Education Department Imposes Record $14 Million Fine on Liberty University for Campus Safety Violations
The Education Department has announced that it will impose a record $14 million fine on Liberty University for violations of federal campus safety laws. The department has also mandated that Liberty University invest $2 million in campus safety improvements over a two-year monitoring period.
The report released by the Education Department highlighted multiple violations by Liberty University between 2016 and 2023. These violations included failures to issue timely warnings about criminal activity, insufficient notifications about emergencies and dangerous situations, and a lack of an accurate and complete crime log. The review concluded that Liberty University had a persistent failure to implement adequate campus safety and crime prevention programs.
Richard Cordray, the chief operating officer of the Education Department’s Federal Student Aid office, emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and security of students, faculty, and staff in school communities. He stated, “We respond aggressively to complaints about campus safety and security… We will continue to hold schools accountable if they fail to do so.”
In response to the fine, a spokesperson for Liberty University expressed the institution’s commitment to maintaining the safety and security of its students and staff. The university acknowledged past program deficiencies and stated that it has since made significant advancements to ensure compliance with Title IX and Clery Act regulations.
Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, is a private Christian university with over 90,000 students studying at its campus and online programs. The university is renowned for its influential Christian education and frequently hosts high-profile speakers.
While Liberty University is a private institution, it is obligated to comply with the Clery Act, a federal law that requires schools participating in federal financial aid programs to report crime statistics and other information related to campus safety. In 2022-2023, Liberty University received nearly $880 million in student loans and grants from the Education Department.
This is not the first time the Education Department has imposed a significant fine on a university for safety violations. In 2019, Michigan State University faced a $4.5 million fine for its systemic failure to address sexual abuse cases involving Larry Nassar, a former staff member who treated athletes on the school’s gymnastics team.
The release of the Education Department’s report on Liberty University follows a confidential preliminary report obtained by The Washington Post, which detailed alleged violations of federal law and failures to maintain campus safety. The draft report accused the university of discouraging crime reporting, failing to warn about potential dangers, and even destroying evidence during the government’s investigation.
Liberty University has disputed these allegations, stating that it has cooperated with the Education Department and hired external firms to assess its compliance with the law. The university has expressed concerns about the department’s treatment, claiming selective and unfair targeting.
Lawmakers have also raised concerns about the Liberty University inquiry, with some accusing the Education Department of targeting religious institutions unfairly. In a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, several Republican representatives expressed their concerns about the department’s actions.
Liberty University was co-founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell in 1971 and gained prominence as a leading Christian institution. After Jerry Falwell’s death in 2007, his son Jerry Falwell Jr. took over as president. However, he resigned in 2020 following personal scandals. Currently, Air Force Maj. Gen. Dondi E. Costin serves as the university’s president.
This is an ongoing story, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
