Account Appeals and Complaints

A student who is placed on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal this decision by submitting a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form with third party supporting documentation, if required, to be reviewed by the SAP Appeal Committee. The appeal statement should explain why the student did not meet the SAP requirements. The Committee consists of the Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Advising, one Financial Aid Advisor and one Compliance Analyst.

After the Financial Aid SAP Appeals Committee reviews the submitted appeal, the student will be notified of the decision in writing through an email communication to the student’s Liberty email account. All financial aid awards remain canceled until the student follows these appeal procedures and receives a written notification of reinstatement. If a reinstatement is approved, the reinstatement will last from the date of the appeal approval until the next measurement event. In cases where a student receives financial aid in the form of subsidized employment, the student’s worksite supervisor(s) will be notified of the reinstatement.

Financial aid eligibility will continue for students on financial aid warning or probation status. A Financial Aid SAP Appeal is not required for financial aid warning or probation statuses.

Students who submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Office very late in a term or after the term has ended may lose financial aid eligibility because regulations may limit the time when aid may be re-awarded and/or disbursed.

Students should complete the electronic SAP Appeal form available under “Financial Aid Forms” in ASIST. If requested, third party supporting documentation for appeals must be uploaded while completing the form in ASIST.

A student may appeal the decision to cancel eligibility for a scholarship by sending a detailed, signed letter stating any mitigating circumstances to be considered. The Financial Aid Scholarship Appeals Committee reviews the submitted appeal and supporting documentation.

To submit an appeal, go to liberty.edu/beacon, select “New” and “Scholarship Appeal”. Proceed with each prompt and submit the form.

The resident and online Student Advocate Offices assist students who have gone through all the customary operating procedures but have not been able to resolve particular challenges related to financial aid. The primary function of these offices is to answer students’ questions and resolve problems.

For Liberty University online students, appeals and General Complaint forms may be submitted to:

Online Advocate Office
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Fax: (800) 628-7977
www.liberty.edu/beacon
Student Complaint form

For Resident students, appeals may be submitted to:

Resident Advocate Office
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd
Lynchburg, VA 24515
434-582-7200
luostudentadvocate@liberty.edu
Student Complaint form

A formal appeal concerning the decision to deny approval for state grant eligibility may be filed by contacting the State Grants Supervisor in the Liberty University Financial Aid Office. If the appeal is denied, the State Grants Supervisor will notify the student within 30 days.

State Grant Appeals to the State Grants Supervisor may be submitted to:

State Grants Supervisor, Appeal
Liberty University Financial Aid Office
MSC Box 710282
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Fax: (434) 582-2053

If the student disputes the decision made by the State Grants Supervisor, the student may appeal to the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV). The student must submit a copy of the appeal and supporting documentation.

State Grant Appeals to the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) may be submitted to:

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Office of Student Financial Aid
2017-18 TAGP Appeals Committee
James Monroe Building
101 North Fourteenth Street
Richmond, VA 23219

The state office will then request any additional information that is needed. The office will also contact the school and request any documentation the school may have received and an explanation of the denial. They will ask for the school to fax the following:

• Copy of the VTAG application
• Date student’s application was received
• Date the student started school
• Date the student moved to Virginia
• Dates of enrollment and number of attempted hours for each semester
• Copy of denial letter
• Any other documentation that pertains to decision

The student may also submit a second appeal if they are denied by the first SCHEV Council at the state level. The state may also ask the student for copies of:

• Letter explaining case for approval
• Driver’s license, car registration, voter registration
• Letter from employer, missionary agency, social workers, school officials, etc.
• Copy of Virginia resident income taxes for parents, spouse, or student
• Copy of federal taxes
• Legal guardian documents
• Ward of court documents
• Custody documents
• Copy of DD-214, LES, or Home of Record
• Any other supporting documentation

