graduates, but NO able bodied programmers in the near future. This school is in DESPERATE need of actual management. No, I didn't say NEW! That would imply it has a decent administrative staff NOW. Update: 2019/01/10 School is already back to wasting tax payer dollars blocking off sections of the parking lot to groom the very trees they claim they are not responsible for grooming. Update: 2019/02/21 School can't even file paper work right. Sent the Department of Veterans Affairs a bill for $0.50 less than they meant. So the school spent another $0.50 to mail me a bill for that $0.50 so I would know I need to go across campus and pay for it before my classes were cancelled... which would have required me to pay the VA back for the whole semester. Glad I didn't owe the VA well over $1000 because I paid that $0.50 on time. Update: 2019/06/12 Cafeteria is for all intents and purposes cash only. Which wouldn't be so annoying if the nearest ATM wasn't across the street in a store that doesn't open until well after classes start. Store times are also being cut, so night classes are going to be out of luck. Update: 2019/08/06 Yet another semester has come and gone. My grades were fantastic. Too bad I can't access them because the Department of Veterans Affairs would like to see them now but AB Tech's computer system has glitched and says I was late paying the school $0.00 which the VA was allegedly responsible for paying the school anyway and yet somehow I still can't access even so much as my unofficial transcript nor view my grades for the last semester until I pay my $0.00 that was late. Is there a late fee for this I wonder?

Brooke K

Wonderful instructors who go above and beyond to ensure student success.

Toby Bollinger

One of the best hospitality programs that you can get. They won numerous awards.

Jessica Floyd

Great for adult students! Teachers are very understanding and schedulinfg is varied so students can take care of any other .responsibilities. Very helpful and friendly staff

Mike Honeycutt

I graduated from abtech a long time ago, but I'm really impressed with the work they do for the students.they offer so many different majors and certificates that I can't imagine anyone not being able to find something to study there.

Andy Albert

The staff here are for the most part very friendly and easy to be around. The administration however, is terribly unorganized. It's not uncommon to get information from their website or info center, but be told the complete opposite by a faculty member or chair person. I was following a recommended schedule for the program I'm in, when it was changed completely without any notice. Half the classes I was told to take this Fall are no longer offered, and it will now take me twice as long to complete my program. Long story short- don't attend AB tech if you're pursuing a degree or diploma. I'd only recommend this place to continuing education students.

Edward Brinkman

First, I would like to say Ab-tech is a great place to complete your prerequisites. The teachers are great, it's affordable, and convenient. The nursing program, however, I give it two-thumbs down, with the exception of two to three notably awesome and genuinely kind, I-want-you-to-succeed type instructors. For the past three years, between 30-50% of the class fail in the first semester of their two-year programs. The semesters following lose up to ten students each semester. There is a high turnover rate of nursing instructors, as well as clinical instructors. In my experience, there is a good portion of instructors who enjoy the control they have over students. Meaning, if you don't address them by Mrs., Mr., or Ms., they will issue a SSIP (Student Self Improvement Plan), which requires you to write an essay on why you need to respect your superiors. SSIPs are issued for every little thing you do wrong. Don't get too many of those; otherwise you're out of the program. During one winter break, I broke my ankle. The nursing administrators told me I am not allowed to continue in the program due to my injury. As I was preparing an appeal, I spoke to an ab-tech instructor not affiliated with the nursing program, and I was informed the reason I'm not being accommodated is because I'm a man. The Dean eventually granted me two days of healing time, in which I was not able to walk by that time, so I had no choice but to quit the program. Ironically, two years later, after I entered the ADN nursing program, a girl in the final semester fractured her hip. She told me she was totally accommodated for: her clinical were switched around to avoid absences, plus, the nursing administrators told her if she doesn't heal in time, she could make up her clinical time the following summer semester. Maybe that non-nursing instructor was correct. Because I was one of the ten people who did not pass the final semester, I was forced to come back into the program the following year and repeat now two semesters per their policy and procedures. I was accepted back into the program and registered for the mother-baby class, however, my advisor placed me in two different classes, even though I only registered and paid for one. It could be an honest mistake, but it's probably a control issue.. Read on. When the school informed me to go on ahead and register for my final semester, my advisor prevented me in doing so. I could not register until she gave me the go ahead. I sent countless emails asking why I cannot register when everyone else can; I pleaded to her to allow me to take this class that had only three spots left. She did not respond to my emails until three weeks later, just three days before payment was due. Here are some quotes from instructors instructors & admin: - "I encourage you to drop the clock issue" sent in an email to me when I asked an instructor to provide a clock or a full timer for the test. - "I've heard you are a little miss know-it-all" statement to a very nice LPN student. - "You do realize I'm not going to pass you this semester" via clinical instructor. - "I became a teacher because I couldn't handle families of patients anymore." - "We are just waiting for those that have been barely passing to fail." Via nursing administrator. - "You are not on our radar list." Via class instructor. - “Take an Imodium and go to your clinical to avoid being removed from the program.” – A response from an instructor when I informed her I had used up my all my absences and was still sick, too sick (fever/diarrhea) to be around sick babies. I resquested on how I could avoid going to my NICU rotation. - "Go check on your patients, they could be dead for all we know." Yelled by a clinical instructor down a hall lined with patient rooms. Heard by patients, families, & staff. - "I'll give you a second chance to earn a higher grade on your presentation, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone this." Via a class instructor. - "I can look into your student email account at any time." Said a nursing administrator. Go elsewhere.

Jeff K

Great programs for those interested in an Associate's Degree and perfect way for 4 year students to complete their first two years of course work at a much more attractive price. Great experience for our family.

