The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools ... - accsc.org

1 The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges ( accsc ). STANDARDS OF. ACCREDITATION. July 1, 2018. accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Introduction 1. Chapter 1 Rules of Process and Procedure 3. Section I Definitions, Accreditation Obligations, Eligibility and Process, & General Instructions 4. A. Definitions 4. B. Purpose and Scope 5. 1. Purpose 5. 2. Scope 5. 3. Limitations of Scope 6. 4. Voluntary Process 6. 5. Accreditation Fees and Obligations 6. C. Educational Objectives 7. D. Institutional Eligibility Requirements 7. E. Summary of the Accreditation Process 8.

2 F. Obligations of the Institution in Applying for Accreditation 9. G. Obligations of the Institution to Maintain Eligibility for Accreditation 10. H. General Instructions Submission of Documents to the Commission 10. I. Application Withdrawal 11. J. Required Reports, Applications, and Fees 11. K. Requests for Information 11. Section II Application for Accreditation and Self Evaluation 13. A. Applications for Accreditation 13. 1. Application for Initial Accreditation 13. 2. Application for Renewal of Accreditation 14. B. Self-Evaluation 15. Section III The On-Site Evaluation 16. A. On-site Evaluation Requirements 16.

3 B. Categories of On-site Evaluation 16. 1. Orientation/Consultative On-site Evaluation 16. 2. Initial Accreditation or Renewal of Accreditation On-site Evaluation 16. 3. Substantive Change On-site Evaluation 16. 4. Special Evaluation or Fact-Finding On-site Evaluation 16. C. Function of On-site Evaluators 16. July 1, 2018 Table of Contents Page i of vii accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. D. On-site Evaluators 17. E. Announced On-site Evaluations: Notice of Team Members to School 17. F. Observers 18. G. Announced On-site Evaluations: Date and Postponement or Cancellation 18.

4 H. On-Site Evaluation 18. I. Exit Interview 19. J. The Team Summary Report 19. K. Response to the Team Summary Report 19. Section IV Non-Substantive & Substantive Change Notification & Application Requirements 20. A. Changes Requiring Notification 20. B. Non-Substantive Change Provisions 20. 1. Facility Expansion 20. 2. Non-Substantive Program Modifications 20. 3. Continuing Education Courses and Avocational Courses 21. C. Substantive Changes 21. D. Substantive Change Review and Approval Process 22. E. Specific Substantive Change Provisions 23. 1. Change of Mission and Educational Objectives 23.

5 2. Change of Control 24. 3. Change of Name 28. 4. Change of Location and Relocation 28. 5. Separate Facilities 30. a. Branch Campus 30. b. Satellite Location 32. c. Distance Education Facility 33. 6. Program Approval, Additions, and Modifications 34. 7. Teach-Out Agreement 37. F. Teach-Out Plans 37. Section V Annual Report, Notifications, and Other Reporting 39. A. Reporting 39. B. Annual Report 39. C. Financial Reporting 40. D. Progress Reporting 40. July 1, 2018 Table of Contents Page ii of vii accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. E. Notification Reports 41. F. Review of Reports 42.

6 Section VI Complaint Procedures 43. A. Complaints against Applicant and Accredited Schools 43. 1. Purpose of Complaint Procedure 43. 2. Parties Who May File a Complaint 43. 3. Filing and Content of a Complaint 43. 4. Processing a Complaint 44. 5. Taking Action on a Complaint 45. 6. Reporting of Complaint Activity to the Commission 45. 7. Information from the Department of Education or Other Government Entities 45. B. Complaints against accsc Evaluators 45. C. Complaints against accsc , Commissioners, or Staff Members 46. Section VII Commission Actions 47. A. Authority 47. B. Effective Date of Commission Decision 47.

7 C. Basis for Decisions 47. D. Commission Consideration of Third Party Information 48. E. Consideration of Applications and Other Matters 50. F. Deferral of Action 50. G. Accreditation 50. H. Stipulations 51. I. Heightened Monitoring 52. J. Reporting 52. K. Warning 52. L. Probation 53. M. Timelines to Remedy Noncompliance 54. N. Denial of Accreditation 55. O. Denial of a Substantive Change Application 55. P. Withdrawal of Accreditation 55. Q. Voluntary Withdrawal/Closure 56. R. Other Actions to Monitor Ongoing Compliance 57. July 1, 2018 Table of Contents Page iii of vii accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION.

8 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Section VIII Appeal of a Commission Decision 58. A. Coverage of Appeals 58. B. Grounds for Appeal and Standard of Review 58. C. Appeal Procedures 58. D. Appeals Panel 60. E. Sitting Appeals Panel: Scope of Authority 61. F. Appeal Hearing Procedures 61. G. Appeal Fees and Expenses 61. Section IX Revisions to and Waivers of the Standards of Accreditation 63. A. Authority 63. B. Publication of Proposed Changes to the Standards of Accreditation 63. C. Opportunity for Comment 63. D. Publication of Final Changes 63. E. Waivers 64. Section X Notification and Information Sharing 65.

9 A. Scope of Public Information 65. B. Notification of Commission Actions to Schools 65. C. Notification of Commission Actions to Government Entities & Other Accrediting Agencies 66. D. Disclosure of Commission Actions to the Public 66. E. Information Sharing with Government Entities & Other Accrediting Agencies 67. F. Exception in the Event of Appropriate Legal Request 67. G. Authorized Disclosure of Information 67. Section XI Pilot Projects 69. A. Eligibility 69. B. Application 69. C. Evaluation 70. D. Commission Review 70. E. Progress Report 71. F. On-site Evaluation 71. G. Final Report 71.

10 H. Renewal 71. I. Commission Decision 71. July 1, 2018 Table of Contents Page iv of vii accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Chapter 2 Substantive Standards 72. Section I Ownership, Management, and Administration 73. A. Ownership, Management, and Administrative Capacity 73. B. Institutional Assessment, Improvement, and Planning 74. C. Financial Stability and Responsibility 74. D. Tuition, Cancellation, and Refund Policies 74. E. Student Loan Repayment 75. F. Institutional Name and Physical Facilities 76. Section II Program Requirements 77. A. General Program Requirements 77.