Education Dept. to use undercover agents to identify deceptive, unethical practices in higher ed

The College Fix

John Parker

April 20, 2023

My prediction [is] that they will be stunned by the frequency of lies and misrepresentations,’ higher ed expert said

The Education Department will use undercover agents – calling them “secret shoppers” – to identify potentially deceptive or unethical practices in colleges and universities that receive financial aid.

“Secret shoppers will evaluate recruitment, enrollment, financial aid, and other practices of postsecondary institutions to help identify potentially deceptive or predatory practices used to recruit and enroll students,” according to a recent statement from the U.S. Department of Education.

“Secret shoppers” will also be used to evaluate Title IV compliance, according to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

“Our focus—as always—is to ensure that students, borrowers, families, and taxpayers are not being preyed upon to make a quick buck,” Federal Student Aid Enforcement Office Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray stated in the announcement.

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