Appendix D.

Student Interview Questions

When necessary, student interviews can be an important part of the review process. They
can provide reviewers with valuable information about the administration of the Title IV
programs at an institution. We ha ve assembled some student interview questions to help
reviewers target problem areas during a program review. They can identify problems and
systemic deficiencies not readily apparent in a file review alone. These questions are
not intended to be all-inclusive. Reviewers must use their professional judgement in
the type of questions being asked, and expand or focus the questioning when
necessary to concentrate on areas of concern disclosed by the answers to other
questions.

A student interview may be conducted at the school location or at another location away
from the school. Many students feel more comfortable discussing problems when they
are away from the school. Interviews may also be conducted on the telephone. If
reviewers discover unusual documents or discrepancies during a file review, reviewers
may wish to ask the student about that particular issue. If student complaints were one of
the factors for the program review, interviews can help clarify the problems.

All interviews must be completely documented for future reference.

Appendix D - 1
Name
Program of Study
Award Years Enrolled/Status
(Freshman, Sophomore, etc.)
Date of Withdrawal/Graduation
Date/Time of Interview

The following questions are suggested for this interview process:

(NOTE: Some questions may be more applicable depending upon the type of
institution the student is attending.)

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Ask for name, date of birth, social security number (it helps to confirm whom you spoke
to).
Are you a U.S. citizen? If not, are you a permanent resident of the U.S.?
Do you have a college degree, even from a school outside the U.S.? If so, what kind of
degree?
Do you have a high school diploma or GED? If not, what type of admissions test did you
take and who administered the test? Someone from inside or outside the school?
Male/female?
Are you currently enrolled in high school?
If you took an admissions test, did anyone he lp you complete the test? Was the test
timed? How many times did you take the test? If more than once, was it the same test?
Have you attended any other postsecondary institution?
If so, did you receive any federal funds there? Have you ever defaulted on any federal
student loan or do you owe a refund on any federal assistance you received?
When did you start school here?
What program (course) are you enrolled in?
What do you expect this course to prepare you to do? How much money do you expect
to make? What kind of job do you expect to get?
-What type of federal aid did you apply for at this school? Did anyone in the financial
aid office help you fill out the applications? Did you need to use any tax returns or other
documents to fill out the applications?
-Do you live with your parents, on campus, or on your own? Do you have any special
circumstances that you discussed with school officials about your ability to pay for
school?
-Did someone tell you how much federal funds you could expect to receive and when?
-What type of federal aid have you received? How did you receive it? (Via a
disbursement check or by the school crediting your account?)
-Were you told how much of your own money you might have to pay for school
expenses?
-Have you given the school written permission to hold any excess federal funds to pay for
tuition and fees or help budget your aid?
-Have you received all the books, equipment and supplies you should have received, and
for which you have been charged?

Appendix D - 2
-Are you aware of the school’s satisfactory academic progress standards? Have you had
any academic problems? What are your grades? Have you ever been put on probation?
Have you ever appealed a decision to terminate your enrollment based on your grades?
-Have you had to take any long periods of time off from school because of health or other
problems? How long? Did you have to fill out a form to request approval to take time
off? Did anyone counsel you about how long you could take off, and whether this would
affect your grades or awards? (Determine whether student took LOA or dropped out.)

For students in clock-hour programs:

-What are your class times; do teachers usually keep to those hours?
-How is attendance taken? Have them be specific.
-Do you get unscheduled days off?
-Is the teacher usually present during class or are you given a lot of self-directed
assignments to do in class?
-Do you know if there is an attendance policy about missing too many hours?
-What happens if you miss class; are you allowed to make-up classes? How are they
handled? Teachers giving instruction or given assignments?
-How is attendance taken for make-up hours?
-Were you given make- up credit for homework assignments?

-If no longer enrolled at school, does the student remember the ir last date of attendance?
Use a significant event or a holiday to jog their memory.
-Did you receive notification of any refund made to your loan? Was a refund paid on
your loan?
-Did you sign a repayment agreement? Did you receive a copy of that agreement?
-Did you receive counseling about loan obligations/repayment after you
withdrew/graduated?

-How did you hear about this school?

-Did you talk to a sales representative?
-Were you given any incentive to enroll in this school?
-Were you promised anyt hing as a reward for completing the program?
-Were you informed about the placement and completion rates prior to enrolling?
-What kind of other information were you provided describing the school, it’s programs,
costs & financial aid, etc. before you enrolled at this school?

-Did you receive any information about campus crime (new info given out each year)?
-Do you feel that information you were given was accurate?

Appendix D - 3
INDEPENDENT/DEPENDENT STATUS

(A “yes” answer to any one of questions 2-6, or being 24 years old when filing the
application indicates an independent student)
1. What is your age?
2. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
3. Are you a graduate or professional student?
4. Are you married?
5. Are you a ward of the court or are both of your parents deceased?
6. Do you have legal dependents other than a spouse?

VERIFICATION

1. Was your application for federal aid selected for verification?

2 What type of additional information were you asked to give to the financial aid
office?
3. Did they clearly tell you what you needed to bring in, the timeframe to bring it to
them, and what would occur if you did not bring in the additional paperwork?
4. Did someone help you fill out the forms or tell you what to write?
5. Did your award change because of the verification process? If so, was it a greater
or lesser amount?

FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAMS

-When did you fill out your FFEL application?

-Did anyone help you fill out the application?
-How did you decide how much money to apply for on the loan application?
-Did you choose the lender, or did the school?
-Were you offered any incentive to get a student loan through that lender?
-Did you receive any counseling before you received your first disbursement? In-person
counseling?
-Do you know how your loan disbursements were made (check to student, check to
school, wire transfer)?
-Did you sign the loan check, and was the check made out just to you, or co-payable to
you and the institution? Or were you notified that loan funds were received and credited
to your account? Were you told that you could choose to cancel the portion of the loan
disbursement?
-Did you receive a copy of your promissory note/application?

DIRECT LOAN QUESTIONS

-When did you sign your promissory notes?

-Have you received notification each term that your loan funds have been disbursed?
How was the notification delivered? Were you told that you could choose to cancel the
portion of the loan disbursement?

Appendix D - 4
-Did you receive any counseling before you received your first disbursement? In-person
counseling?

FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM

1. When did you sign your promissory note? Did you receive a copy of it?
2. Did you receive any counseling before you received your first disbursement? In-
person counseling?
3. How many advances did you get?
4. When did you sign for your advances?
5. How did you receive your advances?

FEDERAL WORK-STUDY

1. What type of work are you performing? Is the job on or off campus?
2. Do you fill out timesheets for the times you work?
3. Does your supervisor monitor your work performance?
4. Does your supervisor certify the timesheets?
5. Do you work part-time or full-time?
6. How are you paid for the time you work? In a paycheck? Does the school credit
your account?
7. How many hours do you usually work in a day, do you get breaks?
8. Do you ever have class/work conflicts (asked to work during scheduled class
time)?

SPECIAL ISSUE QUESTIONS

1. If the student is enrolled in an ESL-only program, ask if he or she has a pre-

existing job skill. What is it? Describe?
2. If the student is enrolled in a combined ESL and regular program, ask if student
was told that he or she only had to complete the ESL portion.
3. Do you have any additional comments, positive or negative?

Appendix D - 5