Olivet University Appeal Succeeds as Court Remands BPPE Decision

Olivet University secured a significant legal victory in its challenge against California's higher education regulator, after a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge granted the university's primary request and ordered the case remanded for reconsideration.

Judge James C. Chalfant issued the ruling on April 23 following a hearing on Olivet University's petition for a writ of mandate challenging a decision by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) that had revoked the university's license to operate in California.

The university's central argument was that the BPPE's revocation decision was flawed and that the case should be sent back to the agency for a fresh evaluation — specifically of remediation evidence Olivet had submitted during the original proceeding. The court agreed, ordering the remand and directing the BPPE to conduct that evaluation on the remediation evidence.

While the court declined Olivet University's request to reinstate two previously excluded exhibits into the record, Judge Chalfant nonetheless ordered the case remanded and directed the BPPE to conduct a fresh evaluation of the remediation evidence the university had submitted — the outcome Olivet was primarily seeking.

The case now returns to the BPPE for reconsideration. Olivet University continues to operate in California as a religious-exempt institution, offering degree programs aligned with its Christian mission, while the process plays out.

Following the remand, the case will proceed through the regular administrative review process for next steps, which is expected to be completed by early June.