Federal Emphasis on Accountability Federal Emphasis on Accountability in Higher Education in Higher Education

and Regional Accreditation Processesand Regional Accreditation Processes

Carla D. SandersonCarla D. Sanderson

Commissioner, Commissioner,

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,

2000-20052000-2005

The Role of Accreditation The Role of Accreditation and Accountabilityand Accountability

Since 1965 accreditation has been one of several Since 1965 accreditation has been one of several participants in the federal determination of the participants in the federal determination of the distribution of Title IV funds. distribution of Title IV funds.

Role of accreditation is to determine the quality of Role of accreditation is to determine the quality of an institution’s eligibility by incorporating and an institution’s eligibility by incorporating and applying federal standards, processes, and applying federal standards, processes, and procedures into their own membership approved procedures into their own membership approved standards, processes, and procedures.standards, processes, and procedures.

In essence, the federal government expects In essence, the federal government expects accreditation to be accountable to the public accreditation to be accountable to the public through recognition by the U.S. Department of through recognition by the U.S. Department of Education.Education.

How is accreditation accountableHow is accreditation accountable to the public through to the public through this DOE recognition?this DOE recognition?

1.1. By By adopting standardsadopting standards that meet the that meet the criteria for federal recognition so as to criteria for federal recognition so as to ensure that it is a reliable authority as to ensure that it is a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training offered the quality of education or training offered by an institution it accredits.by an institution it accredits.

An accrediting body must have standards An accrediting body must have standards that assess student achievement in relation that assess student achievement in relation

toto:: MissionMission CurriculaCurricula FacultyFaculty Facilities, equipmentFacilities, equipment Fiscal capacityFiscal capacity Administrative Administrative

capacitycapacity Student servicesStudent services Recruiting practicesRecruiting practices

Admissions practicesAdmissions practices Academic calendarsAcademic calendars PublicationsPublications Program lengthProgram length Objectives of the Objectives of the

degreedegree Record of student Record of student

complaintscomplaints Title IV complianceTitle IV compliance

How is accreditation accountableHow is accreditation accountable to the public through to the public through this DOE recognition?this DOE recognition?

By By adopting processesadopting processes that guide that guide accreditation in the review of accreditation in the review of institutions eligible for Title IV institutions eligible for Title IV funding. funding.

To be recognized by the U.S. Department of To be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the accrediting body must apply Education, the accrediting body must apply

procedures specified by statute and procedures specified by statute and regulations, such as:regulations, such as:

Regular, on-site Regular, on-site inspections inspections

Procedures for continuous Procedures for continuous monitoring between monitoring between reviewsreviews

Reporting/reviewing Reporting/reviewing substantive change—substantive change—some require an on-site some require an on-site reviewreview

Procedures for approval Procedures for approval and review of branch and review of branch campuses and change of campuses and change of ownershipownership

Procedures for approving Procedures for approving teach-out agreementsteach-out agreements

Procedures for Procedures for reviewing the quality reviewing the quality of the accrediting of the accrediting body’s standardsbody’s standards

Procedures that Procedures that comply with due comply with due process process

Procedures and Procedures and timelines for disclosure timelines for disclosure to the Secretary of to the Secretary of Education, appropriate Education, appropriate State licensing agency, State licensing agency, and the public of and the public of Commission actionsCommission actions

The above standards and processes are The above standards and processes are designed by legislators to hold accrediting designed by legislators to hold accrediting commissions accountable for the quality of commissions accountable for the quality of higher education institutions that receive higher education institutions that receive

federal funds.federal funds.

The USDOE also has regulations that an accrediting The USDOE also has regulations that an accrediting commission must meet that do not directly affect commission must meet that do not directly affect the institutions it accredits, such as: the institutions it accredits, such as:

-- quality of evaluators and staffquality of evaluators and staff

- budget of the accrediting commission- budget of the accrediting commission

- governance of the accrediting commission, i.e. the - governance of the accrediting commission, i.e. the elected 77-member commission—defining who elected 77-member commission—defining who should be on that commission (academics, public should be on that commission (academics, public reps, etc)reps, etc)

How has recent action by the House How has recent action by the House (HR 609 as approved on Friday, (HR 609 as approved on Friday,

March 31 by a margin of 221 to 199) March 31 by a margin of 221 to 199) proposed to change the current proposed to change the current

Higher Education statute?Higher Education statute?

HR 609 as passed by the U.S. HR 609 as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives House of Representatives

proposes some changes to the proposes some changes to the current law:current law:

Changes to the current law:Changes to the current law:

Requires accreditors to ensure that institutions Requires accreditors to ensure that institutions offering distance education programs have processes offering distance education programs have processes that confirm that the registered student is the same that confirm that the registered student is the same one who completes the required work.one who completes the required work.

