Law Schools

Judge Approves Sale Of Western State College Of Law

The for-profit Westcliff University will buy the fellow Orange County institution.

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A federal judge has approved the sale of embattled Western State College of Law in Orange County, Calif.

Westcliff University, a nearby for-profit school, will buy the ABA-accredited law school for $1. It will also secure the assets Argosy University, which was the parent university of Western State, used in the operation of the law school.

A receiver had recently filed a motion seeking rapid approval of the law school in Ohio federal court, and it was granted Friday.

“From the court’s perspective the concerns of the current landlord, the [U.S.] Department of Education, the faculty and students of [Western State] have all been accommodated,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas M. Parker wrote. “The court has also reviewed the proposed transaction documents filed by the receiver and finds them to be in proper order and approvable.”

Westcliff, which offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business and education, has pledged as part of the sale to enter into an agreement to teach-out current Western State students. The teach-out was scheduled to begin August 1.

Western State had appeared on the verge of closing last spring due to the financial struggles of its parent university.

Bill Shapiro, a 1978 Western State graduate and adjunct faculty member, said he is thrilled that the school is poised to remain open for many years to come.

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“Now that the court has approved the sale, that further clears the path,” Shapiro said. “We can start to promote the school with the Argosy name no longer being affiliated with the school.

“We are optimistic that under Westcliff University we will continue to flourish and get well,” Shapiro added.

Westcliff still needs to secure various approvals for the purchase from different government and accrediting bodies, including the U.S. Department of Education, American Bar Association, and the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Lyle Moran is a freelance writer in San Diego who handles both journalism and content writing projects. He previously reported for the Los Angeles Daily Journal, San Diego Daily Transcript, Associated Press, and Lowell Sun. He can be reached at lmoransun@gmail.com and found on Twitter @lylemoran.

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