USC suspends class registration for students possibly linked to admissions scam

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11) - The University of Southern California has suspended class registration to students who might be linked to a college admissions scandal as part of an internal investigation.

An official notice from USC was sent to students on Monday involved in the alleged scandal. School administrators announced that holds were placed on the students' accounts, which automatically prevents them from enrolling in classes or acquiring transcripts while their cases are under review.

"Following the review, we will take the proper action related to their status, up to revoking admission or expulsion," the school said.

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Once the reviews are completed, the students' admission could be revoked, and if they're already on campus, they could be expelled, USC said Monday.

The university did not say how many students are affected.

The school said all applicants connected with the alleged scheme will be denied admission. It also terminated two employees associated with the allegations, according to USC.

USC, along with at least eight other universities, were named in connection to the biggest college admissions cheating investigation ever prosecuted in the US.

Prosecutors charged 50 people, including coaches, high-profile celebrities and CEOs, in the scheme. Federal authorities said that wealthy parents allegedly bribed college coaches and other insiders to get their children into some of the nation's most selective schools.

The scheme reportedly centered around William "Rick" Singer, who owned a admissions consultant company in Newport Beach, California, authorities said.

The parents spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and some as much as $6.5 million to guarantee their children's admission, officials said.