The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "financial aid" ...
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Indentured Students
In a year-long series, Bloomberg detailed how the $1 trillion in outstanding student loans has imprisoned borrowers in a lifetime of debt, enabling a host of predatory collections practices, misleading financial-aid offers and out-of-control college spending -- while politicians for decades ignored mounting danger signals.
Tags: Student loans; debts; financial aids; college expenses; politicians
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For-Profit-College Business Model Breeds Exploitative Marketing Tactics
In the first radio piece: Interviews with former recruiters, faculty, administrators and students of a small group of for-profit colleges in Minnesota paint a picture of schools that are exploiting unsophisticated students for their financial-aid money. Analysis points to a high-enrollment, high-dropout business model that earns the company millions but provides questionable return on taxpayer investment. In the second radio piece: Political differences at the federal level make it unclear how much the government will regulate for-profit colleges. At the Minnesota state level, the leading official for higher-ed says his agency doesn’t have the resources to go after problem colleges – and isn’t sure whether beefing up enforcement would be the best use of higher-education funding.
Tags: Non-profit colleges; financial aid; business models; for-profit colleges
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"Capitol Gains"
In this series of stories, Wall Street Journal reporters analyzed "more than 6,000 financial-disclosure" documents to show how "lawmakers and congressional aides" were able to find and use loopholes "in ethics rules to profit from trading the stocks of companies and industries that they oversee on Capitol Hill."
Tags: Capitol Hill; lawmakers; Congress; congressional; financial crisis; stock market
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"Allegations of Enrollment Abuses at U. of Phoenix"
In this series, Marketplace and ProPublica team up to investigate accusations that The University of Phoenix has been lying to potential students, as well as improperly advising students on financial aid options. They found enrollment counselors frequently pressured students to sign up, and also lied to students about "whether their credits" were transferable.
Tags: University of Phoenix; Bill Pepicello; Congressman George Miller; American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers; Barmak Nassirian; Career College Association; Department of Education; Harris Miller; The Apollo Group
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The Earmark Nobody Wanted
Alaska Congressman Don Young committed $10 million of taxpayer funds to aid a highway project in South Florida, over 5,000 miles away. Young had a personal and financial relationship with a landowner who would have gained from the highway's construction.
Tags: I-75; Coconut Road; FBI investigation; Bonita Springs;
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Nursing Homes
In Texas three nursing homes were able to continue to operate and expand despite bankruptcies and other financial trouble, due to the aid of bureaucrats and corporations. Also "nurse aides banned for abuse and neglect by the state were then recertified by the same department to work as nurse aides.
Tags: nurse; nursing; homes; corporations; bankruptcy; federal tax liens; fines; Department of Aging and Disability Services;
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Booted
Thousands of people from the disability benefit and retirement roll are no longer receiving that aid because the Social Security Administration has labeled them as fugitive felons because of outstanding warrants.This fugitive felon program has saved about $83 million for the SSA between 1996 and 2003.
Tags: Marlo Donald; waterbury; finance; financial aid
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Student Loan Scandal
The story package revealed "improper payoffs from a student loan company to college financial aid officers, as well as to a key official at the U.S. Department of Education who was in charge of overseeing the lenders that participate in the federal guaranteed student-loan program."
Tags: student loans; improper payoffs; college financial aid; lenders
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HCCS' Gift Basket Bonanza
As revealed by this piece, the Houston Community College System is rank with nepotism as family and friends of board members enjoy unearned job offers and promotions. Trustees also used influence to get tuition waived for family members.
Tags: FOIA; Houston Community College; community college; tuition; scholarship; trustee; financial aid; nepotism; family; relatives; campaign finance
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Students Take Housing From The Poor
This investigation revealed that a lot of government housing near and in college towns is occupied by students. The HUD qualifications do not account for parents' income, so students often meet the income requirements and get away with renting an apartment for almost no money, while poor people who actually need the housing are put on waiting lists. Sometimes the students are athletes and already receive scholarships and financial aid. This story shares the perspective of the students, the tenants and the HUD officials.
Tags: Section 8; HUD; low income housing; real estate; poverty