Colleges thinking of switching or adding accreditors should find the process easier under new guidance issued recently by the Department of Education.
A May 1 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) from James P. Bergeron Deputy Under Secretary, outlined information regarding the process to change or add an accrediting agency and to submit all materials related to the change to the Secretary.
In the letter, Bergeron said there is nothing in law or regulation that disincentivizes or prohibits an institution from changing accrediting agencies or opting to have multiple accrediting agencies. Institutions can change agencies because of a religious mission, shift in academic program offerings, desire to set stronger academic standards, or any other justification by the institution.
However, Bergeron said the Department wants to ensure that an institution is not switching accrediting agencies to avoid adhering to the Department of Education laws and regulations. The DCL reiterates the institution’s obligations under 34 CFR 600.11 to receive approval and clarifies when the Department doesn’t have the authority to withhold an approval. This guidance supersedes earlier guidance provided in GEN-22-10 and GEN-22-11.
Institutions are reminded to notify the Department in writing as they start the process of obtaining a new accrediting agency or to add a new accrediting agency by submitting the Reasonable Cause Request Certification.
More detailed information about the accrediting process is outlined in the DCL.
