The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and …

1 The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges ( accsc ). STANDARDS OF. ACCREDITATION. July 1, 2016. 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. Institutional Eligibility Requirements 5. 1. Basic Information 5. 2. Institutional Eligibility Requirements 7. 3. Scope of accsc Institutional Accreditation 8. C. Summary of the Accreditation Process 8. D. Obligations of the Institution in Applying for Accreditation 9. E. Obligations of the Institution to Maintain Eligibility for Accreditation 9. F. General Instructions Submission of Documents to the Commission 10. G. Application Withdrawal 10.

2 H. Required Reports, Applications, and Fees 11. I. Requests for Information 11. Section II Application for Accreditation and Self Evaluation 12. A. Applications for Accreditation 12. 1. Application for Initial Accreditation 12. 2. Application for Renewal of Accreditation 13. B. Self-Evaluation 13. Section III The On-Site Evaluation 15. A. On-site Evaluation Requirements 15. B. Categories of On-site Evaluation 15. 1. Orientation/Consultative On-site Evaluation 15. 2. Initial Accreditation or Renewal of Accreditation On-site Evaluation 15. 3. Substantive Change On-site Evaluation 15. 4. Special Evaluation or Fact-Finding On-site Evaluation 15. C. Function of On-site Evaluators 15. D. On-site Evaluators 16. E. Announced On-site Evaluations: Notice of Team Members to school 16. F. Observers 17.

3 G. Announced On-site Evaluations: Date and Postponement or Cancellation 17. July 1, 2016 Table of Contents Page i of vii accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. H. On-Site Evaluation 17. I. Exit Interview 18. J. The Team Summary Report 18. K. Response to the Team Summary Report 18. Section IV Non-Substantive & Substantive Change Notification & Application Requirements 19. A. Changes Requiring Notification 19. B. Non-Substantive Change Provisions 19. 1. Facility Expansion 19. 2. Non-Substantive Program Modifications 19. 3. Continuing Education Courses and Avocational Courses 20. C. Substantive Changes 20. D. Substantive Change Review and Approval Process 21. E. Specific Substantive Change Provisions 22. 1. Change of Mission and Educational Objectives 22. 2. Change of Control/Ownership 22.

4 3. Change of Name 27. 4. Change of Location and Relocation 27. 5. Separate Facilities 28. a. Branch Campus 28. b. Satellite Location 30. c. Distance Education Facility 32. 6. Program Approval, Additions, and Modifications 32. 7. Teach-Out Agreement 35. F. Teach-Out Plans 35. Section V Annual Report and Other Reporting 37. A. Reporting 37. B. Annual Report 37. C. Financial Reporting 38. D. Progress Reporting 38. E. Notification Reports 39. F. Review of Reports 40. July 1, 2016 Table of Contents Page ii of vii accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Section VI Complaint Procedures 41. A. Complaints against Applicant and Accredited Schools 41. 1. Purpose of Complaint Procedure 41. 2. Parties Who May File a Complaint 41. 3. Filing and Content of a Complaint 41. 4. Processing a Complaint 42.

5 5. Taking Action on a Complaint 43. 6. Reporting of Complaint Activity to the Commission 43. 7. Information from the Department of Education or Other Government Entities 43. B. Complaints against accsc Evaluators 43. C. Complaints against accsc , Commissioners, or Staff Members 44. Section VII Commission Actions 45. A. Authority 45. B. Effective Date of Commission Decision 45. C. Basis for Decisions 45. D. Commission Consideration of Third Party Information 46. E. Consideration of Applications and Other Matters 48. F. Deferral of Action 48. G. Accreditation 48. H. Stipulations 49. I. Heightened Monitoring 50. J. Reporting 50. K. Warning 50. L. Probation 51. M. Timelines to Remedy Noncompliance 52. N. Denial of Accreditation 53. O. Denial of a Substantive Change Application 53. P.

