The objectives of our inspection were to determine (1) the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department) process for assessing the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and School’s (ACICS) compliance with Federal regulatory criteria for recognition, and (2) what evidence the Department considered in its review of selected recognition criteria and whether the Department’s conclusions were supported by evidence. Our inspection covered the Department’s processes for assessing ACICS’ compliance with Federal regulatory criteria for recognition as an accrediting agency (agency) from 2016 through 2018.
The Department’s process for assessing ACICS’ compliance with Federal regulatory criteria for recognition followed applicable policies and regulations with one exception. During the 2016 recognition review, the Department’s process did not consider all available relevant information during its review as required. We also determined that the Department implemented a process for assessing ACICS’ compliance with recognition criteria following a court remand in 2018 that was permitted under applicable policies and regulations as well as the court’s remand order.
We made three recommendations aimed at ensuring that all available relevant evidence is considered and reviewed in the accrediting agency review process, determining whether additions should be made to the Accreditation Handbook regarding what constitutes a sufficient level of evidence to demonstrate compliance or noncompliance to ensure consistency in Department recognition reviews, and that the Secretary include more than one layer of subject matter expert review to provide an additional safeguard related to subjectivity risks.
Oversight and Monitoring—Student Financial Assistance Programs
See other OIG reports on accrediting agencies.