Students who dispute how a federal student loan was processed or a decision regarding eligibility may contact the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Ombudsman. The FSA Ombudsman resolves disputes from a neutral, independent viewpoint. The Federal Student Aid (FSA) Ombudsman will informally conduct impartial fact-finding about student complaints. The Ombudsman will recommend solutions but does not have the authority to reverse decisions. The Ombudsman will also work to bring about changes that will help prevent future problems for other student loan borrowers. This free service is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Ombudsman will research the problem and determine whether the student has been treated fairly. If the student loan complaint is justified, the Ombudsman will work with the student and the office, agency, or company involved in the problem. On the student’s behalf, the Ombudsman will contact other offices within the U.S. Department of Education, his or her private lender, his or her loan guaranty agency, and the servicing agency or firm collecting the loan.

If the student’s complaint is not justified, the Ombudsman will take the time to explain how the U.S. Department of Education reached this conclusion. The Ombudsman may be contacted as follows:

U.S. Department of Education
FSA Ombudsman Group
P.O. Box 1843
Monticello, KY 42633
Phone: (877) 557-2575
Fax: (606) 396-4821

Direct Link: https://studentaid.gov/sa/repay-loans/disputes/prepare

You can also complete the secure and confidential Ombudsman Assistance Request Form. Remember, the Ombudsman Group can help resolve disputes about federal student loans. If you have a dispute about your private student loan, contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Anyone suspecting fraud, waste or abuse involving U.S. Department of Education funds or programs should contact the Inspector General’s Office by:

Submitting your online complaint information Calling the OIG Hotline’s toll-free number 1-800-MIS-USED. Hotline Operators take calls during the hours of Monday and Wednesday 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time; Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time except for holidays. Downloading a hardcopy of the special complaint form, complete, and mail to:

Fax: (202) 245-7047

Your report may be made anonymously or in confidence. You may submit a report of suspected fraud, waste or abuse involving other Inspector General agencies.

Inspector General’s Hotline
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-1500

Employees who are not eligible to receive a portion of their CE benefits due to an unusual credit hour count, such as 5 hours, may appeal the denial of their eligibility for the first three credit hours of the five-hour course, if eligible, and pay for the remaining two hours out-of-pocket. The employee must submit an explanation of mitigating circumstances and additional pertinent documentation to:

Liberty University
Office of Human Resources
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515

If a student-athlete wishes to appeal a scholarship decision and remain enrolled at Liberty, he or she has the right to a hearing by a body outside of athletics in accordance with NCAA bylaw 15.3.2.3. Upon written notification of the intent to remove the scholarship, the student-athlete must request a hearing in writing to the Senior Supervisor of Financial Aid NCAA Compliance within 10 calendar days of receiving the notification.

Liberty University
Financial Aid Office MSC Box 710282
Senior Supervisor of Financial Aid NCAA Compliance – Appeal
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515

If a hearing is requested, the Senior Supervisor of Financial Aid NCAA Compliance will organize a hearing at the earliest availability of the appellate committee. The committee shall consist of the Senior Vice President for Student-Affairs, University Registrar, Faculty Athletics representative, Senior Vice President of Student Financial Services and Associate Director of Financial Aid/Student Services. If a committee member is unavailable to attend, a replacement will be selected by the Faculty Athletics representative.

In accordance with requirements issued by the U.S. Department of Education, Liberty University is “providing its students or prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accreditor and with its state approval or licensing entity and any other relevant State official or agency that would appropriately handle a student’s complaint.” This information is now part of the standard Consumer Information and annual disclosure procedure of Liberty University. It is subject to revision.

[34 CFR 668.43(a)(12)(iv)(b), p.66954, vol. 75, no. 209, 10/29/10 ]

State Consumer Complaint Contact Information

All concerns may be directed to Student Advocate via telephone (434-582-7200), email (studentadvocate@liberty.edu), or in person. All official complaints may be directed to the University Ombudsman via email (luombud@liberty.edu). The University Ombudsman or designated representative will review the complaint, give an official investigation and confirm appropriate follow up.

Online students may submit a complaint by completing the complaint form. A designated representative will review the written complaint and respond to the student.