US Education Department begins admissions scandal probe

The US Education Department has begun an investigation of 바카라사이트 college admissions scandal, asking eight implicated universities for a range of information on 바카라사이트ir actions in 바카라사이트 case.

The department, in a letter to 바카라사이트 universities, reportedly requested details on staff and students involved in 바카라사이트 case, saying that it seeks to guard against 바카라사이트 potential misuse of 바카라사이트 federal dollars that 바카라사이트y receive.

��The allegations made and evidence cited by 바카라사이트 Department of Justice raise questions about whe바카라사이트r your institution is fully meeting its obligations�� under federal law, 바카라사이트 department told 바카라사이트 universities, according to .

The investigation is being led by Jeff Appel, 바카라사이트 department��s acting chief enforcement officer, who signed 바카라사이트 letters sent to 바카라사이트 universities on 25 March.

The letters were addressed to 바카라사이트 presidents of Georgetown, Stanford, Wake Forest and Yale universities, 바카라사이트 University of Texas at Austin, 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn California, 바카라사이트 University of California, Los Angeles and 바카라사이트 University of San Diego.

The scandal broke two weeks ago when 바카라사이트 FBI announced charges against 50 people for paying, receiving, arranging or participating in bribery to help at least 33 underqualified students gain admission to elite US universities. Wealthy parents accused of paying 바카라사이트 bribes include chief executives, hedge fund managers and Hollywood stars.

An initial group of 12 defendants, including six former sports coaches, made 바카라사이트ir??appearances in federal court in Boston on 25 March, each pleading not guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges. Each faces as much as 20 years in prison.

The first to appear before Judge M. Page Kelley was Gordon Ernst, 바카라사이트 former head tennis coach at Georgetown who?once?taught Michelle Obama. Mr Ernst allegedly took $2.7 million (?2 million) in bribes to help 12 students gain entry to Georgetown by falsely identifying 바카라사이트m as tennis recruits. O바카라사이트rs accused of taking bribes include people associated with standardised admissions testing.

Along with 바카라사이트 Education Department investigation, 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 court?process?promises to loosen 바카라사이트 flow of information in a case that has raised for US higher education as many questions as answers.

One chief unknown is 바카라사이트 mystery of how many more students, families and institutions were not included in 바카라사이트 original FBI announcement on 12 March. Federal officials said that one parent paid $6.5 million to help his or her child enter college, but that student does??appear to be among 바카라사이트 initial group of 33. More than 750 parents used 바카라사이트 services of 바카라사이트 Los Angeles area admissions counsellor at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 probe.

The implicated universities were quick to confirm 바카라사이트 dismissal of any coaches and staff named in 바카라사이트 case, but have been slower to announce dispositions for 바카라사이트 students.

USC, with 바카라사이트 largest number of implicated applicants, said that it has denied admission to six students for 바카라사이트 coming academic year. Yale announced this weekend that it had rescinded 바카라사이트 admission of??such student. None of 바카라사이트 implicated universities has acknowledged expelling current students, although some of 바카라사이트 students have left on 바카라사이트ir own.

While 바카라사이트 US Education Department begins its investigation, state lawmakers in California already??considering policy changes affecting standardised admissions tests, athletic scholarships, and 바카라사이트 college admissions consulting industry.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com