Legal / Courts

Class-action lawsuit against for-profit Vista College seeks tuition refunds for abrupt closure

The chain's refusal to stay open long enough for students to complete their education constitutes a breach of contract, the complaint argues.

By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 15, 2021

Ex-USC dean indicted in alleged scheme to get kickbacks for social work school

The Justice Department alleges the dean worked to steer public money to the school in exchange for benefits for a Los Angeles politician's son.

By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 14, 2021

University's lawsuit seeks to bill insurer for coronavirus-related losses

Johnson & Wales U says it absorbed millions of dollars of losses that should be covered under commercial property and business interruption insurance.

By Rick Seltzer • Oct. 12, 2021

For-profit chain Vista College closes abruptly, files for bankruptcy protection

The chain shuttered campuses last week, telling students that unforeseen events and financial challenges prevent it from continuing to operate.

By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 12, 2021

San José State settles for $1.6M with athletes sexually abused by former trainer

The Justice Department concluded the university violated Title IX by failing to respond to reports of assault and retaliating against two employees.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Sept. 21, 2021

Federal judge finds provision of Trump-era Title IX rule unlawful

A policy preventing officials from considering statements that weren't subject to cross examination could render hearings hollow, the court said.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 05, 2021

Federal courts decline to block DeVos rule on campus sexual violence

The new Title IX regulation, which has been deeply criticized by survivor advocacy groups, takes effect Friday.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 12, 2020

Can colleges enforce rules designed to prevent coronavirus spread?

Schools are asking students and staff to adopt new behaviors and practices on campus, but it's not clear what they can do if people don't comply.

By Lorelei Laird • July 09, 2020

Supreme Court's DACA decision protects thousands of educators, students

However, the ruling leaves a pass for the Trump administration to attempt to end the program once more.

By Naaz Modan , Hallie Busta • June 18, 2020

Deep Dive

The Ed Dept is leaning on mediation to clear backlog of sexual violence cases, sources say

Its push comes as the laws and regulations around Title IX shift, creating a complicated oversight landscape.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 05, 2020

A new state bill could challenge key interstate distance learning pact

Maryland legislation may test the limits of new federal state authorization rules and an agreement that lets colleges offer online programs out-of-state.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 04, 2020

Can colleges keep up as Title IX guidance shifts and splinters?

Challenges over the sex discrimination law have had colleges constantly reworking their policies, and more could turn to outside help.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Feb. 19, 2020

MIT officials accepted Jeffrey Epstein's donations knowing his sex offender status, probe finds

Law firm Goodwin Procter released a report earlier this month about the relationship, but a professor it calls out has since pushed back on the findings.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • UPDATED: Jan. 21, 2020 at 4:31 p.m.

Dream Center lawsuit can proceed, federal judge rules

The decision is a critical step toward the discovery process, which the judge wrote will be key "to untangle the apparent web" of entities in the case.

By Hallie Busta • Jan. 08, 2020

College leaders walk a thinning legal tightrope on free speech

Indiana University's provost denounced a professor's problematic views, showing how higher ed must balance civil liberties and inclusivity.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Dec. 09, 2019

Deep Dive

DACA students' future hinges on an argument about procedure

Colleges have rallied around the program, whose future was argued before the Supreme Court Tuesday in a legal challenge that could be protracted.

By Daniel C. Vock • Nov. 11, 2019

5 college Title IX lawsuits to watch

These recent cases stand to change the way colleges adjudicate the controversial federal sex discrimination law.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 29, 2019

Civil rights groups sue U of California over SAT, ACT requirement

Their argument, that the tests discriminate against certain student groups, comes as more colleges drop the requirement.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • UPDATED: Dec. 10, 2019 at 5:20 p.m.

Ed Dept pulls back request to cancel $100K fine for loan collection

Later the same day that it asked to halt the fine, the department filed a report with the court that indicated 14,000 more borrowers could have been affected.

By Hallie Busta • UPDATED: Nov. 6, 2019 at 2:23 p.m.

Civil liberties watchdog FIRE debuts due process, Title IX tracker

The database aims to help attorneys and campus administrators make sense of a complicated area of the law that is increasingly in the spotlight. 

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 21, 2019

Sexual violence persists on elite research campuses, report finds

Results from a new national survey of college students were largely unchanged from 2015, the last time the data was collected.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 17, 2019

Deep Dive

These lawsuits could change the stakes for higher ed

Latest: Eastern Michigan defends its Title IX practices in court documents. Judge pauses case challenging Yale's affirmative action policies. 

By Natalie Schwartz • UPDATED: May 28, 2021 at 10:44 a.m.

Opinion

5 ways to protect your institution's academic integrity

Reviewing admissions and enrollment processes, particularly for special admits, can help avoid a crisis, writes one risk-management expert.

By Ashley Deihr • Aug. 26, 2019

MIT apologizes for accepting $800K from Jeffrey Epstein, vows to review policies

The announcement comes as more institutions are being held accountable for accepting funding from controversial sources. 

By Natalie Schwartz • Aug. 23, 2019

Q&A

How colleges can hone their response to 'flashpoints' on campus

We spoke with EAB's Jane Alexander to learn where colleges go wrong when addressing crises at their institutions and what they should do instead.

By Natalie Schwartz • Aug. 19, 2019