GCU TODAY • 5
G
CU passed its latest program review by the
Department of Education with flying colors in June.
A process that previously had taken three years was
accomplished in just 27 days, led by Chris Linderson, GCU’s
vice president of student financial aid compliance. GCU
Today caught up with Linderson, who shared the details of
—and the credit for — the considerable effort.
1
What does the Department of Education look for
during its reviews?
The DOE’s reviews focus
on the administration and compliance of federal
regulations as they relate to Title IV funding.
Specifically, the financial aid area is examined to
ensure federal funds are managed properly. But each
of the University’s departments whose actions impact
a student’s financial aid also is reviewed. In this most
recent process, a lot of time was spent on the online
modality — instruction, interaction between students
and instructors, and learning outcomes.
2
Howdid you shave off nearly three years from
the reviewprocess?
This was a collaborative effort
among every department. We all worked extremely hard
to ensure we’re in compliance with every regulation
and that all our processes align. For example, OFA
now is included in academic meetings, where policy
and program changes are discussed, to determine any
financial impacts on a student or the University.
3
What are the benefits of streamlining
the process?
We are experiencing many benefits
due to the process improvements we’ve made over the
past four to five years. We are able to provide better
service to our students, and we’ve all become efficient at
processing, which helps keep tuition low.
4
How is GCU positioned for future DOE reviews
— start to finish in two weeks?
As long as we
keep doing what we’re doing with the same passion for
excellence, I believe we’ll continue to shine and be that
one for-profit institution that doesn’t fit the mold. I don’t
think it’s possible to have a review closed any faster than
our last one, but you never know!
5
How do you get away from it all?
Tennis can be
a great stress reducer — hitting those balls as hard
as you can gets rid of a lot of frustrations! I normally
play four to five times a week, both competitively and
for fun. It’s a great workout, and I’ve made many friends
this way.
JANIE MAGRUDER
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5 ON 5 WITH
If you’ve visited campus or
contacted the University lately,
chances are you’ve interacted
with student workers. GCU’s
employment and training
of them is on the upswing.
Check out these stats:
Chris Linderson, Office of Financial Aid
Before a recent
rehearsal in GCU’s
Ethington Theatre,
a student collected
the actors and
crew for a word of prayer onstage. She was
the cast chaplain, a concept that a handful
of universities have formalized and one that
GCU’s College of Fine Arts and Production
is expanding. For the past four years, music
department students have selected their peers
not only to pray at rehearsals and concerts,
but also to organize activities, promote student
life and provide leadership. The college’s dean,
Claude Pensis, said the student chaplains, who
are supervised by faculty, are an emerging
example of the University’s integration of
faith and learning. “The student chaplain is
an extension of our Christian worldview—
principles that are fused into everything we
do,” Pensis said. “They are models, mentors,
representatives of the University.”
Visit
o readmore.
Oh,
Yeah?
photo by darryl webb
1,800
student workers now
1,210
student workers
a year ago
3.43
average student worker GPA
19
642
student workers
who are freshmen
57
student workers who
graduated and became
full-time staff in 2014
number of
departments
hiring them
