CARROLLTON, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Patrice Samm is proud of her University of West Georgia transcript.
"You see, I have an 'A' there, an 'A' there and an 'A' there," said Samm.
Until a few months ago, she was enrolled in the university's Educational Specialist Program. It's a year-long program that is far from easy.
"I haven't seen a vacation. I didn't see summer vacation, Thanksgiving or Christmas. We worked so diligently, it was super-duper challenging," said Samm.
Yet Samm was an honors student.
"I literally had a 4.0 and as of the point when the program ended, I had a 4.0 in the classroom as well," said Samm.
Samm says a month before her final project was due, her professor dropped a bombshell.
"Dr. Hooper said she would hate to see me fail, so I'm giving you an opportunity to take an incomplete." Samm said. "She felt like I was not exemplary, I was not an exemplary student. So she was saying she felt like I was not exemplary and that I am emerging," Samm said. "It was humiliating, it was embarrassing, I left crying in tears."
According to a March 29, 2012 letter from the university, Samm was told back in November that she needed to improve in one area of the program. Samm says she addressed the issue right away and claims she was told that what she did was more than sufficient.
Citing privacy laws, the university refused to answer CBS Atlanta's Tough Questions about how a 4.0 student could be on the verge of failing. Samm says she doesn't know what to do.
"I feel like I have worked hard and that I have earned my degree and that is all that I want, my specialist degree," Samm said.
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