The Department of Education will officially end federal recognition of the Accreditation Council for independent colleges and schools after Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten issued a final decision on Friday.
The department has provisionally recognized 27 for-profit colleges and universities currently accredited by ACICS to continue to receive federal funding. However, the university must find him another accredited person within 18 months. Otherwise, the funds will be canceled. These universities will also be barred from enrolling new students until new certifiers are found unless the student can complete the program within her 18-month period.
“The Deputy Commissioner’s decision was not based on ACICS’ history or reputation, nor on ACICS’ continued ability to fail over the years to adhere to the minimum standards expected of an accreditation body. , stated that this was the final decision to issue regarding ACICS.
Accreditation bodies can appeal decisions in federal court. However, Kvaal said the department “has not been contacted by ACICS today” as to whether the certifier intends to appeal the decision.
ACICS did not respond Inside higher education When asked to comment on a decision from the department, or whether to contest a decision.The board issued a statement Washington Post It is a serious flaw and we believe that ACICS materially complies with an objective, consistent and reasonable interpretation of recognition standards. We are evaluating all options…in federal district court. Includes decisions to appeal decisions of the Deputy Commissioner. ”
This decision marks the end of a multi-year process. The Department of Education was the first to terminate his ACICS under the Obama administration in 2016. ACICS regained recognition in 2018 from then-Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
In 2021, the Department of Education terminated ACICS again after several recommendations from the National Advisory Board on Quality and Integrity of Department of Education Staff and Institutions. According to reports from department staff, ACICS did not comply with standards of federal regulation, including “insufficient oversight of agency compliance and inadequate administrative capacity.” ACICS appealed this decision and sent it to Marten for final approval.
In its appeal, ACICS argued that the Department of Education’s decision was “riddled with procedural flaws and tainted by biased politicization.”
Kvaal said the decision does not indicate “lack of quality or misconduct” by the universities currently accredited by ACICS. He also said three of the 27 universities accredited by ACICS are in the process of finding another accreditor.
The department is in communication with students enrolled at these colleges about the decision, and colleges should also contact students about the possible impact of the decision.
Democrats in Congress drew attention to ACICS after it awarded accreditation to the for-profit ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges in 2016.
Jason Altmire, president of Career Education Colleges and Universities, which represents for-profit universities, said: university department.
The Department has stated that students currently enrolled in ACICS-accredited colleges and universities will be protected if they do not re-accredit within 18 months and are closed as a result of the loss of federal funding. Guaranteed. “We will work with students to ensure that schools communicate with them about options for transferring to another institution,” he said. “If schools are closed, students will also be reinstated in Pell Grant eligibility.”
Critics of Accreditation applauded the final decision. Michael Itzkowitz, Senior His Fellow at the Think Tank Third Way, said: We must not tolerate accreditation bodies and other government-backed oversight bodies that have little regard for the outcomes of students who want a better life. ”
