WASHINGTON, May 8 The official responsible for oversight of the U.S. Education Department's student loan program is leaving her position in the wake of a growing scandal.The department announced this week that Theresa Shaw has resigned as chief operating officer of the office of student aid, The New York Times reported. The announcement came two days before Education Secretary Margaret Spellings was scheduled to testify before a congressional committee.New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has been investigating ties between universities and companies that make student loans. In his testimony before the House Education Committee, he accused the Education Department of being "asleep at the switch." Spellings called Shaw "a tireless advocate for students and families" and said college loans are working better than ever. Shaw joined the Education Department in 2002 after 22 years in the lending industry.Copyright 2007 by UPI
