BECKLEY (WVVA) - Mountain State University released the following statement Monday regarding a recent lawsuit filed against the school in Jefferson County.
The suit, filed by 14 former students earlier this month, alleges the multiple entities of the school conspired to defraud students of money.
In the statement, the school denies any criminal wrongdoing. Following is the full release:
Mountain State University acknowledges the loss of national and state accreditation for its undergraduate nursing program. MSU is committed to working through this loss in such a way as to minimize the harm to students and former students. This effort to minimize harm has included transfer assistance, refunds, and a communications campaign consisting of letters, e-mails, web site posts, classroom visits, and counseling to inform students of accreditation issues and other solutions or options.
A complaint recently filed in Jefferson County alleges that the university, the MSU Building Company, the MSU Foundation and the MSU Endowment Fund conspired as part of a criminal enterprise to illicitly obtain money from students, and from the government through student loan programs. MSU believes that the complaint is designed to sensationalize the issues, attract media attention and sway public opinion. MSU denies all allegations of criminal activity, in whatever form they may be expressed. MSU will answer the complaint, and thereafter through the discovery process and other means will thoroughly examine each allegation made therein. MSU believes there is no basis for the allegations that MSU and its affiliates were engaged in a criminal enterprise, and MSU will explore additional legal options.
