[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6479862,"mediaKeyId","5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9","parentId",5692069,"title","New OSAR chief named; closed‑school outreach after ICON Collective closure prompts hundreds of student contacts and STRF payments","audioSeconds",342,"startMs",2679000,"endMs",3021000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9&start=2679&end=3021","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9/thumbnail_2679000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479862/California/New-OSAR-chief-named-closedschool-outreach-after-ICON-Collective-closure-prompts-hundreds-of-student-contacts-and-STRF-payments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479862-d1d7821e5f335fce51bb05e89cc910f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1774827220&Signature=I5XUL47DEyVNkBBEIj5uiVqpNRZ7vRihmd76BjhrtHXf2o5ZPxRemhPoXchGnBgV7X7kAZL~YXwfeE0vQ-uC3ETolArz5y8MM1kiqiNTGDpe3UYgHgF~qebaljlZGVlKXlg46JWOz7wIN9BrvbFkGvzslTeqYi5SbCSBS4VTj-ueqo90ywmyo8BS6p5tSBSH3h0AeDnnc3lzpWWUBfEzuj3rKbcgAGR2YryhDI0ss1mu7VyUSvWpqZyGv4W7bsGlWmUcCVtj4~4zpDGV9PWq3GcM8pLLfmzy18O10~lUD2DHTrGnryTcqwYgfNWOWbONdD8Qyy595yl41oIeChTK4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Respiratory Care Board of California","date","2025-08-28T21:27:09Z","article","The bureau introduced Yan (pronounced Yan) Keough as the new chief of the Office of Student Assistance and Relief (OSAR). Keough said she brings experience representing students and working on supervision and enforcement at the federal level and in advocacy roles.

“I'm excited to be addressing issues that are facing students,” Yan Keough told the advisory committee, and she described her prior work representing students and in consumer protection roles.

Brian Vest, OSAR manager, reported outreach and assistance activity. The office conducted 24 informed‑choice outreach events this year and met with 1,891 prospective students. OSAR also carried out targeted closed‑school outreach after campus closures: for the ICON Collective closure the office obtained a roster for 310 students and outreach emails prompted closed‑school workshops and one‑on‑one appointments; about 40 students attended in‑depth workshops.

OSAR tracked phone and email inquiries and reported a rise in calls associated with STRF application assistance and other relief options. The office also reported increased one‑on‑one appointments in June related to ICON Collective.

The Student Tuition Recovery Fund team, led by Yvette Johnson, said STRF processed 120 claims in quarter 4 and approved 99 payment claims totaling about $1.75 million. At quarter end the STRF unit had 41 check requests at the State Controller’s Office totaling $736,978.91. Johnson said the STRF fund balance stood at $33,891,000 at the end of quarter 4.

STRF staff noted they continue to receive more applications through Connect than by paper, but vacancies in STRF staffing—an office technician and an associate governmental program analyst—have reduced throughput and are expected to depress claims processing in coming quarters until hires are completed.

Why it matters: OSAR and STRF are the bureau’s primary student assistance mechanisms after institutional closures. Rapid outreach can help students access transcripts, apply for STRF relief and pursue federal borrower relief where appropriate.

What’s next: OSAR and STRF will continue closed‑school outreach, encourage students to file via Connect and seek to fill STRF vacancies to restore processing capacity.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education- Advisory Committee Meeting- August 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The bureau introduced Yan Keough as the new chief for the Office of Student Assistance and Relief, and OSAR and STRF reported outreach and payments after school closures including ICON Collective.","taxTitle","Respiratory Care Board of California, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California","taxId",76751,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6479876,"State IT team says 25 years of postsecondary records migrated to new 'Connect' platform; bureau braces for long stabilization period",265,847000,1112000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9&start=847&end=1112","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9/thumbnail_847000.jpg","/articles/6479876/California/State-IT-team-says-25-years-of-postsecondary-records-migrated-to-new-Connect-platform-bureau-braces-for-long-stabilization-period","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479876-6dd962141108126c5efd8b9e01062149/orig.mp4?Expires=1774827220&Signature=FGgZ8zzBenVAeqF1YRqOjtxRWjTTR9eNWEJLwZbSRH2BI2weFNNZQXC3itVASreQznt6DwZUIHZX8O9dzzUImAUwOj7zapDwh8uT8mtUEhjs7OS15LvH8jbZRwNgjQWNykQ6HkkL8QSbf2ZfnV7uLFItZKRthCQCDypfMiHcAoRDV5fkj7YiNRV4DYDh114i19H0IPPIoUKRZzju-0qf5qzEA~4adanFS8sNeubSAfv9qA8S9CwLAUrYFZX5gISrcZMUbzatLlR6RoKo~ikHJ4lvSOYcU4S3MJbA0JssqPF6kBkL6SEO2a6h5tqf7WEAZA78a0lbOxMU69Fsbe2REg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Consumer Affairs has migrated roughly 25 years of bureau institution, licensing, enforcement and Student Tuition Recovery Fund data into its new Connect platform, the department’s chief information officer said at the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education advisory committee meeting in August.

