CHARLOTTE, N.C. — TheΒ U.S. Department of Education announced that on Dec. 31, 2016, it will end access to federal student financial aid for Charlotte School of Law (CSL). According to the U.S.D.E, this action will further the Departmentβs commitment to vigorously protect students, safeguard taxpayer dollars, and increase institutional accountability among postsecondary institutions.
The Charlotte School of Law released the following statement:
On December 19, 2016, the Charlotte School of Law was notified by the Department of Education that our application for recertification under Title IV of the Higher Education Act was denied and that our eligibility regarding federal financial aid would end on December 31, 2016. We strongly disagree with this determination and are evaluating all available options to challenge the decision, particularly the Department of Educationβs mischaracterization of CharlotteLawβs academic accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA) and our representation of that status.
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CharlotteLaw will continue to work closely with the ABA to seek clarification on this unprecedented decision and we will preserve all avenues of appeal and recourse available to us. We will continue to put the best interests of our students first and foremost as we assess our options going forward.
Following a review of the relevant information, the Department concluded that CSLβs non-compliance with the fundamental standards set by its accreditor, the American Bar Association (ABA), resulted in its violation of the Higher Education Act, the Departmentβs regulations, and CSLβs Program Participation Agreement with the Department.
Additionally, the Department concluded that CSL made substantial misrepresentations to current and prospective students regarding the nature and extent of its accreditation and the likelihood that its graduates would pass the bar exam.
βThe ABA repeatedly found that the Charlotte School of Law does not prepare students for participation in the legal profession. Yet, CSL continuously misrepresented itself to current and prospective students as hitting the mark,” said U.S. Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell. βCSLβs actions were misleading and dishonest. We can no longer allow them continued access to federal student aid.β
On Nov. 14, 2016, the ABA announced that CSL was placed on probation, citing the schoolβs non-compliance with several standards necessary to maintain its accreditation with the ABA, including the requirements of:
- Maintaining a rigorous program of legal education that prepares its students, upon graduation, for admission to the bar and for effective, ethical, and responsible participation as members of the legal profession;
- Maintaining sound admission policies that are consistent with the schoolβs mission, and the objectives of the schoolβs program of legal education; and,
- Refraining from admitting applicants who do not appear capable of satisfactorily completing its program of legal education and being admitted to the bar.
The ABA first informed CSL of its non-compliance in February 2016, and did so again in July 2016.
On both occasions, the school failed to disclose this finding to current and prospective students, despite its admission that the information would have a profound impact on their enrollment decisions. Instead, CSL continued to represent itself as in full compliance with the ABAβs standards.
The ABA afforded CSL two opportunities to provide evidence and oral testimony of its compliance with the ABAβs standards. On both occasions, the ABA affirmed its determination of CSLβs non-compliance, and in October 2016 placed CSL on probation.
When considering the schoolβs request for recertification, the Department considered these and other facts and made an informed judgment about the institutionβs administrative capability and performance as a fiduciary of federal funds.
Todayβs action denies CSLβs request to be recertified to continue its participation in the federal student aid programs. Effective Dec. 31, 2016, CSLβs participation in those programs will end, and beginning Jan. 1, 2017, students may no longer use federal student aid to attend the school.
During the 2015-16 award year, CSL enrolled 946 federal aid recipients and received approximately $48.5 million in federal student aid funds, primarily federal student loans. CSL has until Jan. 3, 2017 to submit evidence to dispute the Departmentβs findings.
Over the last three fiscal years, the Department has denied recertification applications for more than 40 institutions, including Marinello Schools of Beauty, Computer Systems Institute, and Medtech College.