Requires accreditors to confirm that an institution has Requires accreditors to confirm that an institution has transfer policies that are publicly disclosed and transfer policies that are publicly disclosed and specifically state whether the institution denies specifically state whether the institution denies acceptance of transfer credit solely on the acceptance of transfer credit solely on the accreditation of the institution at which the credit was accreditation of the institution at which the credit was earned.earned.

Retains current requirements for disclosure of Retains current requirements for disclosure of commission actions but requires that accreditors commission actions but requires that accreditors disclose publicly information about their accreditation disclose publicly information about their accreditation teams from the prior year, without specific alignments teams from the prior year, without specific alignments to teams.to teams.

Changes to the current law, Changes to the current law, con’t:con’t:

Requires that accreditors consistently apply Requires that accreditors consistently apply and enforce standards that consider the and enforce standards that consider the stated mission of the institution, including stated mission of the institution, including religious missions.religious missions.

Allows states not recognized before 1991 to Allows states not recognized before 1991 to serve as federally recognized accreditors.serve as federally recognized accreditors.

Requires accreditors to evaluate board Requires accreditors to evaluate board governance within the context of the governance within the context of the institution’s mission.institution’s mission.

Changes to the current law, Changes to the current law, con’t:con’t:

Requires additional disclosure by Requires additional disclosure by institutions regarding student institutions regarding student achievement.achievement.

Requires accreditors to ensure that Requires accreditors to ensure that onsite comprehensive reviews include onsite comprehensive reviews include a review of how an institution discloses a review of how an institution discloses to current and prospective students a to current and prospective students a summary of student outcomessummary of student outcomes

Now that the House has passed HR 609, there will Now that the House has passed HR 609, there will be pressure on the Senate to approve a version of be pressure on the Senate to approve a version of

the HEA reauthorization legislation. After the the HEA reauthorization legislation. After the Senate has passed its version, both bills will go to Senate has passed its version, both bills will go to

Conference Committee.Conference Committee.

Final Questions:Final Questions: Are the federal standards and processes Are the federal standards and processes

outlined in the statute and regulations above outlined in the statute and regulations above effective standards for holding accrediting effective standards for holding accrediting commissions accountable?commissions accountable?

If accreditation is, by definition, a process of If accreditation is, by definition, a process of self-regulation among colleges and self-regulation among colleges and universities, is the federal government universities, is the federal government duplicating those efforts or is it trying to duplicating those efforts or is it trying to replace accreditation?replace accreditation?

Federal Requirement 4.1Federal Requirement 4.1

When evaluating success with respect to When evaluating success with respect to student achievement in relation to the student achievement in relation to the institution’s mission, the institution institution’s mission, the institution includes, as appropriate, consideration of includes, as appropriate, consideration of course completion, state licensing course completion, state licensing examinations, and job placement rates. examinations, and job placement rates.

Federal Requirement 4.2Federal Requirement 4.2

The institution maintains a curriculum that is The institution maintains a curriculum that is

directly related and appropriate to the directly related and appropriate to the purpose purpose and goals of the institution and the and goals of the institution and the diplomas, diplomas, certificates or degrees awarded.certificates or degrees awarded.

Federal Requirement 4.3Federal Requirement 4.3

The institution makes available to students The institution makes available to students and the public current academic and the public current academic calendars, calendars, grading policies, and refund policies.grading policies, and refund policies.

Federal Requirement 4.4Federal Requirement 4.4

The institution demonstrates that program The institution demonstrates that program length is appropriate for each of the length is appropriate for each of the degrees.degrees.

Federal Requirement 4.5Federal Requirement 4.5

The institution has adequate procedures for The institution has adequate procedures for addressing written student complaints and addressing written student complaints and is responsible for demonstrating that it is responsible for demonstrating that it follows those procedures when resolving follows those procedures when resolving student complaints.student complaints.

Federal Requirement 4.6Federal Requirement 4.6

Recruitment materials and presentations Recruitment materials and presentations accurately represent the institution’s accurately represent the institution’s practices and policies.practices and policies.

Federal Requirement 4.7Federal Requirement 4.7

The institution publishes the name of its The institution publishes the name of its primary primary accreditor and its address and phone accreditor and its address and phone number. (The publication of this information number. (The publication of this information is presented so that it is clear that inquiries is presented so that it is clear that inquiries to the Commission should relate only to the to the Commission should relate only to the accreditation status of the institution, accreditation status of the institution, and not to general admission information.)and not to general admission information.)

Federal Requirement 4.8Federal Requirement 4.8

The institution is in compliance with its The institution is in compliance with its program responsibilities under Title IV of program responsibilities under Title IV of the 1998 Higher Education Amendments. the 1998 Higher Education Amendments. (In reviewing the institution’s compliance (In reviewing the institution’s compliance with these program responsibilities, the with these program responsibilities, the commission relies documentation commission relies documentation forwarded to it .)forwarded to it .)