Generally, no, you won't be able to directly sue a school specifically for the loss of its accreditation. While losing accreditation is a significant event with severe consequences for a school and its students, the act of losing accreditation itself is typically a regulatory decision by an accrediting body, not a direct cause for a private lawsuit against the institution.
Understanding Accreditation and Its Importance
Accreditation signifies that a school meets certain quality standards set by an independent, recognized accrediting agency. It is crucial for several reasons:
- Recognition of Degrees: Degrees from unaccredited institutions may not be recognized by employers, other colleges for transfer, or professional licensing boards.
- Financial Aid Eligibility: Most federal student aid programs, including grants, loans, and work-study, require students to attend an accredited institution.
- Transferability of Credits: Credits earned at unaccredited schools are often not accepted by accredited institutions.
When a school loses its accreditation, it means it no longer meets these established quality benchmarks.
Why Direct Lawsuits for Loss of Accreditation Are Difficult
The loss of accreditation is often the result of a school failing to meet academic, financial, or administrative standards over time. It's a regulatory consequence rather than an actionable offense that directly enables a lawsuit for the loss itself. Schools generally do not guarantee their accreditation status in perpetuity, and the process involves oversight by external bodies. Therefore, suing simply because accreditation was lost is typically not a viable legal path.
What Options Do Students Have When a School Loses Accreditation?
While suing for the loss of accreditation itself is generally not possible, students affected by such an event have other important options and considerations:
- Transferring Credits: A primary avenue for current students is to transfer their current credits to another accredited school. This allows them to continue their education and graduate from an institution that holds recognized accreditation.
- Degree Validity for Past Graduates: For those students who graduated prior to the school losing its accreditation, their degrees are still considered valid and were earned from an accredited institution at the time of their graduation. The loss of accreditation does not retroactively invalidate degrees already conferred.
- Exploring All Options: Students should carefully consider all available options, which may involve contacting the school directly, the accrediting agency, and potentially other educational institutions to understand transfer policies.
Practical Steps If Your School Loses Accreditation
If you are a student at a school that has lost its accreditation, here are crucial steps to take:
- Contact Your School: Immediately reach out to your school's administration, registrar's office, or a special student support department (if established) to understand their plans and assistance programs for affected students.
- Contact the Accrediting Agency: Get official information directly from the accrediting agency that withdrew the accreditation. They can provide details about the reasons for the loss and what might be offered to students.
- Explore Transfer Opportunities:
- Research other accredited colleges and universities that offer similar programs.
- Inquire about their policies for accepting transfer credits from unaccredited institutions or institutions that have recently lost accreditation. Some may have specific agreements for affected students.
- Understand Financial Aid Implications:
- If your school loses its accreditation, you will likely no longer be eligible for federal student aid.
- Contact the Federal Student Aid office or your school's financial aid department to understand the impact on your current and future aid.
- Explore options for loan discharge in specific circumstances, although this is not always guaranteed.
- Review Academic Records: Ensure you have copies of your transcripts, course descriptions, and other academic records, as these will be vital for transferring credits.
It's important to act quickly to minimize the disruption to your educational journey.
| Aspect | Implication for Students |
|---|---|
| Direct Lawsuit for Loss | Generally not feasible; loss is a regulatory outcome. |
| Validity of Past Degrees | Degrees earned prior to accreditation loss remain valid. |
| Current Student Credits | May be transferable to other accredited institutions. |
| Federal Financial Aid | Eligibility for aid is typically lost once accreditation is gone. |
| Recommended Action | Focus on transferring credits and exploring educational options. |
