An Ohio state court on Wednesday issued a preliminary injunction blocking the dissolution of Antioch University’s board of governors by the Coalition for the Common Good (CCG), a move that would have eliminated the university’s governing body without required approval.
Court Ruling on Board Dissolution
The court found that CCG’s Aug. 28 resolution to eliminate Antioch’s Advisory Board of Governors violated the coalition’s bylaws. According to the magistrate, such a dissolution requires approval by the Antioch standing committee, a group selected by Antioch and integrated into CCG’s board structure since the coalition’s formation in 2023.
The court also ruled that CCG leadership lacked authority to terminate President Lori Varlotta without the standing committee’s consent. The coalition’s bylaws explicitly require this committee’s sign-off for both hiring and firing the university’s president. However, the magistrate noted that CCG may place Varlotta on paid administrative leave, as the bylaws do not prohibit this action.
“While this may feel like a distinction without a difference, under Ohio law, placing an employee on administrative leave is not the same as terminating them,” the magistrate wrote.
Legal Actions and Counterclaims
CCG attempted to place Varlotta on leave in late August, but Antioch’s board of governors secured a temporary restraining order, winning a lawsuit challenging the dissolution resolution. After the board lost standing when the restraining order expired, the coalition reinstated Varlotta’s leave in September. A standing committee member refiled the case, leading to Wednesday’s preliminary injunction.
Varlotta filed her own lawsuit against CCG in late September, alleging retaliation and discrimination related to complaints about CCG President John Comerford’s conduct. The conflict arose after disagreements over the coalition’s structure and future in February.
“We are thrilled that the Court has agreed with Antioch University that CCG does not have the authority to abolish the Antioch University Board of Governors, take over our relationship with the Higher Learning Commission, or fire Antioch President Lori Varlotta, the leader we hired and fully support,” said Antioch board chair Steve Crandall in an emailed statement.
Court Orders and Coalition Structure
Wednesday’s ruling granted CCG access to Antioch’s bank accounts and authority to create accounts payable policies, but barred it from making accreditation decisions on behalf of the university. The court also allowed the coalition to request information from Antioch’s accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission.
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