“We have successfully migrated 25 years worth of bureau institution data, application data, financial data, to marry up with the enforcement data and the STRF claims data,” Jason Piccione, chief information officer for the Department of Consumer Affairs, told the advisory committee. He added that the migration was “successful. Not perfectly. Successfully.”

Piccione said the work moved into production around July 1, 2025. He described a multi‑stage rollout that begins with data migration and an initial set of automated digital communications—annual fee notices and STRF quarterly notices—followed by a stabilization period during which staff will identify defects and perform continuous improvements. He emphasized that maintenance and ongoing updates will be permanent tasks for the bureau and DCA IT.

Bureau leadership and multiple staff members were credited for the rollout. Piccione named Tamika Garvin, Greg Donkerbrook, Richie Barnard, Sean McClary, Mike Trin, Lucy Castillo, Jennifer “JJ” Juarez and DCA staff member Brian Leggett as contributors. Bureau Chief Debbie Cochran and Deputy Bureau Chief Manila Longmeni both praised Jason Piccione and bureau staff for the work.

Committee members asked how the agency plans to gather stakeholder feedback. Piccione said internal “stabilization” work provides frequent operational feedback, and the bureau plans targeted outreach and transaction surveys for external users (for example, periodic surveys after certain transactions). He said the team has not yet finalized timing or exact configurations for the external surveys.

Why it matters: the Connect platform is the bureau’s primary tool for accepting applications, issuing notices and handling payments and complaints. The bureau expects that more application types processed in Connect will reduce processing times, improve communications with institutions and give staff better access to operational data for workload management.

What’s next: Piccione said the bureau will continue stabilization and expand external data access slowly, and that continuous improvement will be led jointly by DCA IT and bureau leadership.","The Department of Consumer Affairs has migrated roughly 25 years of bureau licensing, enforcement and financial data into a new platform, Connect, and said a lengthy stabilization phase and continuous maintenance are required before the system’s capabilities are fully realized.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6479857,"Bureau proposes new regulations to standardize accreditation verification; committee suggests templates for accreditor letters",455,3427000,3882000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9&start=3427&end=3882","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9/thumbnail_3427000.jpg","/articles/6479857/California/Bureau-proposes-new-regulations-to-standardize-accreditation-verification-committee-suggests-templates-for-accreditor-letters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479857-296fb0b559841e3b911d47513546eba6/orig.mp4?Expires=1774827220&Signature=eeojyiAdGOVqy~ll2gATcPTh7J2fIubhxeRfBbWxk7Z8zVFYuA2eJrDoASP7~017SRkjG1Fdx9niG8dli9SSfJTLB8gYTx-x0ZlH4LmBVPpBQ1Ucd4kFvJVk3i9DCWU~UIt4FXvl4Sm-Kd4yPilMCwqkujTL6-iamT46YNLxyC-TjUYoELuBWVoXtUKGR9cZbBuUHY6hnGwokOgIiKurUAuVw2z7P58w~6~wmZZIOV2Es2KeteWMTH2iU6mu~rmM-N4-QRbpyu2EUJYDE0N9YeH~FG2b0m-GwmgsoOJgxrM0AtbrzWBluM61IDKmDHYh1TCyai3990xFNCKT2s8Q1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The bureau presented draft regulatory text to tighten the information required when an institution seeks approval to operate “by means of accreditation” and during renewals.

“We're proposing regulations that clearly spell out what information must be provided,” Deputy Bureau Chief Manila Longmeni said, describing the bureau’s need for accreditation date, ownership information, locations, program offerings, an agent for service of process and the custodian of records.

