Charlotte School of Law negotiating transfer sister school in Florida, students say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Students are outraged over another move by the embattled Charlotte School of Law.

Last month, the school lost federal funding. Now students told Channel 9 they aren't happy with a potential deal to transfer them to a sister school in Florida.

Tami Schack should be preparing for her fourth semester at CSL, but instead, the mother of three, who is pursuing a law degree in honor of her late husband, is scrambling to transfer

"I felt they misrepresented themselves," Schack said.

Last month, the federal government announced it is pulling funding from the school for failing to comply with American Bar Association standards.

Officials sent an email Friday saying they're working to help students transfer to Florida Coastal Law. It's owned by Infilaw, the same company that owns Charlotte School of Law.

"Definitely not," Schack said when asked if she would transfer there." I don't (have) anything to do with Infilaw."

Students suing Infilaw argue the school misrepresented its status.

"CSL consigns the majority of them to years of indentured servitude, saddling them with hundreds of thousands of dollars in nondischargeable debt," the lawsuit states.

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Schack cried Monday when she learned she'd been accepted to another program days before the start of the semester.

"Maybe 2017 will be better." she said.

She worries everyone may not find a way out in time but she is urging them to try.

"I realize I am a fighter. To give it up would let them win and I'm not willing to let them win," she said.

School officials told students they have not been able to communicate fully because the situation is under litigation.

They expect to release more information when they return from winter break on Tuesday.

Administrators told students they're not enrolling any new students this spring semester and that students who were expecting to start this month have been notified.

Q&A with CSL

Reporter Brittney Johnson: Is the school working to help students transfer to Florida Coastal? If so, how would that process work?

CSL: We are working to facilitate transfer opportunities for our students effective for spring 2017, Florida Coastal School of Law is an option. We will keep students informed of developments.

Johnson: Is it true that students were denied access to the seventh floor where administrators work, on and after December 19th. If so, why?

CSL: The fall semester ended on Dec. 16, 2016, so administrative offices were only open on a limited schedule prior to the school closing for winter break at 12 p.m. on Dec. 22; however, students who had appointments on the 7th floor most definitely had access.

Johnson: What is the school's response to the lawsuits being filed by students?

CSL: Our focus at the moment is on securing for our students access to the Federal Direct Loans for which they are entitled for the spring semester. We do not comment on pending litigation.

Johnson: Do school officials expect federal funding to be reinstated? What steps are being taken to improve CSL's standing with the government and the ABA?

CSL: The issue is not “reinstatement” of federal funding. It is assuring access to Federal Direct Loans already awarded to our students for the spring semester. We are taking all appropriate actions to ensure that our students receive the federal financial aid to which they are entitled.

With respect to the ABA, we timely filed our Reliable Plan to comply with the standards, and we continue to work through that process.

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