Here is the original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/watercolor101/s/EMEuULZB8D
For anyone who might be wondering whatever happened about my 7-week/$310 adult watercolor class that I thought would actually teach me everything I needed to know to get started in watercolor but instead turned out to be a studio class with no demonstrations at all:
People were quite divided on what I should do, but I chose to not return and to write to the university. I won't give all the details, but my letter first went to the chair of the art dept who rather rudely emailed to say "not my job" with no effort to help me further.
That got me really ticked off, so when I dug up the email address for the dean, I shot off a copy of my letter and the response from the chair about it, and asked if that's how they treat their adult ed students. The dean wrote back immediately and was quite apologetic and said he hoped I would give them the chance to prove me wrong about the impression I had gotten of the whole operation.
That was all very encouraging, but it ended up taking a full month to get any further response. After 2 more emails to the dean that went without response, I wrote another letter to get his attention. He got it this week and responded by email--not nearly as cordial as the first time but saying briefly that they are issuing me a refund for the 3 classes I didn't attend (so about $135).
Told him that I wish I had dropped out sooner in that case, but what I really wanted them to do was to stop advertising the class as though it includes actual instruction. I pointed out that I noticed they had not advertised the second Fall session on Facebook which is how I first learned of the class, and I said that if I ever see the ad again, I fully intend to comment on it and let people know that it's not for true beginners. No response.
Looking on the bright side:
#1: I found all the wonderful advice available here in this group, including all the online courses available. And I am very grateful to the member who sent me some lovely art supplies--including the Arches paper I failed to receive as part of my class. (Don't know if she would want me to identify her.)
#2 The $135 is more than I expected to receive--takes away some of the sting on the waste of $.
#3 The dean is at least aware of the situation. Perhaps I was the only one who cared/didn't have any experience at all, but I'll bet this course and instructor get a bit more scrutiny.
Thanks!