The most recent round of problems relating to financial aid at Florida State College will cost the school $3.4 million.
School President Cynthia Bioteau on March 12 received a Final Program Review Determination from the U.S. Department of Education, which reviewed the 2010-11 and 2011-12 award years and determined the school is liable $3.4 million.
Bioteau this month said additional problems surfaced and showed some students were automatically placed into programs of study and received more financial aid than they were eligible. Additionally, “sloppy” attendance-taking in vocational programs also led to improper funding being granted.
Those issues were self-reported, she said.
The latest figure is in addition to the $4 million in grants and more than $500,000 in fines the school has paid.
“FSCJ is committed to providing high-quality instruction for our students, and this process ensures that moving forward
out students can have confidence in our programs that allow them to achieve their educational goals,” Bioteau said in a statement.
The college can appeal the decision within 45 days and Bioteau said it will.