Across the country, students are facing the harsh reality of university program discontinuation, many of which are executed without transparency, accountability, or regard for the individuals most impacted. These sudden changes have real consequences, particularly for student-athletes, who often make life-altering decisions based on promises made by university programs.
At the Joseph Saveri Law Firm, we are actively engaged in litigation challenging these abrupt and damaging decisions. Our pro bono case against Sonoma State University (SSU) exemplifies the urgent need for procedural protections in program closures, especially when student futures are on the line.
In our lawsuit, we represent a group of student-athletes who were recruited to SSU, only to discover shortly after enrolling that the university planned to eliminate all athletic programs. According to our complaint, university officials:
As our complaint states:
“By failing to disclose that these drastic cuts were coming and allowing coaches to continue to recruit Plaintiffs and other student athletes, Defendants defrauded Plaintiffs and other student athletes into coming to Sonoma State and paying tuition, before pulling the rug out from under them.”
This conduct not only violates basic standards of fairness but also undermines student trust in public institutions. The California State University system has specific standards for how program closures should be handled, yet SSU’s decision was hurried and failed to comply with these guidelines.
You can read more about our case here.
Sonoma State is far from alone. A growing number of colleges and universities across the U.S. are discontinuing academic and athletic programs, citing budgetary pressures and declining enrollment. These closures often occur with little warning, leaving students with disrupted educational paths and limited recourse.
What’s often missing from these decisions is a commitment to due process. We believe that students deserve full disclosure, fair warning, and a meaningful opportunity to adjust course when their academic or athletic programs are cut.
Universities have a legal and ethical responsibility to uphold the trust placed in them by their students. When they fail to do so, we are committed to holding them accountable.
For more on our mission and areas of advocacy, visit our pro bono litigation page and explore how we’re supporting students and families affected by harmful administrative decisions.
To understand how we fight for justice across a wide range of impact litigation, visit our practice areas and see the full scope of our work.