At the 2025 policy meeting, the Commission on Accreditation (CoA) reviewed public comment received regarding two Implementing Regulations (IRs): D.4-5 and D.4-11. These IRs were revised to include the addition of master’s programs and have been adopted by the Commission. The CoA also reviewed and adopted changes to three IRs that were out for public notice: C-26 M, D.3-3(a), and E.1-7.
Following the Commission’s 2025 policy meeting, the following items are available for public comment or notice:
Scheduling site visits and self-study expiration
In accordance with Section 8.1 of the Accreditation Operating Procedures (AOP) at all levels, the CoA reviews a program’s most recent self-study report, the most recent site visit report, the program’s response to that report, and any other records of relevance that the program has submitted as well as any third-party comments and responses to those comments that have been received before making an accreditation decision. Via IR D.2-4, the Commission has expanded its policy on scheduling site visits to update information about how long a program’s self-study would remain valid. The CoA also updated the site visit cycles mentioned in the IR to bring them into compliance with the Commission’s current actions.
The CoA has made the proposed revisions available for a sixty (60) day periodopens in new window of public review and comment, which begin at 5 p.m. Eastern time on March 24, 2025, and will continue through 5 p.m. Eastern time on May 23, 2025.
Distance education (all levels)
Per Standard II.B.2 of the SoA-M and Doctoral Standard II.B.2 of the SoA, the CoA requires that master’s and doctoral programs describe their process that allows students to attain discipline-specific knowledge and each profession-wide competency. IRs C-10 M and C-11 D have been updated with a new requirement on the evaluation of distance education, elements noted for master’s programs, and/or self-study requirements for doctoral programs using distance education.
Per Internship and Postdoctoral Standard II.C of the SoA, the CoA requires that accredited programs provide learning elements or experiences to develop competencies. IRs C-29 I and C-25 P have been updated with the definitions of distance and electronically mediated education as well as a requirement of the evaluation of distance education.
The CoA has made the proposed revisions available for a ninety (90) day periodopens in new window of public review and comment, which began at 5 p.m. Eastern time on March 24, 2025, and will continue through 5 p.m. Eastern time on June 22, 2025.
Program accreditation record maintenance
To align the CoA’s policies with its current actions, the Commission has clarified its policy on its maintenance of program accreditation records via IR E.1-1 “Procedure for OPCA Maintenance of Program Accreditation Records” to comply with the U.S. Department of Education and other legal requirements.
In accordance with the APA “Policies for Accreditation Governance” and the U.S. Department of Education regulations for notice and comment, the CoA is providing additional information and is making the changes available for a thirty (30) day periodopens in new window of public notice starting March 24, 2025.
On behalf of the CoA, thank you in advance for your review.