Dive Brief:
- A U.S. Department of Education audit has found that Pima Community College in Arizona doesn’t adequately track attendance to quickly identify students who drop out and are not entitled to federal financial aid.
- The college replied in a 58-page response that it is working hard to address the issue, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
- If the problem isn't fixed to the satisfaction of the education department, the college could lose its federal financial aid eligibility, putting it out of business.
Dive Insight:
The education department’s final decision could include requiring Pima Community College to repay financial aid that went to those who dropped out. Over the last two years — the period covered by the audit — the college has dispensed $80 million in financial aid to 25,000 students. The college has 2,500 employees. State auditors have reportedly warned the college for years about the federal financial aid issue. The college’s governing board has updated its grading and attendance policies and appointed a task force to study attendance-tracking systems used by other schools. The college is also dealing with accreditation issues.