Regulation specialist Parker Strohmeyer summarized proposed edits to California Code of Regulations sections 71390 and 71480 (draft language reorganizes subsection b and adds new subparts). The draft asks for accreditation period dates, owner names and ownership percentages, addresses of accredited locations, program lists with credential levels and hours/units, the institution’s custodian of records, and an explicit acknowledgment that accredited institutions must comply with all requirements of the Education Code and bureau rules.

Strohmeyer said the bureau had discussed the proposal with multiple accrediting agencies and listed several that had been contacted. Committee members recommended providing a standard template or form that institutions could submit and accreditors could sign to streamline the process. Michael Zimmerman raised concerns about administrative burden for widely held ownership structures and suggested a percentage threshold rather than listing every stockholder. Licensing leadership and committee members supported the template idea to create consistent, machine‑readable submissions.

Status: the refund policies rulemaking package is moving toward finalization; the approval‑by‑means‑of‑accreditation proposal remains in internal development and will proceed through DCA review and public notice steps.

Why it matters: clearer, standardized accreditation verifications can reduce repeated back‑and‑forth with institutions and accreditors, shortening licensing timelines while ensuring the bureau has the information needed to enforce state law.

What’s next: bureau staff will accept committee input, incorporate feedback such as a template letter, and continue DCA internal reviews before formal public notice and comment.","BPPE staff proposed amendments to require detailed information when institutions apply for approval by means of accreditation, including dates of accreditation, owners, locations, program details, custodian of records and agent for service of process. Committee members recommended a standard template or form to reduce burdens on accreditors and",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6479867,"Licensing staff report staffing shifts and early gains from Connect; bureau oversees 1,536 locations statewide",488,2582000,3070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9&start=2582&end=3070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9/thumbnail_2582000.jpg","/articles/6479867/California/Licensing-staff-report-staffing-shifts-and-early-gains-from-Connect-bureau-oversees-1536-locations-statewide","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479867-3c0633fe884f6436602ecbcd652bd38d/orig.mp4?Expires=1774827220&Signature=boxqBk5Y9AGNYGbq-5sX4cKMLm15U6~teFiW78ahAVnf4Xfvp-rT2YFHleFuOMgvco2cVinbtZMktjUug0~YAPlJ7lZrevf0jcnMaqqT7he9jVp72XKJoSt5aRTjPO1wQp81pRTTUbiHrZk092GWksXn7ZHRaW0ybbQjrjQ4V9Mwb--O1Ogx1WS0oAG4hVnVBMF38IVcKobEwhovHgP~PZHhpvVL1wrcBbjfVHjbjWj2umItx3lEL~1QOBYgA3QozVsI9qrPWU7XP~ReyUN4VKnBUm45DsWltytdaaupK8hgrRurR1rd0thyoa~b2IeqPnbbxnwh7SamvOEECL6Cuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s licensing unit told the advisory committee it is operating through a major system transition, has experienced leadership changes, and expects application timeframes to improve as more application types move to the Connect platform.

“Early data shows that applications processed in Connect were approved on average a hundred and thirty days faster than paper submissions,” Deputy Bureau Chief Manila Longmeni said in her licensing report.

Longmeni said licensing staff logged 369 hours of regression testing for Connect during quarter 4 and redirected two analysts to support the launch. The team is actively recruiting to fill a licensing chief vacancy after Greg Donkerbrook accepted a position with another state agency.

By the end of the fiscal year, the bureau reported 1,536 total locations statewide. Longmeni provided a breakdown: 385 institutions approved by means of accreditation, 500 with full non‑accredited approvals, 138 out‑of‑state registrations and none currently operating under conditional approval. She also reported that the bureau processed nearly 300 verification of exemption actions and more than 200 approval change requests during the fiscal year.

Committee members asked whether Connect can produce a ‘chess‑clock’ style analysis showing how much time an application spends waiting on institutions versus bureau review. Longmeni said that capability is planned for the longer term but not available immediately. Members also asked about more frequent, institutional conference options to resolve repeated deficiency letters; Longmeni said such meetings are available on request and could be formalized as part of business process improvements.

Why it matters: application processing times and communication practices directly affect institutions’ ability to operate and students’ continuity of instruction. The move to Connect is the bureau’s principal tactical approach to shorten timeframes and reduce manual backlogs.

