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the university.

The report has been referred to the Arkansas Attorney General’s office and the 2nd Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office for review, lawmakers said.

Lawmakers including Sen.

Jane English (R-North Little Rock) also asked A-State officials about the issue, with officials saying an agent can receive at least $100 a semester or possibly more per student for their work.

The committee heard from Chancellor Todd Shields and system official Shane Broadway on the issue.

Shields said he received an anonymous tip in spring 2023 about the issue and one agent in particular. Shields said the university immediately ended its contract with the agent in spring 2023 and no longer works with the agent, who was not named at the meeting. From there, Broadway said university officials began the internal audit and self-reported the findings to Legislative Audit.

The university has also implemented a policy that will require agents to log in and verify they are working to bring the students to school.

Also, the system will verify the student is enrolled at AState and is taking classes.

Shields said it appeared that the process involving the International Programs Department may have been an isolated situation but is something that university officials take very seriously.

The full committee will meet Friday in Little Rock.