Six women who enrolled in Concordia University of Edmonton’s first-ever doctoral program in 2021 are now suing the school, alleging they could not graduate on time because the school did not offer enough clinical field placements.

A statement of claim filed with the Edmonton Court of King’s Bench in June alleges Concordia cancelled the students’ spring assessment practicum course in the spring of 2023 and informed them their clinical field placements with Alberta Health Services for the next academic year would also not happen.

About two years into the five-year doctor of psychology (PsyD) in clinical psychology program, according to the document, the students received an official email saying the school would not be able to offer every student the requirements to graduate on time.

Students told CBC News in interviews that they scrambled to make alternate plans for the 2023-24 school year.

Three of the students ended up enrolling in a similar program at a university in the U.S., one enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Alberta and the remaining two returned to working in private practice, shelving their dreams of earning doctorate degrees indefinitely.

“Those two years that I spent and all the tuition money is all just for nothing,” said Krista Buyer, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Buyer said she stopped working as a registered psychologist to study at Concordia full-time and had prioritized school over spending time with her family.

The statement of claim also alleges some of the students were bullied and harassed by the university’s clinic manager and that students had raised concerns with the school on multiple occasions earlier in the year but had been reassured the program was still on track.

The students’ statement of claim says Concordia’s actions jeopardized the continuity of their education, caused significant stress and led to financial losses.

The students are seeking nearly $3.7 million in damages.

The university is denying the allegations, saying in a statement of defence that the doctoral program was never cancelled and that the “actual length” of the program depends on multiple factors, including the availability of clinical placements.

Program had 9 students

Concordia, an independent academic institution that receives 30 per cent of its revenue from Government of Alberta grants, announced in a February 2021 press release that the doctor of psychology in clinical psychology was the school’s first-ever doctoral program.

Students told CBC News there were nine students enrolled in the program’s inaugural cohort.

Abbey Burns, Tarleen Dhanoa, Erika Damsgard, Alissa Yargeau, Krista Bruyer and Aida Javaheri began Concordia’s doctor of psychology program in the fall of 2021. They are now suing the university over how it ran the program. (Submitted by Alissa Yargeau)

According to the statement of claim, students received an email in early May 2023 that their spring assessment practicum course was cancelled.

Later that month, they learned their AHS clinical field placements were also cancelled.

The statement of claim said the placements were cancelled due to the school’s failure to address concerns about the clinic manager.

The plaintiffs met with senior administration in June, the claim said, and were told other placements would be found and the program was still on track.

In August, the school told the students that if they wanted to remain in the program they could study part-time or enter a lottery for a chance of receiving a field placement. A lottery winner would have to take more than a full course load in order to graduate on time, however.

Students leave

Erika Damsgard, an international student from Minnesota, said stipulations on her study permit meant she couldn’t be a part-time student and she couldn’t risk being without a placement so she did not continue with the program.

Damsgard said the school tried to give her a possible practicum placement, but the offer came after the semester had already begun and she had given up the study permit.

“The options that were provided to students were not options for me,” she said.

She said not being able to finish the degree at Concordia left her with thousands of dollars in student debt and nothing to show for it.

Abbey Burns, Aida Javaheri and Alissa Yargeau told CBC News in an interview that they enrolled in the doctor of clinical psychology program at Alliant International University in San Diego, Calif. but only about half of their Concordia credits were accepted — and they had to prove their knowledge by passing exams.

They also said they are spending much more for tuition, rent and other expenses in California.

Tarleen Dhanoa told CBC News she doesn’t want other students to go through what she did at Concordia. (Madeleine Cummings/CBC)

The students’ lawyer, Puneet Tiwari with Levitt LLP, said universities in a similar situation typically refer students to other programs and help with the transition, but Concordia did not do that.

“It was a goodbye, thanks for coming, we’re keeping your money,” he said.

The students told CBC News they pursued legal action to be compensated for the expenses they incurred and hold Concordia accountable for what happened.

“I don’t want anyone to go through what we went through — it’s not fair,” said plaintiff Tarleen Dhanoa, who is now pursuing a PhD at the University of Alberta.

AHS withdrew placements: Concordia

Michelle Mondeville, director of marketing and communications at Concordia, told CBC News in an emailed statement that the school is not commenting while the matter is before the court.

She said the university is committed to creating a positive culture for its students, as well as academic and administrative staff, and proudly fosters a community of inclusivity and accountability.

The university’s statement of defence, which was filed on Aug. 23, said the “issue of external clinical placements for third-year students arose from the decision of AHS to withdraw the clinical placement offerings.”

Spokesperson James Wood said AHS could not comment on the matter.

Concordia’s statement of defence says the university diligently sought other clinical placements and after an exhaustive search, informed students of options for continuing with the program.

The school said in its statement of defence that the “actual length” of the PsyD program depends on multiple factors, including student performance and clinical placement availability.

“At no time did the university misrepresent, mislead or make false promises or assurances to the plaintiffs, or induce any of the plaintiffs to enrol in the PsyD program,” the statement of defence said.

The document also denies the university condoned or enabled bullying and harassing conduct.

Concordia is seeking the dismissal of the students’ claim.

None of the allegations listed in the statement of claim or statement of defence have been proven in court.