Taylor University’s 2022 Student Right-To-Know Act Reports were recently posted on the Student Consumer Information website.
The information posted is a useful tool to students for any questions they may have regarding various topics.
According to Institutional Research Analyst Kelli Ochs, every school that receives money under Title IV of the Higher Education Act is required to gather and post the required information. Per federal compliance regulation, schools compliant with Title IV must also notify all students and staff of the posting by Oct. 1 every year.
The information in the report provides students with full access to all policies and campus information including FERPA, financial aid, graduation rates, crime and more.
“Students often ask questions, but they don't know exactly where to go,” Ochs said. “So I feel like it's a great resource of information that students can use to maybe dig deeper, because it also gives contact information.”
According to Vice President for Student Development and Intercollegiate Athletics Skip Trudeau, there are roughly 25 to 30 annual reports that are compiled for this.
The Student Right-To-Know Act Reports are typically viewed by prospective students and families who are exploring college or university options and want to learn more about a school.
Associate Vice President for Financial Aid Tim Nace has been in charge of handling the financial aid information section of the report for several years at Taylor.
“I think that it will get used more often by prospective students and their families, again, as they're comparing schools,” Nace said. “(Like) ‘Where do I want to go to school?’ If these kinds of things are indeed important to them.”
Usually, current students may not feel the need to look at these reports. The content is abundant and, unless students are seeking specific information, they do not look at the student consumer page.
Even though Taylor University sends out an announcement every year regarding the release of these documents, most emails sent out about the information get ignored.
“How often it gets read and used? I have my doubts,” Nace said. “We have it out there. We're in compliance with the federal regulation.”
The reports are available for federal regulation to avoid any consequences imposed that would result from lack of compliance.
According to the 2021-2022 FSA Handbook Volume 2, any school that does not comply could face a civil fine of up to $59,017 for every violation.
“Because, you know, federally funded financial aid, student loans, those kinds of things are pretty important to a lot of our students,” Trudeau said. “And if we don't stay compliant with that, that would put that in jeopardy.”
Most importantly, the Student Right-To-Know Act helps schools like Taylor University demonstrate their transparency to their students and prospective students alike. Students who have any questions about financial aid, athletics, institutional information, security, fire safety and other information can find it under the Student Right-To-Know Act at https://www.taylor.edu/student-consumer-info.
