Ed ACICS ACCSC Comparison Analysis

As ACICS members are aware, absent extraordinary legal or administrative action, schools currently accredited by the agency have been granted no more than 18 months to secure alternative accreditation by an accreditor recognized by the Secretary of the US Department of Education and provide regular updates regarding progress toward securing such approval. Failure to meet specified benchmarks throughout the duration of the recently imposed Provisional Program Participation Agreement Addendum requires additional disclosures and potentially additional adverse consequences. Because ACCSC is the national accreditor most similar to ACICS in terms of scope of programs it can approve (especially for schools that offer programs beyond the associate’s degree), it is likely the preferred destination for ACICS members seeking to transition to another agency. However, despite the similarity in scope, ACCSC requirements diverge significantly in some aspects, and most ACICS institutions will need to undertake significant revisions to institutional policies and practices in order to demonstrate compliance with ACCSC’s requirements – in addition to maintaining compliance with ACICS requirements until receiving an initial grant.

To assist schools contemplating a transition from ACICS to ACCSC, Cooley’s accreditation team has prepared a summary comparison of key ACICS and ACCSC requirements in nearly 30 key content areas as well as our assessment of the possible impact the transition to the new requirements could have on an ACICS institution. The analysis and accompanying support services provided by the accreditation team, as described below, are offered on a fixed-fee basis for clients and intended to assist with the expedited transition to a new agency. Please contact any of the individuals listed here for additional information about the service.

Features

• Side-by-side comparisons of ACICS and ACCSC standards in key operational and
  structural areas
• Classification of potential impact of differences in three categories (minimal, moderate, substantial) to inform planning priorities
• Quarterly updates (as well as on interim basis, as needed) describing ACICS or ACCSC changes in requirements throughout the 18-month transition period
• One-hour conference call for each subscriber with a Cooley accreditation team member to discuss agency standards and individualized transition strategies

Accreditation group key facts

• The Cooley accreditation group consists of regulatory practitioners – lawyers and nonlawyers – who previously worked as senior managers in regional and national accrediting agencies or served in compliance positions at accredited colleges and universities
• Collectively, these individuals have conducted hundreds of accreditation visits as regulators and advisors – to help institutions understand agency standards, develop compliant policies, and manage the peer review processes
• Cooley represents accrediting agencies as well as institutions to develop standards and understand external regulatory expectations