Description
Across the country, colleges and universities have been
forced to make difficult but necessary decisions in order to safeguard their
campus communities—including moving academic programs to an online format as
well as closing most dorms, eating halls, and other campus facilities. Several
institutions are now faced with class action lawsuits on behalf of students who
claim they are owed partial refunds, either for room and board fees, or tuition
fees for courses that moved online or transitioned to pass-fail grading. Please
join us for this important NACUA Briefing with presenters Jim Keller, Partner
at Saul Ewing, and Carolyn Pratt, Associate General Counsel at the University
of North Carolina System Office. Our speakers will give a broad overview of the
nature of the claims, and then delve into possible defenses available to
institutions, including special considerations for public institutions and
protections under state laws. They will also discuss steps institutions may
consider taking to analyze their own risk and prepare for possible litigation.
This 30 minute Briefing will be audio-only and complimentary
to NACUA members.
Contributors
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James Keller
James (Jim) A. Keller, Partner and Chair of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr’s Higher Education Practice, defends colleges and universities and advises them on critical issues of compliance, policy, and liability. Jim has led teams in both proactive and reactive internal investigations across a wide swath of higher education compliance and risk management issues, including compliance with the Clery Act, Title IX, student deaths, hazing, sexual assault, and alcohol abuse and use on campus. Jim has also provided Title IX training and presentations across the country and is actively defending civil actions that include Title IX claims. Jim also serves as general counsel to several colleges and universities that do not have inside counsel.
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Carolyn Pratt
Carolyn Pratt is an associate general counsel at the University of North Carolina System Office. Carolyn joined the UNC System Office in 2015 and currently focuses her practice in the areas of employment law and the defense of complex University litigation. Prior to her University service, Carolyn defended public and private K-12 and higher education institutions in federal and state employment and other litigation. She is a proud two-time graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.