2023-001 Program Eligibility—Significant Deficiency United States Department of Education - ALN 84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans Program Criteria: Students who receive federal student aid are required to be enrolled in an eligible program. Eligible programs must be included in an institution’s accreditation and authorized by the State and the US Department of Education. Condition: The Law School disbursed federal student aid to 63 students, totaling approximately $2,115,747, enrolled in an ineligible program; the LL.M. program. Context: The impact was to 63 students over a four-year period. Cause: The Master of Laws (LL.M) Program was included in the Law School’s ECAR which was approved by the Department of Education. The Law School’s accreditation by the American Bar Association does not cover programs outside of the Juris Doctorate program. As such, the LL.M program was not properly accredited and therefore not an eligible program. The ECAR was subsequently amended to remove this program. Effect: Federal student aid funds were inappropriately disbursed to students in an ineligible program which resulted in the Law School entering into a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to which the Law School reimbursed and paid a fine to the US Department of Education. Questioned Costs: $2,115,747 Recommendation: We recommend the Law School review new or modified programs to ensure program eligibility requirements are met. Corrective Actions Taken: Upon notification from Department of Education regarding this concern, the Law School discontinued disbursement of Title IV funds to students of the LL.M. program and will not disburse those funds to students of that program until it receives additional accreditation. The Law School is currently working on obtaining accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for its existing LL.M. and future Master’s degree programs. Responsible Person: David D. Meyer, President and Dean, (718) 780-7901, david.meyer@brooklaw.edu