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WILBURTON, Okla. (AP) — The president of an Oklahoma college ordered to repay more than $1 million in federal student loans says he has exhausted all avenues to get the amount reduced.
Eastern Oklahoma State College was ordered to repay the money after the U.S. Department of Education reviewed the school's student aid program in 2014 and then declared the school's Antlers campus ineligible for federal aid. The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/1tthWG3 ) reports that the school was then asked to repay nearly $850,000 in aid. The school was also asked to repay an additional $200,000 because of clerical errors.
Even though all the issues have been resolved, school president Stephen Smith said Eastern remains on the list for Heightened Cash Monitoring, which delays payments of federal student aid to the college. So far, the Education Department hasn't budged on Eastern's attempts to appeal for a reduced amount.
"We're so frustrated right now and have been for months," Smith said. "There's no give, no leeway."
U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., has been trying to help the college in their appeal to the Education Department. Lankford said Wednesday that the school should be given the opportunity to address the claims made against it, and that the Education Department should show that the repayment requirements regarding Eastern are transparent and valid.
Smith said the school will start making payments in the coming fiscal year.
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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com
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