Letter to the Hon. Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education - Crist Leads Call for Dept of Ed Action on Argosy University

Letter

Dear Secretary DeVos,

We write to you regarding troubling reports of mismanagement at Argosy University. According to an article in the Washington Post, Argosy University has yet to disperse federal financial aid weeks into the semester, leaving thousands of students, including students in our districts, without their federal student loan money, creating uncertainty about the future of their academic careers.

It has been reported that Argosy owes students $13 million -- money that students need for housing, food, and other basic living expenses. Investment in one's education is a serious undertaking, requiring commitment, sacrifice, and trust that the hard work and debt incurred will all be worth it in the end. It is unconscionable that an institution of higher learning would be so careless with such a responsibility, entrusted to them by taxpayers and students. The fact remains that Argosy received $15 million from your Department in January, and those funds have essentially disappeared. That should be as disturbing to you as the frightened calls from confused constituents are to us.

It is for all these reasons that we ask for a full investigation into Argosy's accounting. Further, we request immediate and direct assistance for all students who have had their education and peace of mind disrupted by business practices that are negligent at best, and unscrupulous at worst.

Sincerely,