Students at KSUTC seek probe

A local congressman has asked for a federal inquiry.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CHAMPION -- Students at Kent State University's Trumbull Campus continue to voice their discontent with the school, with one now alleging possible wrongdoing by administrators.
A group of about 200 students enrolled in the campus' Microsoft certification course is upset that the course's for-credit status was revoked shortly before classes began this semester.
Taking away the credit means new students would not be eligible to receive financial aid for the course, they have said.
William Hall, a student and spokesman for those taking issue with the university's actions, said new concerns have been raised that bring into question administrators' motivation for making changes to the program.
He said he was approached by a student who alleged the university encouraged him to falsify a financial aid application.
Dean's reaction: Dr. David Allen, dean of the Trumbull Campus, said the university will look into the matter. He said students raised a legitimate inquiry into the course revocation, but he added, "We believe the allegation [about the financial aid application] is without merit."
Allen said the program's for-credit status has been reinstated. The six-week course is in recess now, but classes resume Monday.
Bob Sines, assistant dean, has said part-time adjunct instructors will teach Microsoft courses.
Seeks investigation: Hall has asked the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, D-17th, to look into whether KSU officials are "involved in an intentional plan to defraud state and federal financial aid agencies through the misappropriation of student subsidies in order to increase the enrollment and profits of the school's Microsoft Certification Program."
KSU Trumbull has been offering the course as an upper-division elective, mostly for students seeking certification instead of a degree, Hall said.
He added that KSU officials designed the course as upper-division, knowing they would receive more state and federal subsidies than if it were a lower-division course.
Hall said students can receive financial aid only if they are working toward a degree. At least one student told Hall he was advised by administrators to say on an application that he was seeking an exploratory degree, when in fact he was not, Hall said.
Many of the students in the program are nontraditional, seeking certification as Microsoft systems engineers and database administrators to change careers and boost income, Hall said, explaining that a majority of the students had been receiving some financial aid.
Hall said he wants to know if the university told students to say they were seeking degrees in order to increase program enrollment, and subsequently receive greater state and federal subsidies.
Lawmaker's letter: Traficant has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, saying he is not choosing sides on the issue, but requests that it be looked into.
Traficant's press secretary, Charlie Straub, said the congressman was made aware of the situation when students requested his help.
The congressman wants to ensure that federal funding that Congress budgets for financial aid is being used appropriately, Straub said.
Mark Holland of the U.S. Department of Education's Chicago office said that he has talked to Hall about the situation but that he was waiting on Traficant's letter, which was dated March 5.
He said the department is looking over information supplied by Hall and KSU.
Hall said KSU chose not to renew its contract with outsourced Microsoft instructors, and university officials have said the credit was revoked when the KSU faculty union complained that instruction for the course should not be outsourced.