94941
. (a) An individual who has cause to believe that an
institution has violated this chapter, or regulations adopted
pursuant to this chapter, may file a complaint with the bureau
against the institution. The complaint shall set forth the alleged
violation, and shall contain any other information as may be required
by the bureau.
(b) To ensure that the bureau's resources are maximized for the
protection of the public, the bureau, in consultation with the
advisory committee, shall establish priorities for its inspections
and other investigative and enforcement resources to ensure that
institutions representing the greatest threat of harm to the greatest
number of students are identified and disciplined by the bureau or
referred to the Attorney General.
(c) In developing its priorities for inspection, investigation,
and enforcement regarding institutions, the bureau shall consider as
posing heightened risks the characteristics of the following
institutions:
(1) An institution that receives significant public resources,
including an institution that receives more than 70 percent of its
revenues from federal financial aid, state financial aid, financial
aid for veterans, and other public student aid funds.
(2) An institution with a large number of students defaulting on
their federal loans, including an institution with a three-year
cohort default rate above 15.5 percent.
(3) An institution with reported placement rates, completion
rates, or licensure rates in an educational program that are far
higher or lower than comparable educational institutions or programs.
(4) An institution that experiences a dramatic increase in
enrollment, recently expanded educational programs or campuses, or
recently consolidated campuses.
(5) An institution that offers only nonremedial educational
program courses in English, but enrolls students with limited or no
English language proficiency.
(6) An institution that has experienced a recent change of
ownership or control, or a change in the business organization of the
institution.
(7) An institution with audited financial statements that do not
satisfy the bureau's requirements for financial stability.
(8) An institution that has recently been the subject of an
investigation, judgment, or regulatory action by, or a settlement
with, a governmental agency.
(9) An institution that experiences institutional or programmatic
accreditation restriction by an accreditor, government restriction
of, or injunction against, its approval to operate, or placement on
cash-reimbursement or heightened monitoring status by the United
States Department of Education.
(d) The bureau shall indicate in an annual report, to be made
publicly available on its Internet Web site, the number of temporary
restraining orders, interim suspension orders, and disciplinary
actions taken by the bureau, disaggregated by each priority category
established pursuant to subdivision (b).
(e) The bureau shall, in consultation with the advisory committee,
adopt regulations to establish categories of complaints or cases
that are to be handled on a priority basis. The priority complaints
or cases shall include, but not be limited to, those alleging
unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business acts or practices, including
unfair, deceptive, untrue, or misleading statements, including all
statements made or required to be made pursuant to the requirements
of this chapter, related to any of the following:
(1) Degrees, educational programs, or internships offered, the
appropriateness of available equipment for a program, or the
qualifications or experience of instructors.
(2) Job placement, graduation, time to complete an educational
program, or educational program or graduation requirements.
(3) Loan eligibility, terms, whether the loan is federal or
private, or default or forbearance rates.
(4) Passage rates on licensing or certification examinations or
whether an institution's degrees or educational programs provide
students with the necessary qualifications to take these exams and
qualify for professional licenses or certifications.
(5) Cost of an educational program, including fees and other
nontuition charges.
(6) Affiliation with or endorsement by any government agency, or
by any organization or agency related to the Armed Forces, including,
but not limited to, groups representing veterans.
(7) Terms of withdrawal and refunds from an institution.
(8) Payment of bonuses, commissions, or other incentives offered
by an institution to its employees or contractors.