Liberty University fined record $14m for violating campus safety rules

Liberty University in Virginia has agreed to pay out $14m after the United States Department of Education found it violated campus safety laws.

The Department found multiple instances between 2016 and 2023 of the college, which is a private Christian institution, breaking rules around informing the campus about emergencies and dangerous situations.

A 100-page report released by the DOE outlined a “systemic and persistent failure” by leadership to develop and implement adequate campus safety and crime prevention programs.

The DOE’s Federal Student Aid office found that the college had violated the Clery Act, which requires colleges taking part in federal student aid programs to provide accurate information on public safety issues to students, parents, employees, and prospective students and staff.

Even though Liberty is a private Christian college, its participation in federal student aid means it is subject to DOE scrutiny under the Clery Act. It received over $880m in student loans and grants in 2022-23.