Colorado Technical University CTU Obtaining Title IV and other Financial Aid after Withdraw Internet
In my personal opinion (based on experience with CTU Online), I feel this institution apparently likes to misuse Financial Aid funds and misreport student attendance for that purpose. Based on
my experience CTU did wrongfully obtain Title IV Funds after I withdrew from their school and stopped attending classes for quite some time. These experiences began when I decided to try to finish a degree online and my real problems occurred after they received several Student Loan dispersements, which did include several Federal Pell Grants (under Title IV). Like many, here I became dissatisfied with the quality of the institution because of the trouble I had receiving assistance from an Academic Advisor and other personnel whom simply refuses to abide by
federal law. After I was denied what I felt was a simple accommodation (leave of absence due to health reasons), I was forced to withdrawal from all classes since we could not reach an amicable resolution concerning my personal situation as cancer surgery was involved. What is interesting to me is at this point shortly after my communication I could no longer access online courses so
CTU knew I was not in current attendance.
Less than a few weeks later CTU continued to file Financial Aid (including Titile IV funds) as if I was
still attending classes which in my opinion puts them in direct violation of 34CFR 668.22. Simply from what I can ascertain CTU Online continued to charge student aid for almost two months past a notice of intent to withdrawal and after that only refunded a very small portion of the tuition back to the government. From what I have found out from my lender, CTU did obtain an additional $4,000.00 plus after my withdrawal and refunded only 17% back to the fed. This was done at the beginning of a new payment period while their records reflected that I had not attended for over 40 days (due to withdrawal), as I could no longer access online classes. This is interesting to me since I had already withdrawn from classes and yet after almost 40 days, they were once more filing for Title IV funds and other subsidized loans as if I was still in attendance. I do not believe this is a legal practice for any educational intuition receiving federal aid. 90 days after my last date of attendance CTU finally refunded only a portion of the funds obtained from the Fed on my behalf, which amounted to less than $700.00 of the additional $4000.00 obtained after my withdrawal. I have since called and talked to CTU and as before and I feel there is no possible resolution
other than future litigation since I will not pay for classes I could not attend or access online.
Certainly, it is good that CTU says they are an accredited member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools so similarly they should also know what the ramifications are for institutions that may engage in such activity. If anyone has had a similar experience then it is your legal
right to contact the Office of Inspector General HOTLINE (OIG) and file a complaint since CTU receives Title IV funds on behalf of their students.
OIG Hotline: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Chienine
Winfield,Kansas,
U.S.A.
Career Education Corporation - CTU Online
#3Author of original report
Fri, February 03, 2012
The law is specific (according the Department of Education) in these matters since its the pay periods and attendance dates that govern here rather than what the school deems their entitled to receive which will always be more if left up to the schools interpretation. Simply when a student withdraws at end of one pay period the school has sufficiently received funds and is not entitled to new funds from the Department of Education the next pay period. In my case I withdrew at the end of a pay period and then was also charged the next period which encapsulates a new 90 Day period of time beyond my withdrawal and attendance of the previous 90 days. There is more to consider concerning Colorado Technical University whom is owned by Colorado Technical University, Inc., a Colorado corporation, which is wholly owned by Career Education Corporation. In my opinion they like mislead students (to sell their programs) leading students to believe their placements rates are very high when in fact their placement records are substandard as compared to other brick and mortar institutions. Certainly these behaviors are not in accordance with Department of Education regulations for any educational institution. Certainly I am glad I did my homework when it comes to this school and withdrew when I did which saved me allot of money. I have also since learned there are few credits earned at this school which can actually transfer to a brick and mortar institution.
Jeanski
Buffalo,New York,
USA
questions
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, February 03, 2012
It's all about the timing. You don't provide any actual dates so I can't be certain, but I believe you might be mistaken. Generally, this is how it works:
Student enrolls. Classes begin on "Date 1". The official drop/add date is "Date 2". Course ends on "Date 3". Your attendance as of "Date 2" is what gets reported for financial aid receipt. If you withdrew between Date 2 and Date 3 (which it appears you did) the school is still entitled to the funds, and you are responsible for any loans.
You specific circumstances, while unfortunate, are not grounds for the school to wipe the slate clean. Every school I've worked at does it the same way.
The fact that they filed paperwork after you withdrew isn't necessarily relevant. What IS important is what they recorded as your actual dates of attendance. Could you be more specific with the dates?