Liberty University fined a record $14 million for violating campus safety law

Source: Washington Post

March 5, 2024 at 1:02 p.m. EST


The Education Department will impose a record $14 million fine on Liberty University, department officials announced Tuesday, for violations of federal law on campus safety.

Liberty must also spend $2 million on campus safety improvements — in addition to the money it has already budgeted for Clery operations — during a two-year post-review monitoring period, the department said.

“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,” said Rich Cordray, the chief operating officer of the Federal Student Aid Office of the Education Department. “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 released a more-than-100-page report on the findings of its review of Liberty, a private university in Lynchburg, Va..n More than 90,000 students study at Liberty University. It is one of the most influential Christian universities in the country and frequently draws high-profile speakers to its campus.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/03/05/liberty-university-clery-act-education-department-report/