Bard College, False Claims Act Violation, New York 2023

Bard College, a nonprofit institution with its main campus in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, has agreed to pay $4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act in connection with a federal grant and with regard to the receipt and disbursement of Title IV federal student aid funds, announced United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner today.

The settlement announced today stems from a whistleblower complaint filed by two former students of Bard’s Master of Arts in Teaching Program at Paramount Bard Academy in Delano, California (Kern County) pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in the proceeds of the suit.

The two former students will receive a percentage share of the settlement in an amount to be determined.

The settlement resolves allegations that Bard received funds under the Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program despite failing to comply with the conditions of the grant.

The settlement also resolves allegations that Bard awarded, disbursed, and received Title IV student loan funds at campus locations before such locations were accredited or before providing notice of such locations to the Department of Education, in violation of applicable regulations and Bard’s Title IV Program Participation Agreements with the Department of Education.

“When institutions of higher education opt to participate in loan and grant programs administered by the Department of Education, their participation comes with conditions designed to protect the institution’s students and the integrity of the Department of Education’s programs,” said United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner.

The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

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