Tag: Accreditation

Managing COVID-19 Disruption: Accrediting Agencies Adopt Temporary Measures to Address Challenges

Robin Dasher-Alston, Naomi Harralson May and Caitlyn Shelby

Following ED’s release of guidance to accrediting agencies on March 17, including the flexibility to bypass public comment periods and adoption by full agency membership, accreditors have been developing and adopting new (and notably temporary) policies to address COVID-19 challenges.

ED Publishes Final State Authorization for Distance Education Rule

Nancy Anderson, Caitlyn Shelby and Paul Thompson

On Friday, November 1, the Department of Education published its final state authorization for distance education regulations in the Federal Register.

Surprise: Accreditation and Innovation Neg Reg Reaches Consensus

Robin Dasher-Alston, Mike Goldstein, Naomi Harralson May and Caitlyn Shelby

The negotiated rulemaking committee focused on accreditation and innovation reached consensus on three buckets of issues.

Accreditation and Innovation Neg Reg Makes Slow Progress

Mike Goldstein, Naomi Harralson May and Caitlyn Shelby

The US Department of Education has extended the negotiated rulemaking process and walked back its most controversial proposals.

Redefining Student Success: Informing the Debate on Accreditation and Innovation

Robin Dasher-Alston and Mike Goldstein

The team of negotiators working on the Department of Education’s proposals for substantially revising rules affecting the accreditation process and encouraging innovation will have to face a very basic problem: defining “student success.”

Accreditation and Innovation Neg Reg Opens to Controversy over Significant ED Proposals

Jay Vaughan, Mike Goldstein, Naomi Harralson May and Caitlyn Shelby

The US Department of Education and the panel of 20-plus negotiators this week concluded their first round of discussions on a sweeping set of proposed new rules affecting the regulation of accrediting bodies, distance education and other matters.

ACICS Recognition Reinstated

Jay Vaughan and Naomi Harralson May

Secretary Betsy DeVos announced earlier today that the US Department of Education has retroactively reinstated the federal recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools as of December 12, 2016, and the accreditor will remain in that status until she can reconsider its prior request for re-recognition.

Cooley Team at P3-EDU

Jay Vaughan and Mike Goldstein

The P3-EDU Conference is April 3-4, 2018 in Arlington, Virginia. The conference is focused on best practices around public-private partnerships in higher education. Members of the Cooley team will be speaking and attending the conference.

New Department of Education Accreditation Database: A Promising Start, But Clearly a Work in Progress

Robin Dasher-Alston, Mike Goldstein and Jay Vaughan

The Department of Education (ED) has launched a new online database intended to provide current and prospective students, as well as the broader community, with current information on the accreditation status of institutions that participate in the federal student grant and loan programs.

More Fallout from ACICS Loss of Recognition – SEVP Removes Grace Period

Mike Goldstein, Paul Thompson and Jay Vaughan

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced that its Student and Exchange Visitor Program will no longer allow ACICS schools 18 months to find new accreditors.

Federal Judge Denies ACICS Motion for Preliminary Injunction

Jay Vaughan

Late yesterday afternoon, US District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton denied the request of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) seeking a preliminary injunction (PI) directing the US Department of Education (ED or the Department) to restore ACICS’s status as a federally recognized accrediting agency.

Judge Denies ACICS Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order

Jay Vaughan and Naomi Harralson May

In an afternoon hearing on December 20, 2016, U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton denied the motion of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stay the decision of the U.S. Department of Education (ED or the Department) terminating ACICS’s status as a federally recognized accrediting agency.