State Auditors Find Big Problems in New Jersey’s Student-Aid Authority

The state authority that distributes student aid in New Jersey failed to comply with executive orders, had insufficient oversight, and may have violated state ethics laws, according to a report released by the state’s inspector general, The Star-Ledger reported today. The authority’s executive director, Michael Angulo, was a finalist in the recently completed search for a president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

The New Jersey inspector general recommended that the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority hire an internal auditor and give more power to its board. Agency officials declined to comment to The Star-Ledger, but a spokeswoman told the newspaper that the group was working to “ensure that the proper controls are in place.” The authority had previously come under scrutiny as part of a larger investigation into ties between colleges and lenders.