Antioch University sues over takeover

Antioch University is fighting what it calls a "hostile takeover" attempt by the very coalition it helped establish. The Coalition for the Common Good's board leaders voted on Friday to dissolve Antioch's governing board and seize control of its bank accounts, according to a public announcement that day from Antioch President Lori Varlotta.

Antioch filed a lawsuit in state court on the same day as the vote. The university argued the coalition lacked the legal authority to interfere with its operations. On Tuesday, the university secured a temporary court order barring the Coalition for the Common Good from accessing Antioch's funds or dissolving its board.

The partnership and its breakdown

Antioch co-founded the Coalition for the Common Good in 2023 with Otterbein University, a private Ohio institution. The partnership was designed to share academic and operational resources. According to the contract, Antioch's board selects four of the coalition's nine board members. Those four also form the "Antioch Standing Committee," which the university contends must approve any major changes to the coalition's bylaws or to Antioch's own operations.

Antioch's legal complaint states that no significant changes to its operations, accreditation, or relationship with the coalition can occur without this committee's approval. Therefore, the university argues, the coalition's vote to dissolve the board and take over finances is invalid.

Escalating tensions and allegations

Conflict between Antioch and the coalition escalated this summer. In late May, CCG Board Chair Dan Gifford and Vice Chair Charlene Hayes sent a notice stating the board could vote to dissolve Antioch's board on June 30 unless a comprehensive agreement was reached. Antioch's attorneys described this proposed move in a June 22 letter as "a hostile takeover that is both unlawful and misguided."

According to Antioch's complaint, Varlotta began raising concerns about the coalition's strategy and financial health shortly after she became president in 2023. Her analysis reportedly showed the coalition was in financial trouble, had failed to attract other member institutions, and that its distress could hinder Antioch's ability to serve students. The complaint alleges coalition leaders sought to shut down this inquiry.

The coalition also moved against Varlotta personally. Antioch alleges that Otterbein President John Comerford, who also serves as president of CCG, attempted to fire Varlotta last week. An independent investigator hired by the coalition concluded that Comerford "treated and spoke to Dr. Varlotta in an unprofessional and verbally intimidating manner," according to the university's filing. Gifford and Hayes later issued Varlotta a written warning, suggesting possible disciplinary action including termination.

In a brief filed on Tuesday, CCG called Antioch's status update "unverified" and "inaccurate" but did not elaborate. Neither Comerford nor CCG responded to questions at publication time.

Current status and student impact

For now, Antioch's leadership says it will avoid meetings with coalition leaders and ignore their directives until the court resolves the dispute. The university stated on an FAQ page that "Antioch's affiliation with CCG is not beneficial or sustainable in its current form."

Varlotta has assured staff and faculty that the legal battle will not disrupt courses or workflows. Antioch University, which focuses largely on graduate education, has over 5,000 students across its campuses and online programs. Federal data shows Otterbein University, an undergraduate-focused institution, has about half that number.

Mediation between the parties had been scheduled. However, Antioch's complaint states the coalition later sought to charge the university for legal and consulting expenses related to the takeover efforts before the executive committee's Friday vote proceeded. Varlotta announced the vote and the lawsuit the same day, vowing to preserve the institution's independence.

"Antioch University does not exist because of the Coalition; we founded the Coalition and never could have imagined that creating this ambitious enterprise - which began as 'a coalition of equals' - would lead to an attempted hostile takeover by our inaugural partner," Varlotta said in her Friday message.