To Whom It May Concern,
I write this letter as a desperate plea, a cry for help, and a call for action. I am a medical student at the American University of Antigua (AUA), and like many of my peers, I am caught in a nightmare that seems to have no end. This situation has been brewing for over a year, and it is high time someone takes notice of the plight we, the students, are facing.
Since September 2023, AUA has been under the United States Department of Education’s scrutiny, placed on Heightened Cash Monitoring 2 (HCM2). https://studentaid.gov/data-center/school/hcm has information of what this means and shows we are the only school in the Caribbean at this level. It originally started because of complaints from the hundreds of U.S. students who fail each year.
This means our school has been on their radar for much longer and representatives from the U.S Department of Education were recently on campus, randomly selecting students for interviews.
Answers to their questions were hushed because most of us are too afraid to speak up, fearing retaliation or further repercussions. We are being kept in the dark about what is truly happening with our financial aid, and it is terrifying. For a medical education that will leave me and many others with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, being in the dark is not right.
Many of us are not receiving our living stipends; worse, most of us don’t even have our loans listed on our U.S. student government accounts. There has been no trace of any U.S. government loans for over a year now. Imagine the shock and horror of finding out that your undergraduate loans have gone out of deferment because your loan servicer believes AUA is no longer eligible for U.S. financial aid. We have had to send enrollment letters to our loan servicers from AUA just to keep our heads above water.
The reality is sinking in—if AUA loses its federal funding, they will likely force all of us to take a private loan with a crippling interest rate or risk dropping out. The financial strain and uncertainty are unbearable. We came here to pursue our dreams of becoming doctors, not to be ensnared in a financial trap set by the very institution that should be supporting us.
The school has been covering tuition costs out of its pocket for over a year, amounting to approximately $50 million U.S. by our estimate. This is not sustainable.
The recent graduation class was predominantly composed of non-U.S. students who pay out of pocket. Few U.S. students were able to graduate, and those who did seem to have bypassed the same financial hurdles that are now looming over us.
This is not just a financial issue; it is a matter of fairness, transparency, and justice. Squeezing every possible dollar from U.S. students, then turning to foreign students as a fallback when the well runs dry is what’s happening. We are being used as pawns in a game where every outcome benefits the institution, leaving us drained—emotionally, financially, and mentally.
I speak not just for myself but for every student who is suffering in silence. We deserve answers. We deserve transparency. We deserve to know if our dreams of becoming doctors are being jeopardized by the very institution that should be helping us achieve them. We need someone to step in and hold AUA accountable before more students are caught in this web of financial ruin.
Please, hear our plea. Investigate further. Help us get the answers we desperately need and the justice we rightfully deserve.
Sincerely,
Year 2 AUA Student
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What is the government doing about this? Every time I hear about these sad stories I become more convinced that it is time for this government to go.
you sound so DUNCE!!!! everytime I hear about THOSE 3 politicians registering SCHOOL BUSES intended for our children in their PERSONAL NAMES, I become more convinced that those 3 and their party should NEVER form government in this counrty again!!!!
Anyone who thought this wasn’t going to happen is really unaware of the true costs of doing business with and complying with America.
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@Letter: AUA Financial Crisis. We hear you. We read you. Will try to share your concerns in the media?. We wish you well and that this letter triggers attention, answers and solutions. God bless you all and may your aspirations become a reality
AuA has subpar drs teaching students who cant cut realworld medicine…what do u expect?
Try go study medical technololy Hun…all things happen for a reason!
Wow!!
Wonders never cease!
Antigua government always Inna something!
Geeez!
Father, help us outta this government!
Something gonna have to give!!
Antigua needs help!!!!🙏🏽
Get ridda them!!
@ following your flawed logic…….
Most intelligent people display some form of flawed logic at some point in their lives. Flawed logic is not as bad as the politically naive
The public is being made aware of the situation at AUA by this letter, and the writer is hoping some help could come about by exposing what’s going on. The dilemma the students are facing are clearly stated. The consequences could be dire not only for students but for many Antiguans and even the Government.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has approved AUA as a medical school. It was recently in partnership with the SIDS conference with AUA. Given the crisis students are facing, and the economic benefits of the presence of AUA on Antigua for Antigua, should the government turn a blinds eye? Should the Government have no interest in what this student is writing that appears to be a crisis in the making.
It’s not only what the government has to do with it? But what is the government going to do about it?
Given Caribbean Offshore medical schools have been a sore point for the Medical Education Association, and the medical industry as well as the US EU and UK. Offshore medical Schools have always made good press and media it’s going to be interesting in producing articles from many angles and perspectives of he 6o minutes type. And so what does the Antigua government do it?
Apply some logic…..
What business is it of a government to get involved in the internal affairs of a private company. And for that matter a university. if any student as any issues they feel needs address, we have the court system. Government is not the place for your complain. Are they doing things against any law? In that case we again have the courts for them to be challenged. If a student doesn’t like the university they attend, guess what you have the freedom to switch to another University. My friends daughter just moved from a university in Florida because of some disagreement with them to a University in Canada. Freedom of choice. Why always we think government should be involved. That is not what government is for. Make laws pass laws and make policies. The police will uphold laws. And the court will settle disputes.
Is anything being done about this? How much of the student’s money did they spend on SIDS and buying that beachfront land for a hotel?
@Less We Forget, it doesn’t seem like you understood what you read, or, you just didn’t read.
