Congress of the United States Washington, DO 20515 June 1, 2015 The Honorable Arne Duncan Secretary United States Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20202 Dear Secretary Duncan: We write today in regards to the Department's response to the recent closure of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. On April 27, 2015, Corinthian closed its remaining 30 campuses, abruptly interrupting the academic careers of 16,000 students and leaving many former students uncertain about their options for financial relief. Corinthian previously operated four campuses in Virginia under the Everest College banner. While the four campuses in Virginia have not closed, we are hearing from students who aitended these facilities and have been left with unmanageable debt and incomplete certifications and degrees. While there is a larger debate to have about transparency, gainful employment, and the 90/10 rule, we believe that our focus now should be on outreach, borrower education, and customer service to these students. Understanding that the magnitude of this closing is unprecedented, there are several questions that we believe should be thoughtfully answered to ensure a positive consumer experience as the Department considers how to address the needs of former Corinthian students: 1. By when does the Department anticipate making initial contact with all eligible students regarding their options for credit transfer, teach-out, or closed school loan discharge? 2. Does the Department's current student aid hotline have the capacity to absorb the influx of former Corinthian students? Do you anticipate the volume of students being sufficient to justify a dedicated hotline? 3. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that former Corinthian students receive accurate and reliable information when they correspond with Department staff or contractors? 4, Does the Department anticipate a surge in defense to repayment claims? If'so, what steps are being considered to standardize the application process? What potential obstacles might delay implementation of this process?5. What authority, if any, does the Department have unilaterally, or in coordination with Treasury, to temporarily halt the collection of current and/or delinquent student loan debt from former Corinthian students? ‘Thank you in advance for your continued attention and sense of urgency in providing borrowers with the information and resources they need to navigate this difficult situation. I look forward to your response. Please contact Marvin Figueroa at Marvin_Figueroa@warer senate. gov o (202) 224-2023 or Dominic Bonaiuto at Dominic.Bonaiuto@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-1492 should you have any questions about this matter. Sincerely, Merk. me a BY ‘Mark R. Warner Gerald E. Connolly = United States Senator Member of Congress