At its spring 2021 program review meeting, the Commission on Accreditation’s (CoA) workgroups reviewed several policies that had been provided for public comment. The CoA voted to approve modifications to its Accreditation Operating Procedures (AOP) and accompanying Implementing Regulations (IRs) based on the U.S. Department of Education’s revised procedures and criteria for recognizing accrediting agencies. Specifically, the changes to CFR 34 § 602.25 (Due Process) included the removal of the word, “reverses” from the choices for appeal panel decisions and the addition of specific requirements when an appeal panel remands an adverse action to the decision-making body for further consideration. This required alterations to the AOP and to one of the Implementing Regulations (IR) that describes the role of the appeal panel. Specifically, the word “reversal” has been removed from AOP § 2.5 Decision and Report of Appeal Panel. IR 5.1, which delineates hearing procedures for the APA appeals panel, has been modified to reflect changes in CFR 34 § 602.25.
In addition, CFR 34 § 602.26 (Notification of Accrediting Decisions) lists requirements for the provision of written notice of accreditation decisions. Changes made to this section of the Department’s regulations include modifications of timing of selected notices and thereby, required changes to the IRs that describe procedures of such notification. Changes in notification procedures, including dates, were required for the following IRs: IR D.8-2, Procedures for Notification of CoA Actions in Accordance with the Secretary of Education’s Standards for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies and IR 8.5, Implementation Procedure for Notification by the Commission on Accreditation of Final Decisions of Denial/Revocation of Accreditation, Denial of a Site Visit, or Probation to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Appropriate State Licensing Agency, and Appropriate Institutional Accrediting Agency.
Further detailed information about these modifications, including appendices, are available onlineopens in new window.
The CoA also voted to approve the modifications of the Expected Internship Placements IR for doctoral program (IR C-17 D) that followed a period of public comment, review, and revision. The revisions provide clarification on the required program policies regarding student placement at accredited versus unaccredited internships, consistent with national standards regarding internship training quality. The revisions further outline the information that programs are required to provide for accredited internships and unaccredited internships, respectively.
