Legal Question in Education Law in California

I'm an full-time MBA student. I enrolled last year 2010, March. The length of the program is 16units (unit lasts 1 month). University offers several specialization (listed in their 2010 catalog). So from these 16 units - 12 are general and 4 are specialization. My problem is:

now is April 2011, this month I'm finishing the last general class and have 4 specialization classes in May, June, July, August (scheduled in advance, in 2010). I'm expecting that 1st of September I graduate school.

4/17/11 I received a letter from school that they've canceled my June class. The only availability to take it is November.

1) If I want to stick with chosen specialization I will need to agree to have gap in my school (June) and graduate later than I planed.

2) School doesn't offer this specialization in it's 2011 catalog and as my academic advisor said there are no guarantee that other classes from chosen specialization won't be canceled.

So my questions are:

How it is possible that school don't give any guarantees in getting degree that student wanted to get when enrolled. How that school can have WASC accreditation? it looks like violation at least one of WASC principles about information they provided to public. They are promising one thing in 2010 but changing in 2011. Isn't it promissory estoppel case?


Asked on 4/26/11, 7:32 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christine McCall License Advocates Law Group

If you look at the information that was in force and effect at the time of your initial enrollment, it is very likely that there is language there stating that the school reserves the right to alter or revise the schedule and nature of course offerings. No school could survive if it were required to maintain the status quo re course offerings for each enrollee, because new students are enrolling all the time and that would mean that the school could never change the curriculum. I don't think you have a legally enforceable claim here.

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Answered on 5/08/11, 6:50 am


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