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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

Former UCLA Soccer Coach Sentenced in College Admissions Case

Former UCLA Soccer Coach Sentenced in College Admissions Case
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Former UCLA Soccer Coach Sentenced in College Admissions Case BOSTON – The former men’s soccer coach at the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), was sentenced today in connection with his involvement in a scheme to use bribery and fraud to facilitate the admission of applicants to UCLA,,,

Defendant Sentenced for Participation in Scheme to Defraud Bossier Parish Community College

Defendant Sentenced for Participation in Scheme to Defraud Bossier Parish Community College
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Defendant Sentenced for Participation in Scheme to Defraud Bossier Parish Community College SHREVEPORT, La. – Audrey Williams, 57, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Chief U.S. District,,,

The Department’s Recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools as an Accrediting Agency

2021
S19T0003
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education

The objectives of our inspection were to determine (1) the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department) process for assessing the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and School’s (ACICS) compliance with Federal regulatory criteria for recognition, and (2) what evidence the Department...

Provider of Federally-Funded Tutoring Services to Underprivileged New York City Public School Students Agrees to Settle Civil Fraud Allegations

Provider of Federally-Funded Tutoring Services to Underprivileged New York City Public School Students Agrees to Settle Civil Fraud Allegations
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Provider of Federally-Funded Tutoring Services to Underprivileged New York City Public School Students Agrees to Settle Civil Fraud Allegations Innovative Educational Programs, LLC (Innovative), an educational services provider, has agreed to pay the United States $1,185,000 to resolve civil,,,

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting Requirements

2021
I20DC0013
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education
Pandemic

The objective of our inspection was to determine (1) whether selected institutions receiving funds under the Institutional Portion of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) met public reporting requirements and (2) the reported usage of the Institutional Portion of HEERF by selected...

Two Former Alabama Public School Superintendents Among Six Charged with Fraud Related to Virtual Education

Two Former Alabama Public School Superintendents Among Six Charged with Fraud Related to Virtual Education
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Two Former Alabama Public School Superintendents Among Six Charged with Fraud Related to Virtual Education Montgomery, Alabama – On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, six individuals appeared in court after being indicted on charges related to the fraudulent enrollment of students in Alabama virtual,,,

Former Bossier Parish Community College Comptroller Sentenced for Stealing More Than $280,000

Former Bossier Parish Community College Comptroller Sentenced for Stealing More Than $280,000
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Former Bossier Parish Community College Comptroller Sentenced for Stealing More Than $280,000 SHREVEPORT, La. - Carol Bates, the former comptroller for Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), was sentenced today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander,,,

New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty To Theft of More Than $280,000 in Federal Student Aid

New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty To Theft of More Than $280,000 in Federal Student Aid
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty To Theft of More Than $280,000 in Federal Student Aid NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced that ASHLY HOWARD (“ HOWARD”), age 33, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on February 18, 2021 in federal court before U,,,

San Gabriel Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Charge for Fraudulently Obtaining Over $500,000 in COVID-19 Jobless Relief

San Gabriel Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Charge for Fraudulently Obtaining Over $500,000 in COVID-19 Jobless Relief
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

San Gabriel Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Charge for Fraudulently Obtaining Over $500,000 in COVID-19 Jobless Relief LOS ANGELES – A San Dimas man pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge that he fraudulently obtained more than $500,000 in COVID-19-related unemployment benefits in,,,

California Private Equity Executive Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case

California Private Equity Executive Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

California Private Equity Executive Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case BOSTON – A former senior executive at TPG Capital, a global private equity firm, pleaded guilty today in connection with his involvement in the college admissions case. William E. McGlashan, Jr., 57, pleaded guilty to one,,,

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