An investigation of the DCCCD's financial aid disbursement methods is in the works. The U.S. Department of Education is following a claim that the DCCCD potentially violated federal regulations.
The claim states that violations occurred in fall 2009 when students were faced with ATM and banking fees when accessing their financial aid money.
According to published reports in the Dallas Morning News, the allegations were made to the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Education in January by a former DCCCD employee.
DCCCD District Director of Media Relations Ann Hatch said they were not aware of the bank fees investigation.
The investigation is looking at the Higher One Inc. system, which is available for DCCCD students receiving financial aid. The Higher One debit card and banking system is promoted as a system to aid students in receiving their funds quicker.
Students faced the ATM fees in fall of 2009 because at that time no ATMs that accommodated the Higher One debit card without charging a fee had been installed on campus.
Hatch said that students had an option to choose the Higher One debit card, a check, or direct deposit. However, according to Hatch, a claim has been made that Brookhaven did not give students that option, thus they were forced to pay the ATM fee.
DCCCD has a $135,000 contract with Higher One Inc. that began on Jan. 6, 2009 and goes through April 2014.
While the district has faced financial aid difficulties and challenges this semester with a new centralized financial aid operation, Hatch said that the claim and problems today have no correlation.
Despite the claim, Hatch told the Chronicle she feels there has been no violation.
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