Drawing on our deep experience in higher education law, Saul Ewing attorneys assist for-profit educational institutions with their regulatory and operational needs. Our practice focuses on compliance and risk management. We help proprietary schools navigate the complex regulatory landscape; maintain accreditation and eligibility for federal funding; and remain compliant with marketing and advertising laws and standards.
Our clients include vocational schools, both brick-and-mortar and online, located throughout the country as well as internationally. In addition, we advise accreditation agencies on issues including development and application of accrediting standards and procedures, federal regulations, and appeal proceedings. We also represent private education lenders and third-party servicers, such as providers of course content or software solutions for financial aid.
We provide comprehensive services in the following areas:
Regulatory Compliance
- U.S. Department of Education regulations, including Title IV
- Accreditation and state authorization approvals
- Federal Trade Commission Act and consumer protection laws
Operations
- Marketing and advertising practices
- Online education, including digital accessibility
- Federal student aid
- State Attorney General investigations and government audits
- Vendor contracts
- Cybersecurity and privacy, including compliance with the Program Participation Agreement, Gramm Leach Bliley Act and Family Educational Rights Privacy Act
- Mergers, acquisitions, and investments
Litigation
- Defense of claims including false advertising, breach of contract, deceptive practices regarding financial aid or program delivery, and claims under consumer protection statutes
- False Claims Act lawsuits
-
OCR investigations regarding allegations of discrimination