Rachael P

If I could give zero stars I would. The administration is extremely disorganized and the financial aid office will not release your financial aid until you are almost finished with the semester. Please don't go here. If there was an organization I could report this school to, I would. TOTAL SCAM!

Eric Davis

Best place to go for an affordable education! I loved my time here.

1000 subs with no content bazinga

Please please DO NOT come here this school is a literal scam!!! They will do everything they can to make sure you dont get financial aid or any kind of help. Everything they do is shady here PLEASE do not get involved with this school. Theres so many red flags here

Lucas Knighten

A great school. One of the best in the state of North Carolina. It's relatively inexpensive and you get a high quality education. It would be hard to ask for more at a community college.

Annebritt Birkeland

LOVE this school! I am graduating this May from the Radiography program and will graduate next May with an AS in Biochemistry. AB Tech has made the process smooth and efficient for me, just as I worked hard to make sure I turned everything needed for processing my information early to them to ensure success. The teachers are fantastic and truly care about their students. I am so grateful for the writing, math and science study labs as well because the staff there gave me the extra help I needed whenever a concept was tough. I have worked hard here and it has been worth it!

Vân H

I went here while in High-school back then. Met a lot of nice friends. Wasn’t there long enough but I think the teachers were really good.

Olivia Bon

If you want to waste your time and money - this place is for you! Nightmare!!

Dominic Kurz

I love this school I’ve had a few low points and every time I had one like a loss of job abtech help me get books when I needed it and all the new upgrades in the school are really nice

Marcos Martinez

Has awesome instructors and a very good hospitality program

Gail Hyde

This a is wonderful community college. It offers many good quality courses of study in interesting and very practical and useful fields. And they continue to update thier coursework, adding new programs when needed to respond to the demands and opportunities of our changIng world. In addition, they are always friendly and helpful in assisting with whatever you need to pursue your studies there - you always feel that they're glad you're there (unlike some institutions i've dealt with). To top it off, they're very reasonably priced!

Caroline Gray

If I could give 0 stars I would, no help what so ever. Only here for the money, not to help you graduate or get some kind of education. Would never recommend this school to anyone.

Nick Williams

I don't give five stars often, but AB tech is quite deserving. I have had good and great teachers here. They are very welcoming towards vets like myself, and offer so many ways to improve your learning, research, and motivation, outside of the classroom. Also I can compare this to another community college I attended while in the Marines. It's wayyyy better. UPDATE: If I could give more than 5 stars I would. ABTech truly is amazing. My gf and I lost our little girl over the summer while we were taking classes. I won't go into the level of stress and absolute sadness we will forever endure, but I can say that ab tech really came through to help. They let me cancel my class despite only have a couple weeks left, and even now a whole semester later, past and present instructors are helping in ways beyond their paygrade reflects. I will forever have good things to say about this school.

Austin Sloan

Great teachers. It makes college affordable for all who pursue a degree. I've had a great experience here so far.

Imago 3d

1/2 and 1/2... I go here and I love it for the most part. Most professors are sweet and really love teaching. There are some that just don't care... Hate those. It's horrific to be in some classes especially when you're in there with teachers who don't care. Never had any run ins with perverts or anything, but I'm furry... *laughs* So, I'd probably be considered one of those perverts. However, the teachers and most students are anti-Republican so keeping your political affiliations to yourself is a must.

Scott Lunsford

Good school and a great conference center

Cheryl RESSLER

Pay for classes ...take them ...SUCCESSFULLY PASS THEM ... And then WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT .. for their incompetent administration to POST your record of successful completion ...what a scam I'd give ZERO STARS ...but, hey ...at least they know how to take your $$$ ...

aparri40AJ

My sister goes there and the teachers give som much homework

Alyssa Roland

Dealing with the admissions/financial aid departments have been nothing but a nightmare! They are friendly but completely clueless! Goodluck if you are a new student applying from a different state because their answer to all your questions will be "visit the Bailey building if you have questions!" I am two months away from having to make my first payment and they still have not been able to tell me how much I can get for a loan. If you are thinking about applying to AB Tech save yourself the trouble and just don't. It will not save you money (as it is one of the most expensive community colleges I have seen) and you will most likely lose your sanity dealing with the seemingly uneducated staff.

Alec Lawson

Putting people in debt for a less than mediocre education. Most of the instructors teach from pre designed templates just like elementary school teachers. A lot of the instructors are just there for the money and show no passion for teaching. Also the financial aid department are consistently untruthful. Ab tech is a terrible school with terrible education.

Kendra Joyner

Met some amazing and helpful people here. Whenever I needed something related to my studies my instructors always were there to direct me on the correct path. I learned leadership skills and met some life long friends. Couldn't ask for a better 2 year college.

Michael Lowther

Very frustrated with the staff at AB tech. I repeatedly tried to contact staff for questions and never get answers or calls back. Their dropping class policy is terrible. Very frustrated. The education is not bad but the staff is less than helpful.

Maddie Sutphin

is their a House next to the school

Chad Littlefield

AB Tech has a slew of wonderful, up to date courses with practitioners who - in my opinion - teach more practical content than event some of the big league schools who have a bunch of career academics sharing what works - in theory.

Cheondra Thompson

I love the educators here at AB Tech. Very easy to catch on and learn the material. Realistic expectations make it that much easier and exciting to reach your educational goal! Been a scholarship recipient, WIOA funded, and received financial aid at one point of my educational career, and each process was comprehensive and easy thanks to the customer service I received!

Joe Bodega

AB-Tech is a business at it's core. Go here if you want to have an absolutely horrible college experience. Many of the professors are completely unwilling to help outside of class and many barely understand they material they are teaching. AB-Tech will do everything they can to squeeze every penny out of you. Avoid this school at all costs.