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Former DeVry University Dean Picked To Lead Fraud Investigation Unit

Julian Schmoke Jr. will head the Student Aid Enforcement Unit, which — among other things — investigates fraud committed by for-profit universities.

By: Ryan Biek

Posted at 12:30 PM, Aug 31, 2017

The White House tapped a former DeVry University official to head the U.S. Department of Education's enforcement unit, according to Politico.

Julian Schmoke Jr. was a dean at DeVry, a for-profit college network, and more recently was executive director of campus relations for West Georgia Technical College.

You've likely heard of DeVry. The for-profit university got in big trouble with the Federal Trade Commission after it was accused of misleading students about job security and salary expectations after graduation. The university ended up settling and paid $100 million.

Now, Schmoke will be in charge of uncovering and investigating those types of potentially illegal actions.

The Department of Education created its Student Aid Enforcement Unit last year to respond to complaints, with a focus on the for-profit sector.

Politico notes some Senate Democrats might want someone besides Schmoke to head the enforcement unit.

Several Democrats had previously written Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, urging her to pick someone with "relevant experience in consumer protection or litigation."