The Arkansas Department of Education (Department) has been advised that the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office (AG), Consumer Protection Division, is currently investigating a non-profit organization referred to as National Research Center for College and University Admissions (NRCCUA) and the “Post-Secondary Planning Survey” it is distributing to Arkansas schools. Correspondence with the AG’s office states that NRCCUA indicates its “primary mission is to provide data solicited from students annually to colleges, universities, technical and vocational schools in order to enable high school students to learn about and prepare for post-secondary opportunities.” However, some question has arisen regarding NRCCUA’s use of the data obtained on high school students from the survey through an organization known as American Student List (ASL). Apparently, there is some concern as to whether ASL “uses the information obtained through the NRCCUA survey to inundate young people with credit card applications, magazine subscription offers, financial aid information, etc.”
For this reason, Ms. Karen Keyes Diner, Investigator, AG Consumer Protection Division, would like to hear from any school official that has been contacted by or has information on NRCCUA or has administered the “Post-Secondary Planning Survey” to their high school students. Ms. Diner can be reached at 501-682-9483 or toll-free 800-482-8982.
Any questions or requests for additional information should be directed to Ms. Diner at the above phone numbers.