THE ACCREDITATION ISSUE
HLC was you accrediting body. After the sale, they took away your accreditation when every other accrediting body of Ai schools didn't. If you feel it was an unfair move, please complain about HLC to NACIQI, who oversees HLC.
https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi
jennifer.hong@ed.gov
202-453-7805
BORROWER DEFENSE TO REPAYMENT
This is a program that allows you to apply to get your federal student loan debt forgiven. From the website: "Borrowers may be eligible for forgiveness of the federal student loans used to attend a school if that school misled them or engaged in other misconduct in violation of certain laws." DCEH did not tell you about the accreditation issues for 6 months, so it is possible you would qualify for this program.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/borrower-defense
You can see what HLC says about the accreditation of your schools here: https://www.hlcommission.org/Directory-of-HLC-Institutions.html
If you need proof that they didn't tell students you can run the Ai website's accreditation page through the Wayback Machine (a website archiving tool)
https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://www.artinstitutes.edu
But that shouldn't be necessary... as plenty of people are very aware of the lack of notice you got, including Senator D--k Durbin.
ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS
D--k Durbin has already called for an investigation. You can find information about that here: https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-calls-on-accreditor-to-investigate-reports-of-misleading-practices-by-dream-center-education-holdings
If you would like to reach out to D--k Durbin, you can reach him here: https://www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/email
And you can contact the Attorney General, Lisa Madigan here: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/about/hotlines.html
Phone calls are more impactful than emails.
But emails are useful to keep records.
Do both.
FURTHER ACTION
Spread the information you think is important among your fellow students. Do your own research. Ask questions. Stir it up. Ya know, all that good stuff. Put on your headphones and listen to The World Turned Upside Down by Billy Bragg and Making Progress by Blackalicious. Get ready for a fight.
Take care of yourselves and your future. You are a bunch of talented kids and you deserve the best us old f---s have to offer.