Torres Applauds New Assistance for Corinthian Students
ONTARIO, CA – Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) praised the U.S. Department of Education's announcement of a new streamlined process for former students of Corinthian Colleges to obtain student loan debt relief.
"Until now, students who were defrauded by Corinthian or whose studies were interrupted when their schools abruptly closed faced a complicated and oftentimes contradictory process when seeking loan relief," said Torres. "I'm pleased the Department has heard the calls from Congress as well as the thousands of affected students and is finally taking action to protect the countless individuals who were impacted by Corinthian's collapse."
On May 21st, Torres sent a letter signed by 15 other Members of Congress to the Department of Education asking for a clear, efficient process for former students of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. to apply to have federal loans forgiven. Under current law, students can have their federal loans discharged if their school abruptly closes or is found to be in violation of state law. However, there had been multiple reports of delays and misinformation for students seeking relief.
"Corinthian's deceptive practices jeopardized the financial and academic futures of thousands of students who are now saddled with debt with little to show for it," continued Torres. "I look forward to continuing to work with the Department to ensure these new measures are implemented effectively and students are able to obtain the relief they deserve."
Corinthian Colleges, Inc. abruptly closed many of its campuses after filing for bankruptcy and has been fined $29.6 million by the Department of Education for defrauding students by falsifying job placement reports. The Department's announcement today included enhanced assistance for students whose campuses closed, a streamlined process, including a simple application, for students who believe they were defrauded regardless of whether their campuses closed, the appointment of a Special Master dedicated to borrower defense issues, and the development of a better system for debt relief in the future.
Students impacted by the closure can visit studentaid.gov/Corinthian or call a special toll-free borrower defense hotline at (855) 279-6207 to learn more about the Department's actions and ask about their options. They may also contact Rep. Torres's Ontario office at (909) 481-6474 for assistance.