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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

Union County Man Indicted on Tax and Fraud Charges

Union County Man Indicted on Tax and Fraud Charges
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Union County Man Indicted on Tax and Fraud Charges NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man was indicted today on charges of filing false tax returns, statements, and other documents; failing to file a tax return; wire fraud; and student aid fraud, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced,,,

Former Houston Independent School District Employee Agrees to Plead Guilty in College Admissions Case

Former Houston Independent School District Employee Agrees to Plead Guilty in College Admissions Case
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Former Houston Independent School District Employee Agrees to Plead Guilty in College Admissions Case BOSTON – A former employee of the Houston Independent School District has agreed to plead guilty in connection with her involvement in a scheme to use bribery and fraud to facilitate cheating on the,,,

Three Nigerian Nationals Indicted For International Cyber Fraud Conspiracy

Three Nigerian Nationals Indicted For International Cyber Fraud Conspiracy
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Three Nigerian Nationals Indicted For International Cyber Fraud Conspiracy United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the unsealing of three separate indictments against OLUFEMI OLUWASEUN BANJO, a/k/a “Femi Banjo,” 37, FRANCIS NWABUEZE IWUOHA, 38, and OLUWADAMILARE GBENGA MACAULAY, 32,,,

Former Houston Independent School District Employee Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case

Former Houston Independent School District Employee Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Former Houston Independent School District Employee Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case BOSTON – A former employee of the Houston Independent School District pleaded guilty today in connection with her involvement in a scheme to use bribery and fraud to facilitate cheating on the ACT and SAT,,,

California Executive Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case

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

California Executive Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case BOSTON – A California insurance and private equity executive pleaded guilty today in connection with using fraud and bribery to cheat on the ACT exam on behalf of his daughter. Mark Hauser, 59, of Los Angeles, Calif., pleaded guilty to,,,

Baton Rouge Man Indicted for Fraud Scheme and Money Laundering Related to Financial Aid Fraud

Baton Rouge Man Indicted for Fraud Scheme and Money Laundering Related to Financial Aid Fraud
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Baton Rouge Man Indicted for Fraud Scheme and Money Laundering Related to Financial Aid Fraud A federal grand jury recently returned a fourteen-count indictment charging Elliott Sterling, age 32, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with wire fraud, financial aid fraud, and engaging in monetary transactions,,,

Tennessee Attorney Charged with Conspiracy, Federal Bribery, and Interstate Transportation in aid of Bribery

Tennessee Attorney Charged with Conspiracy, Federal Bribery, and Interstate Transportation in aid of Bribery
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Tennessee Attorney Charged with Conspiracy, Federal Bribery, and Interstate Transportation in aid of Bribery Jackson, Miss. – Errol Harmon, 47, of Memphis, Tennessee, has been charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy, bribery, and interstate transportation in aid of bribery, announced United,,,

Fort Myers Woman Indicted For Wire Fraud And U.S. Department Of Education Financial Aid Fraud

Fort Myers Woman Indicted For Wire Fraud And U.S. Department Of Education Financial Aid Fraud
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Fort Myers Woman Indicted For Wire Fraud And U.S. Department Of Education Financial Aid Fraud Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Elaine M. Levidow (60, Fort Myers) with 10 counts of wire fraud and one count of Federal Student,,,

University of North Georgia's Controls Over Reporting Clery Act Crime Statistics

2020
A09T0006
Audit
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education

The objective of our audit was to determine whether the University of North Georgia (North Georgia) had controls to ensure that it reported complete and accurate campus crime statistics under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). North...

Challenges for Consideration in Implementing and Overseeing the CARES Act

2020
X20DC0003
Other
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education
Pandemic

This management information report provides the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) perspective on challenges the U.S. Department of Education (Department) may face as it implements and oversees the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In preparing this report, we reviewed...

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