Liberty University files lawsuit against Gov. Ralph Northam, claiming discrimination against online students
Lawsuit is in reference to a change in the 2020 Virginia Budget
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LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty University has filed a lawsuit against Virginia on the basis of discrimination.
The legal complaint alleges that amendments to the 2020 Virginia Budget wrongly exclude Virginia’s online students from receiving the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant, according to Liberty.
The university filed the suit against Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Peter Blake, the director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
Since 1973, the state of Virginia has provided economic assistance to Virginia residents seeking higher education through its VTAG program and until 2020, students, regardless of being online or in-person, could apply to receive funding.
Liberty University sues state over budget amendments
The complaint alleges that amendments to Virginiaâs 2020 budget wrongly exclude online students from receiving the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant. Liberty University (Source: WDBJ) By Sarah Irby | Liberty University Release | January 8, 2021 at 1:00 PM EST - Updated January 8 at 1:21 PM
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - Liberty University has filed a complaint against Governor Ralph Northam and the Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia âto defend the equal protection rights of Virginia-based students.â
The complaint alleges that amendments to Virginiaâs 2020 budget wrongly exclude online students from receiving the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant.
Liberty University on Friday sued Gov. Ralph Northam and the director of the body charged with coordinating higher education in the commonwealth over changes to a state-funded tuition assistance program that bars online students from receiving financial aid.
The civil lawsuit, filed in federal court in Lynchburg, alleges state officials discriminated against students in the commonwealth by distinguishing between online and residential students when distributing financial assistance through the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant program.
The grant program provides tuition assistance to Virginia residents who attend private colleges and universities in the state, including Liberty. Until last year, students enrolled in online classes had been eligible to receive the same amount of grant money as students enrolled in in-person classes.
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