More than a dozen Concordia University students are suing the school for allowing accreditation of its school counseling program to lapse.
The students claim that the Chicago-area university let accreditation expire just as they were about to graduate, then concealed it. Accreditation would have been with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs.
Chicago Public Schools teacher Carlotta Jefferson told the Chicago Sun-Times she chose Concordia for a master's degree in school counseling because of its accreditation. She says students were assured the accreditation would be renewed before it expired Oct. 31.
The university apologized in a letter to students, confirming it decided against renewing accreditation.
Students who want to become licensed professional counselors face additional coursework.
The lawsuit seeks tuition refunds and other damages.
