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Abbreviation
ED
Agencies
Department of Education
Federal Agency
Yes
Location

United States

What to Report to the OIG Hotline
Violations of Federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to U.S. Department of Education programs and funding, including complaints involving U.S. Department of Education employees, recipients of Department of Education funds, schools, school officials, other educational institutions, contractors, lending institutions, collections agencies, or public officials. This includes, but not limited to: • Embezzlement, bribery, or other public corruption involving U.S. Department of Education funds • Serious mismanagement involving U.S. Department of Education programs or funds • Theft or misuse of Federal student aid • Knowledge of fraud, waste, or abuse involving a financial aid administrator or other school official(s) • Knowledge of fraud, waste, or abuse involving a student loan servicer or collection agency • Knowledge that your school is not complying with regulations or laws involving Federal student aid or other U.S. Department of Education program or operation • Whistleblower reprisal (if you are a U.S. Department of Education employee, also report reprisal to the Office of Special Counsel) • Conflicts of interest • Contract and procurement irregularities • Theft or abuse of government property • U.S. Department of Education employee misconduct • Ethics violations by U.S. Department of Education officials • Unauthorized access to U.S. Department of Education Information Technology systems or Information Technology systems that involves administration or disbursement of U.S. Department of Education funds.
What Not to Report to the OIG Hotline
If your complaint or allegation does not involve fraud, waste, theft, mismanagement, public corruption, or abuse involving U.S. Department of Education programs or funds, you may need to contact another U.S. Department of Education office or Federal or State agency for assistance. If your complaint or allegation falls under one of the categories below, please contact the agency or organization listed for assistance. If you have been unable to solve a problem that is not a result of theft or fraud involving your Federal student loan: • Please contact the FSA Ombudsman’s Office at 1-877-557-2575 (TDD - 1-800-848-0983) or https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman. The FSA Ombudsman’s Office is a neutral, informal, and confidential resource to help resolve disputes about your Federal student loans. If you have an issue with your private student loan, or another private financial product or service: • Please contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at 1-800-411-2372 or http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/#student-loan. You can submit a complaint about private student loans, which are often issued by a bank, a credit union, your school, or another lending institution. If you believe an improper accounting error occurred on your student loan involving a collection agency or loan service center, or if you disagree with your loan servicer about the balance or status of your student loan: • Please contact the FSA Ombudsman’s Office at 1-877-557-2575 (TDD - 1-800-848-0983) or https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman If you require technical assistance regarding your student loan, mediation between your loan servicing center, or problems receiving student loan documents from your loan servicer, disability forms, or loan cancellation: • Please contact the FSA Ombudsman’s Office at 1-877-557-2575 (TDD - 1-800-848-0983) or https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman If the Internal Revenue Service has or will offset income tax returns, or if you believe that there has been an improper garnishment of your wages for the repayment of student loans: • Please contact the Office of Debt Collection Services at 1-800-621-3115 (or 1-202-377-3373 or 1-202-377-3374), or find more on what you can do if you defaulted on your student loan repayment here: https://myeddebt.ed.gov/borrower/contactusSubLinks If your school closed or your loan was cancelled as a result of a school closure: • Please contact the FSA Ombudsman’s Office at 1-877-557-2575 (TDD-1-800-8480983) or https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman If you have questions concerning the quality of education you received while attending a college, university, or trade school: • Please contact your local Better Business Bureau, the school’s accrediting agency, the State licensing agency, or the State Board of Higher Education. If your complaint involves a Head Start Program: • Please contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) OIG at 1-800-424-9121 or https://oig.hhs.gov/ If your complaint involves a school lunch program: • Please contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) OIG at http://www.usda.gov/oig/ If your complaint involves discrimination on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual preference: • Please contact the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights – 1-800-421-3481 or http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintprocess.html If you are a U.S. Department of Education employee and your complaint involves discrimination on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual preference: • Please contact the U.S. Department of Education Equal Employment Opportunity Service Office - 1-800-872-5327 or https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/om/fs_po/om/eeo.html If your complaint involves a scholarship scam—someone calling to offer you a scholarship and requesting your bank or credit card account number for a processing fee—do not share any information and immediately • Contact the Federal Trade Commission - 1-877-FTC-HELP or http://www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams

Missouri’s Administration of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund Grant

2022
A20GA0018
Audit
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education
Pandemic

The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the State of Missouri (Missouri) designed and implemented awarding processes that ensured that the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER grant) was used to support local educational agencies (LEAs) and institutions of higher education...

Superseding Indictment Adds Defendants to $25 Million, Prison-Based Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme

Superseding Indictment Adds Defendants to $25 Million, Prison-Based Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Superseding Indictment Adds Defendants to $25 Million, Prison-Based Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme FRESNO, Calif. — A total of eight defendants have been charged in a superseding indictment for submitting over $25 million in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in the identities of inmates,,,

One-Time EDD Employee Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $4.3 Million in COVID Relief Funds

One-Time EDD Employee Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $4.3 Million in COVID Relief Funds
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

One-Time EDD Employee Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $4.3 Million in COVID Relief Funds RIVERSIDE, California – A former California Employment Development Department (EDD) employee was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for causing nearly 200,,,

Richmond Community College Director Charged with Stealing Student Financial Aid Funds

Richmond Community College Director Charged with Stealing Student Financial Aid Funds
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Richmond Community College Director Charged with Stealing Student Financial Aid Funds RICHMOND, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging a Richmond woman with orchestrating a nearly decade-long scheme to defraud the United States Department of Education and the,,,

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Administration of the Temporary Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students Program

2022
A19NY0012
Audit
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education

The objectives of our audit were to determine whether the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Massachusetts) ensured that (1) displaced student count data provided to the U.S. Department of Education (Department) were accurate and complete, (2) Temporary Emergency Impact...

Owners Of Florida Teacher Certification Preparation Company Sentenced To Federal Prison For Racketeering Conspiracy And Conspiracy To Commit Theft Of Trade Secrets

Owners Of Florida Teacher Certification Preparation Company Sentenced To Federal Prison For Racketeering Conspiracy And Conspiracy To Commit Theft Of Trade Secrets
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Owners Of Florida Teacher Certification Preparation Company Sentenced To Federal Prison For Racketeering Conspiracy And Conspiracy To Commit Theft Of Trade Secrets TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Kathleen M. Jasper, 43, and Jeremy M. Jasper, 41, of Estero, Florida, were sentenced today to ten months and four,,,

The Department’s Implementation of CARES Act Flexibilities to TEACH Grant Service Obligations

2022
I20DC0024
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education
Pandemic

The objective of our review was to evaluate the Department of Education’s plans and processes to ensure Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grantees receive full-time credit toward their service obligations for part-time and temporarily interrupted service due to...

Owner of Diving School Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud

Owner of Diving School Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Owner of Diving School Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud CAMDEN, N.J. – The president and CEO of a commercial diving school was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining funding from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Veterans,,,

Review of State Plans for Use of Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Funds

2022
F20DC0028
Other
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education
Pandemic

The objectives of our review were to review States’ initial 45-day GEER Fund reports to determine how States plan to allocate funds to entities within the three authorized categories: local educational agencies (LEA), institutions of higher education (IHE), and education-related entities, and the...

Former School Superintendent Pleads Guilty in Virtual Education Fraud Case

Former School Superintendent Pleads Guilty in Virtual Education Fraud Case
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Former School Superintendent Pleads Guilty in Virtual Education Fraud Case Montgomery, Ala. – On Thursday, December 16, 2021, William L. Holladay, III, 57, now a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to defraud the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) by,,,

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