4
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
www.elvaq.com
FEATURES
Glendale Continues to Fight Financial Aid Fraud liability,” Hurley said. “It’s really important when students never enroll or are no longer enrolling, EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITERS that the faculty reports that to the admissions office so we can track everal community colleges it in our records.” suffer from major financial When teachers don’t drop aid fraud, but according to students, as far as the financial Patricia Hurley, associate dean aid office knows, the student is of financial aid, GCC isn’t one of still enrolled. This means that the them. student will still receive financial “We don’t have any major aid money. fraud rings which some schools If GCC finds out the student are experiencing,” Hurley said. has not enrolled and has taken the “But those are mostly schools money, then he or she becomes that have much larger online liable for reimbursing the college education programs because the full amount of the classes. that makes it easier for people Presuming the student qualifies to pretend like they’re students based on the information that’s when they aren’t.” A fraud ring provided, he or she will receive is a organized group of people the first half of his or her grant money the first week of school. SPRING 2013 FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE The second half WEDNESDAY JUNE 5 -WEDNESDAY JUNE 12 will arrive a month after classes. Day 7:30-10:00am 10:30am-1:00pm 1:30-4:00pm 4:30-7:00pm 7:30-10:00pm Whenever a All classes that start All classes that All classes that start between 9:10-10:35am start between All classes that start student qualifies All classes that start between 12:20-1:30pm Wednesday daily, MTWTH, MWF, 5:10-6:45pm W between 3:25-5:00pm between 6:55-8:30pm daily, MTWTH, for the Pell Grant, June 5 MTW, or MW.OR a W only or any MW, MTW, or W on W only. MWTHF, MWF, he or she will only class between only. afternoon MTW, or MW. 10:45am – 12:00pm. conflicts. receive half the All classes that start All classes that start money a week between 3:25-5:00pm All classes that All classes that start All classes that start between 6:30-7:30am before school to TTH or a TH only start between Thursday between 6:55-8:30pm between 10:45TTH or any TH only class that starts 5:10-6:45pm TTH TTH, or any TH only June 6 12:10am TTH or TH purchase books. class between 7:35between or TH only. class. only. 9:05am. The rest of the aid 1:40-3:15pm. is delayed until the All classes that start All classes that start All classes that start between 1:40-3:15pm All classes that All classes that start second dispersant, between 6:30-7:30am between 7:35-9:05am Friday daily, MTWTH, start between at 5:10-6:45pm. or daily, MTWTH, or 9:10-10:35am on which normally June 7 MWF, MW or M 1:40-3:15pm on 6:55-8:30pm Friday MTTHF, MWTHF, Friday only. is a week or two only. Friday only. only. MWF, or MW. after classes have Saturday Assigned class Assigned class time Assigned class time Assigned class time Assigned class time started. the college June 8 time gives almost $25 All classes that start between 10:45amAll classes that start All classes that million in Pell All classes that start 12:10pm daily, between 7:35-9:05am start between All classes that start Grant money to Monday between 3:25-5:00pm MTWTH, MWTHF, daily, MTWTH, 5:10-6:45pm between 6:55-8:30pm June 10 daily, MTWTH, students every MTWF, MWF, or TWTHF, MWF, MW, MTWTH, MWF, MW or M. MWF, or M only. MW. or M only. or M only. year. If a student All classes that start All classes that start All classes that drops before the All classes that start between 7:35-9:05am All classes that start Tuesday between 12:20-1:30pm start between between 1:40-3:15pm TTH or any T only between 6:55-8:30pm first dispersant, June 11 TTH, T only or any 5:10-6:45pm T on TTH or a T only. class between 6:35T only. then the student only. morning conflicts. 7:45am. immediately owes what aid Make-Up Final Make-Up Final All classes that start All classes that start Make-Up Final Exam Exam Exam was given. Also, Wednesday between 9:10-10:35am (Prior approval by the between 1:40-3:15pm (Prior approval by (Prior approval by June 12 a student who TTH or TH only. instructor is necessary) on W only. the instructor is the instructor is repeatedly drops necessary) necessary) classes each semester becomes • The above Final Exam Schedule pertains to only 16 and 13 week classes. ineligible for financial aid. • If you are enrolled in a 2nd 6 or 2nd 8 week class you should be aware that you will continue to meet “There are during your regular day(s) and time(s) during the Final Exam week. some federal rules in place,” Hurley • For Math 101, Math 120, Math 141, and Math 146 classes there will be a common final held on Tuesday, said. “If they June 11, 2013 from 4:30-7:00 pm. totally drop out of school, then there The Final Exam Schedule above may undergo some minor adjustments. For the most is a calculation we go through to up-to-date information on the Final Exam Schedule please check the website at determine how http://www.glendale.edu/index.aspx?page=2595. much the student would have to
By Kelsey Anderson and Taline Markarian
S
who intend to defraud schools by creating false identities. Although Hurley says that GCC isn’t as affected by fraud, it doesn’t mean that GCC has a clean bill of health. There is still financial aid fraud being committed on campus. “Sometimes somebody will call our office with a complaint,” Hurley. said. “Sometimes with inconsistencies with information and documents that students turn in.” Students committing fraud register under five or six different names and social security numbers. There are people who get away with fraud by simply avoiding getting caught, but that’s not the case for every student.
The U.S. Department of Education has started a new process in which a notation is put on students’ record after they file their financial aid application. The notation implies that the student has gone to a number of different schools and the enrollment history seems suspicious. The USDE will then verify if the student is at the school and if they are legitimately enrolled. Teachers play the biggest role in preventing financial aid fraud. Hurley said she has met with some of the faculty to make sure they understand the importance of dropping students that aren’t attending class. “It becomes an institution
repay. If they drop a few classes, then generally that wouldn’t affect them except students must maintain a 2.0 or higher GPA and have to successfully complete 2/3 of all the classes that they enroll in.” If the education department comes to audit GCC and sees the systems were to blame for students committing fraud, then the university has to refund the money. If a student was committing fraud, then the student must repay all the money and could be subject to criminal penalties. GCC pays about $35 million a year in financial aid to 13,000 students in need of financial assistance. When that’s taken advantage of, the school would be responsible. According to Edward Karpp, who works in research, planning and grants, even with a sturdy system, things go wrong and people get away with fraud, but anything that slips through is taken care of. “We’re changing some policies so that we’re not in the position that we have to pay anything back,” Karpp said. Students falsify their FAFSA by denying they’ve earned a bachelor’s degree from another university. Earning a bachelor’s degree makes returning students ineligible for federal grants. When done purposefully, GCC students are sent to the U.S. Inspector General’s Office for further investigation. “It’s a felony and people have been prosecuted,” Hurley said. Students continue to take advantage of GCC’s financial aid benefits and it effects others from receiving the funding they need. The BOG waiver helps more than 12,500 students at GCC and gives away more than $5 million a year, but even though some students believe they’re not receiving enough financial aid, other students are happy with the support GCC provides. “I get the full amount possible for community college and I’m obviously satisfied,” Bellen Avelar, a Spanish major at GCC said.
Kelsey Anderson can be reached at k.Anderson.ElVaquero@gmail.com Taline Markarian can be reached at yestalinem@aol.com