WASHINGTON, D.C. (CN) — The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday levied a record $14 million fine against Liberty University for failing to report campus crimes and the school's treatment of victims of sexual assault.
The fine is the largest ever imposed for violations of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, according to the department. The Clery Act requires institutions to provide accurate data about crimes to students, parents, employees and public postsecondary schools participating in federal student aid programs.
Unless Liberty complies with the law, the school risks jeopardizing participation in the federal student aid programs.
“Students, faculty, and staff deserve to know that they can be safe and secure in their school communities. We respond aggressively to complaints about campus safety and security,” the department's Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray said in a statement. “Through the Clery Act schools are obligated to take action that creates safe and secure campus communities, investigate complaints, and responsibly disclose information about crimes and other safety concerns. We will continue to hold schools accountable if they fail to do so.”
The department launched an investigation into Liberty in 2022 after receiving complaints charging that Christian university officials at the Lynchburg, Virginia school had engaged in “a pattern of conduct that reflected serious violations” of the law.
In reviewing the school’s practices, the department found that Liberty did not issue timely warnings to inform students and employees about crimes that pose an ongoing threat to students and employees, while also failing develop and implement campus safety measures.
It also failed to comply with sexual violence prevention and response requirements of the Clery Act, such as providing victims of sexual violence with notice of their rights and options, the department noted. In its review, the department found that numerous sexual assault victims were reluctant to speak up, and victims often felt dissuaded by Liberty administration’s reputation for punishing sexual assault survivors rather than helping them.
The Department of Education acknowledged that Liberty officials cooperated with the review but as part of a settlement agreement, the school agreed to a two-year period of post-review monitoring.
“While Liberty has not always agreed with its treatment by the department, we concur that numerous compliance deficiencies existed in the past,” Dondi E. Costin, Liberty University president, said in a letter posted to the school’s website. “Examples include incorrect statistical reports as well as necessary timely warnings and emergency notifications that were not sent properly. We acknowledge and sincerely regret these errors and have since corrected them in a manner that allows us to maintain compliance in each of these areas.”
He added that this is “a new day at Liberty University. We remain committed to prioritizing the safety and security of our students and staff without exception.” Costin also announced the creation of a school office to specifically oversee Title IX and Clery Law compliance.
Liberty will also spend $2 million during the next two years for on-campus safety improvements and compliance enhancements. An outside firm will audit the school’s progress.
Liberty University was founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell in 1971. A Department of Education summary notes that it currently has residential population of 15,000 students and full enrollment, including online classes, of 93,000 students.
In 2019, the Department of Education levied another notable fine of $4.5 million against Michigan State University for failing to confront the sexual abuse committed by Larry Nassar, a USA gymnastics doctor who admitted to sexually assaulting patients.
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