@shameful: I vehemently disagree with you that the government of Gaston brown gang can remedy such circumstances , what I see is the civil servants of Antigua is held state capture by the Gaston brown gang, so the head of ONDCP and other institution are not viewed as credible to intervene on international matters since they are captured and dysfunctional or not allowed to talk or do their job, since Gaston gave them a stern warning that he is tap dawg and nobody elect them. So ease off Gaston and tell the civil servants to grow a back bone.
I would like to add to the faculty perspective on this. Faculty have not had a raise in over 7 years and due to inflation our salary has in fact been cut. Add to that the workload has been steadily increasing and now the latest is they going to cut out a swathe of faculty because the low student numbers are “unsustainable”. AUA has basically since its inception not being adhering to local labor , with wage theft as a result of refusing raises, and firing faculty without legally required severance, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. imagine the standard of education students will receive now with even fewer faculty. Added into this is the fact we know the deans and president etc are taking home hundreds of thousands of dollars bonuses, god only knows what for. students faculty and staff must band together and force the government to take action against these crooks, both the AUA corporation and also the individuals involved
For those who wonder about the relevance of CXC CSEC and CAPE exams these days, here is your answer. Although we welcome international schools here and our students often attend some in the States etc., this is not America and we have no control over how long these schools will be around or if or when our students will be able to access schools over there. It’s important to have and support a full and complete educational system of our own at all times, especially one that gives our students certificates that are valid all over the world.
However, I wish the AUA students well and hope things work out for this institution.
Some further info on what it means that AUA is under the more serious cash monitoring scheme by the US dept of education. The document in the original post clearly shows AUA is on this list, its there in black and white. At this stage it is not possible to say why they are under this more stringent form of oversight, but we may note that fraud and/or financial mismanagement are certainly possible reasonS. It would be a good idea for all students, faculty and staff to start making arrangement’s now, because if it is that the school is in fact one big Ponzi scheme, things can all start to unravel very quickly, leaving students and staff stranded, as the OP suggested: ###
Understanding Program Review for Schools
**1. Reasons for Program Review:**
– A school might undergo a program review for several reasons, primarily to ensure compliance with federal regulations related to federal student aid programs. Some specific triggers for a program review include:
– Financial instability or lack of financial responsibility.
– Previous findings from an audit or a program review.
– Complaints from students or other stakeholders.
– Repeated failures to meet reporting requirements.
– Actions by accrediting bodies or state authorizing agencies.
– Enforcement actions or suspicion of fraud related to Title IV funds.
**2. Usual Consequences of Program Review:**
– **Heightened Cash Monitoring (HCM):** This involves close monitoring of the institution’s cash management. The school might be required to operate under either HCM1 or HCM2, both of which impose restrictions on how and when funds can be drawn down.
– **Reimbursement Payment Method:** In severe cases, a school might be placed under the reimbursement payment method, which requires the institution to disburse funds to students before requesting reimbursement from the Department of Education.
– **Financial Penalties or Fines:** Schools found in violation of regulations might face financial penalties or fines.
– **Corrective Actions:** Schools may be required to take specific actions to correct issues identified during the review.
– **Loss of Eligibility:** In extreme cases, a school may lose its eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs.
**3. Examples:**
– Schools that fail to comply with Title IV requirements, such as not performing verification, incorrectly awarding aid, or failing to return unearned funds, are common examples of institutions placed under program review. These actions can lead to the implementation of the HCM payment methods or, in severe cases, the reimbursement payment method.
**4. Impact on the Institution:**
– Being under program review can lead to increased scrutiny and administrative burden on the institution. It may also affect the school’s reputation and its ability to manage cash flow effectively. The findings of a program review can also influence future federal funding and the institution’s overall financial stability.
For detailed guidelines on managing funds and understanding the consequences of being under program review, you can refer to the relevant sections in the **2020-2021 FSA Handbook, Volume 4** that you provided. This document outlines the procedures and requirements for schools managing federal student aid funds, including the implications of program reviews【4†source】.
https://www.reddit.com/r/medschool/comments/1evfgx4/american_university_of_antigua_most_currpted/
https://www.reddit.com/r/medschool/comments/1f5x7gh/american_university_of_antigua_experience/
I’m currently attending AUA as a first year US MED 1 student. Everything that this student is saying in this letter is true. My plan is to transfer to another school after this semester or the end of my MED 2 semester. It is going on almost a month, and students are still waiting on their refund to be direct deposited into their bank accounts to cover living expenses, and miscellaneous items we may need. The US Dept of Education is coming to AUA either this or next week concerning this Ponzi Scheme that’s going on here at AUA. However, everytime I question FA staff about my financial aid. It’s always blowing smoke up my behind. There is a lot of money being stolen from former and current students who have and/or attending AUA. There are many people that are involved in this financial aid fraud, starting with President Peter Bell, MD, Chief Operation Officer/Senior VP of AUA Vernon Solomon (Antigua Campus), Prabhu Marudheri (CFO) Mario or Marlon (Antigua Campus), and administrative/faculty staff. I will definitely be the Whistleblower that the U.S. Dept of Education and the U.S. FEDS and CIA need to put all these executive leadership and administrative staff who are involved with this fraud Ponzi scheme of stealing our money, which means all of these people involved will be prosecuted and sentenced to our US federal prison. This is definitely a “White Collar” crime, and the U.S. federal government doesn’t take this lightly. If I don’t receive my financial aid by the end of this month. I will definitely make some phone calls to the federal government located in Washington, DC.