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USC social work class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Stephanie Luna, Sandra Campos, and Deonte Simpkins filed a class action lawsuit against the University of Southern California (USC).
- Why: Luna, Campos and Simpkins claim USC misrepresents that its online master of social work is the same as its highly esteemed in-person version, and that the school directs these alleged misrepresentations specifically at veterans and people of color.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California.
- What are my options: Try Udemy for online learning options.
The University of Southern California (USC) misrepresents that an online version of its master of social work (MSW) program is exactly the same as its “well-known in-person” counterpart, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiffs Stephanie Luna, Sandra Campos and Deonte Simpkins claim USC “aggressively markets” the online version of its MSW program, while relying on the strong reputation of its in-person version and charging “exactly the same very high price.”
The plaintiffs argue the online program is not actually the same as the in-person version, however, with the online version allegedly using different instructors, course content and outsourced services such as its clinical placement program.
“USC’s in-person and online MSW programs are not at all the same, and USC’s representations about the online MSW program are egregiously false and misleading,” the USC class action states.
The plaintiffs want to represent a California class of individuals who are or have been students in the online MSW program at the USC School of Social Work within the past four years and a subclass of people of color or veterans who are or have ever been students in the online MSW program.
USC ‘specifically’ directs alleged misrepresentations about online MSW program at people of color, veterans, class action says
USC, while aware its alleged representations that its in-person and online MSW programs are the same are “not remotely true,” has chosen to “specifically direct these misrepresentations at people of color and veterans,” the USC class action alleges.
“USC engages in these very serious, and unlawful, misrepresentations to maximize revenue from increasing online enrollment, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars each year — to the detriment of students,” the USC class action states.
The plaintiffs claim USC is guilty of unjust enrichment and violating California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, False Advertising Law, Consumer Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition Law.
Plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of actual, incidental and consequential damages for themselves and all class members.
USC agreed to pay $13.05 million earlier this year to resolve claims the university mismanaged retirement plans offered to its faculty and staff.
Are you or have you been a student in USC’s online master of social work program? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Eileen M. Connor, Rebecca C. Ellis and Michael N. Turi of Project on Predatory Student Lending and Eve H. Cervantez, Danielle E. Leonard and Derin McLeod of Altshuler Berzon LLP.
The USC social work class action lawsuit is Luna, et al. v. University of Southern California, Case No. 23STCV09981, in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles.
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2 thoughts onUSC class action claims university lied about quality of online social work program
I sent a comment in earlier but forgot to mention something interesting g in hindsight. I was in the online program and the CEO of the company I was working for mentioned something to the effect of “oh that’s not a real MSW program. You should be careful and take the campus course.” I remember feeling horrible because of the cost and the time I was putting in. But I figured I was already in so might as well finish it as a degree is what I needed. But I wonder how many people this hurt in the long run in terms of the quality of education/experience?
Yes I was in the second cohort of the online program and remember the 2U grp but didn’t know much about them. We had all kinds of ‘weird’ instructors, some I felt were not to the quality I would expect at USC.