What’s next: licensing will continue streamlining internal business processes, expand online application types, and consider formalizing targeted meetings with institutions that face repeated deficiencies.","The licensing unit said the Connect transition and internal process changes are already trimming some processing time: early data show applications processed in Connect were approved about 130 days faster than paper filings. The bureau reported 1,536 locations under oversight and said renewals remain complex.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6479872,"Investigations unit reports rise in annual complaints and steady growth in investigations; many intake complaints outside bureau jurisdiction",655,1519000,2174000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9&start=1519&end=2174","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692069-daeee3f5c85996b225b0d7350f9858c9/thumbnail_1519000.jpg","/articles/6479872/California/Investigations-unit-reports-rise-in-annual-complaints-and-steady-growth-in-investigations-many-intake-complaints-outside-bureau-jurisdiction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479872-0c01dccfa3a326644575c75e385c00be/orig.mp4?Expires=1774827220&Signature=fXJkDGVpVzNS~ovNmTyypbj2SDb2lVWAnX7OSHMX2et7XjvXGTzoyiht4s2mj0PkfEjEwgdu6EcTQqfaS3XPlVAEZCRTlgI7~9j57XM8y19PRZyveE33HyMOddS6jdLotJoBjOz39mmMmJikTQKSM~-ewNzp5watXtQQD4nj3Vja-IASzvD9~3v6bkxoFt1dxfARhxuLdJ0xZm0yhU1pDGQwy6hs0LrAlANoKUkAfQlNMsZgZ8bQfyPnVkrodfeiBZZgw6CTxnyvsKJUNE0SB8GcaxpUtyPfsfUjjqPniy8fZTJ7m2NzGhJ-6PcsHglrZ-Jo21yGRJ63gWqKhQ~L6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Investigations Unit reported to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education advisory committee that complaint volume rose year over year and that the unit has continued to increase the number of completed investigations.

“We received 288 complaints in quarter 1 and 165 in quarter 2,” Daniel Rangel, chief of the Investigations Unit, told the committee. He reported a total of 1,039 complaints for fiscal year 2024–25, up from 903 the prior year.

Investigations completed by the unit rose from 757 in fiscal year 2022–23 to 1,110 in fiscal year 2023–24 and to 1,175 in fiscal year 2024–25, Rangel said. He described the distribution of closure times: the most common closure windows were 0–90 days and 1–2 years.

Rangel presented eight anonymized examples of complaints closed at intake for lack of jurisdiction. Examples included complaints about out‑of‑state institutions where the complainant was not a California resident (referred to the Arizona board), closed schools where custodians of records held transcripts, employment disputes steered to the local Labor Commissioner’s Office, and allegations of discrimination referred to the California Civil Rights Department. Several complainants with closed or long-closed schools were referred to the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) or the Internal Revenue Service where financial records or tax questions were involved.

Rangel said the intake team routinely redirects non‑jurisdictional matters to appropriate agencies and noted a concerted effort over the last two quarters to reduce the age of pending caseload: cases older than one year decreased from 221 to 162. The total pending caseload fell from 610 at the end of quarter 2 to 482 by the end of quarter 4.

Committee members asked for more detail about “insufficient evidence” closures and for the bureau to provide clearer descriptions of intake dispositions in future reports. Rangel agreed to provide additional breakdowns on request.

Why it matters: an increase in complaints and in completed investigations reflects both more incoming reports and the bureau’s rising investigative output. Patterns of non‑jurisdictional complaints highlight where complainants need better guidance or referral pathways to other agencies.

What’s next: the unit will continue tracking intake dispositions, work to reduce backlog age and provide the committee with requested clarifications about evidence categories.","The bureau received 1,039 complaints in fiscal year 2024–25 and completed 1,175 investigations, the investigations chief told the advisory committee. The intake team closed numerous complaints as non‑jurisdictional and routed complainants to other agencies including STRF, the California Civil Rights Department and out‑of‑state regulators.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

New OSAR chief named; closed‑school outreach after ICON Collective closure prompts hundreds of student contacts and STRF payments

State IT team says 25 years of postsecondary records migrated to new 'Connect' platform; bureau braces for long stabilization period

Bureau proposes new regulations to standardize accreditation verification; committee suggests templates for accreditor letters

Licensing staff report staffing shifts and early gains from Connect; bureau oversees 1,536 locations statewide

Investigations unit reports rise in annual complaints and steady growth in investigations; many intake complaints outside bureau jurisdiction