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•Ir
Students receive information about MJI at an orientation event in
Jerusalem in 2013.

FBI Raid

Michigan Jewish Institute
is under federal scrutiny.

Ronelle Grier I Contributing Writer

Kasriel Shemtov (also spiritual director
at The Shul), the college plans to use the
Catherine Grant, a spokeswoman for
new building to better
the Department of Education's Office of
— serve local students by
the Inspector General, confirmed that "a
expanding its on-site
search warrant was conducted" July 7,
class offerings and
programs.
but declined to provide further informa-
tion.
Current enrollment
While most MJI students take courses
and recent graduation
online in the United States and abroad,
figures were not avail-
on-site classes are taught in The Shul's
able from MJI officials,
Rabbi Kasriel
Jack and Miriam Shenkman Building
who said they could not
Shemtov
in West Bloomfield, with administrative
respond to questions
offices located in Southfield. A three-
posed by the JN because
story, 16,000-square-foot headquarters
of the pending federal investigation.
building adjacent to The Shul, which will
MJI spokesman Mort Meisner provided
be the new consolidated home for MJI, is
the following statement:
currently under construction.
"Michigan Jewish Institute has pro-
The nonprofit accredited college, which vided educational opportunity and career
is affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch
pathways for thousands of students over
movement, offers applied science degrees many years, and we are proud of our
in Judaic studies, business and informa-
accomplishments. MJI is cooperating
tion systems, and computer information
fully with the federal authorities. We are
systems, as well as certificate programs in continuing operations as normal.
Talmudic law and other subjects.
"We remain committed to our students
MJI has been the focus of past national who rely on the Institute, and we appre-
news stories because of its high number
ciate the dedication of our nearly 100
of online students and its rapid increase
faculty and staff who are focused on our
in enrollment — from less than 100 stu-
students. We will not be providing any
dents to more than 2,000 after its online
further comments until we have more
Judaic studies program, introduced in
information:'
2006, received accreditation in 2009.
As reported in the JN, MJI received
A 2012 story in the JN covered MJI's
a new grant of accreditation in March
response to a story in the Jewish, New
2013 from the Accrediting Council
York-based Forward newspaper that
for Independent Colleges and Schools
insinuated the college was misusing the
(ACICS), a national accrediting agency
federal Pell Grant program, which pro-
approved by the U.S. Department of
vides financially challenged students, who Education, which, in turn, certified MJI
meet certain requirements, up to $5,730
to participate in federal student financial
per year toward tuition at approved insti-
aid programs, such as Pell Grants.
tutions.
MJI's accreditation renewal was
At that time, MJI officials said many of deferred twice, which was deemed "busi-
the students receiving Pell Grants were
ness as usual" and "part of the process"
U.S. citizens attending approved yeshivah
by a former chair of the ACICS accredit-
or seminary partner schools in Israel as
ing commission. ACICS has provided
guest students, a practice that does not
accreditation to the institution since 1997;
violate federal grant regulations.
the current accreditation is valid through
According to MJI President Rabbi
December 2017.

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12 July 16 • 2015

Uwe