6 Withdrawal of Accreditation 53. Q. Voluntary Withdrawal/Closure 54. R. Other Actions to Monitor Ongoing Compliance 55. Section VIII Appeal of a Commission Decision 56. A. Coverage of Appeals 56. B. Grounds for Appeal and Standard of Review 56. July 1, 2016 Table of Contents Page iii of vii accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. C. Appeal Procedures 56. D. Appeals Panel 57. E. Sitting Appeals Panel: Scope of Authority 58. F. Appeal Hearing Procedures 59. G. Appeal Fees and Expenses 59. Section IX Revisions to and Waivers of the Standards of Accreditation 60. A. Authority 60. B. Publication of Proposed Changes to the Standards of Accreditation 60. C. Opportunity for Comment 60. D. Publication of Final Changes 60. E. Waivers 61. Section X Notification and Information Sharing 62.

7 A. Scope of Public Information 62. B. Notification of Commission Actions to Schools 62. C. Notification of Commission Actions to Government Entities & Other Accrediting Agencies 63. D. Disclosure of Commission Actions to the Public 63. E. Information Sharing with Government Entities & Other Accrediting Agencies 64. F. Exception in the Event of Appropriate Legal Request 64. G. Authorized Disclosure of Information 64. Section XI Pilot Projects 66. A. Eligibility 66. B. Application 66. C. Evaluation 67. D. Commission Review 67. E. Progress Report 68. F. On-site Evaluation 68. G. Final Report 68. H. Renewal 68. I. Commission Decision 68. Chapter 2 Substantive Standards 69. Section I Management and Administrative Operations 70. A. Management and Administrative Capacity 70. July 1, 2016 Table of Contents Page iv of vii accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION.

8 TABLE OF CONTENTS. B. Institutional Assessment, Improvement, and Planning 71. C. Financial Stability and Responsibility 71. D. Tuition, Cancellation, and Refund Policies 71. E. Student Loan Repayment 72. F. Physical Facilities 73. Section II Program Requirements 74. A. General Program Requirements 74. 1. Approval and Programmatic Accreditation 74. 2. Program Design and Development 74. 3. Program Organization and Length 74. 4. Program Evaluation 75. 5. Instructional Materials and Equipment 77. 6. Program Advisory Committee 77. 7. Learning Resource System 77. 8. Externships 79. 9. Consortium, Partnership, or Contractual Arrangements 79. 10. Independent Study 80. 11. Transfer of Credit 81. B. Non-Degree Programs 82. C. Degree Programs 82. 1. General Requirements 82. 2. Associate Degrees 83.

9 3. Baccalaureate Degrees 83. 4. Master's Degrees 84. a. General Requirements 84. b. Program Requirements 84. c. Graduation Requirements 85. D. Secondary Educational Objectives 85. 1. Continuing Education Courses and Avocational Courses 85. 2. English as a Second Language 86. Section III Educational Administration and Faculty Qualifications 87. A. Educational Administration 87. B. Faculty Qualifications 88. July 1, 2016 Table of Contents Page v of vii accsc STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Glossary of Terms 89. Section IV Student Recruitment, Advertising, and Disclosures 91. A. Recruitment 91. B. Adverting, Promotion, Statements, and Claims 92. C. Disclosures 93. 1. Catalog 93. 2. Enrollment Agreement 93. 3. Student Achievement Rates 94. 4. Accreditation and Approval 94.

10 Section V Admissions Policies and Practices 95. A. General Requirements 95. B. Non-Degree Programs 95. C. Degree Programs-Undergraduate 96. D. Degree Programs-Graduate 96. E. ESL Courses 96. Section VI Student Services 97. A. Advising and Counseling 97. B. Student Records 97. C. Graduate Employment Assistance and Records 98. D. Student Complaints 98. Section VII Student Learning, Assessment, Progress, and Achievement 99. A. Student Learning, Assessment, and Satisfactory Progress 99. 1. Student Learning 99. 2. Student Assessment 99. 3. Student Satisfactory Progress 100. B. Student Achievement 101. 1. Student Achievement 101. 2. Student Achievement Outcomes Monitoring and Reporting 102. Glossary of Assessment Terms 103. Section VIII Separate Facilities 104. A. Classification 104.