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{{short description|American educational accrediting body}} {{short description|Former American educational accrediting body}}{{Infobox organization
⚫ | name = Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
{{Infobox organization
| image =
⚫ |name = Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
|image = | size =
|size = | caption =
|caption = | map =
|map = | msize =
|msize = | mcaption =
|mcaption = | motto =
⚫ | formation = 1912
|motto =
| dissolved = March 2024
⚫ |formation = 1912
| type = Former ]
|extinction =
⚫ | headquarters =
|type = ]
⚫ | location = ]
⚫ |headquarters =
| membership =
⚫ |location = ]
|membership = | language =
⚫ | leader_title = President
|language =
| leader_name = Michelle Edwards<ref name=wapo2june>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/06/02/acics-loses-education-department-recognition/ |title=Education Dept. drops embattled for-profit college accreditor |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Danielle |last=Douglas-Gabriel |date=2 June 2021 |access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref>
⚫ |leader_title = President
⚫ | key_people =
|leader_name = Michelle Edwards<ref name=wapo2june />
| num_staff =
⚫ |key_people =
|num_staff = | budget =
⚫ | website = {{URL|http://www.acics.org}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025}}
|budget =
⚫ |website = {{URL|http://www.acics.org}}
}} }}


The '''Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools''' ('''ACICS''') is a ] education corporation that was recognized until 2021 by the ] as an independent and autonomous ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/06/02/education-department-college-accreditation-acics/7510216002/|title=Feds cancel reinstated accreditor after USA TODAY finds apparently fake college|website=] }}</ref> The '''Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools''' ('''ACICS''') was a ] education corporation that was recognized by the ] as an independent and autonomous ] body until 2022. ACICS was also recognized by the ] (CHEA) until 2017.<ref name="EdGov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-terminates-federal-recognition-acics-enhances-federal-aid-program-participation-requirements-acics-accredited-colleges |title=U.S. Department of Education Terminates Federal Recognition of ACICS, Enhances Federal Aid Program Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges |date=19 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chea.org/Directories/private.asp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224213200/http://www.chea.org/Directories/private.asp | archive-date=2016-12-24 | title=CHEA: Directory of National Career-Related Accrediting Organizations }}</ref> ACICS shut down in March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.highereddive.com/news/acics-will-shut-down-by-early-2024/631267/ | title=ACICS will shut down by early 2024}}</ref>

The accreditor's status worsened after a ] article in February 2020 revealed that ACICS had accredited a sham university called Reagan National University.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Quintana |first1=Chris |title=Group that approved South Dakota college without students rebuked, may lose access to federal money |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/03/05/reagan-national-university-acics-devos-biden-trump-education-department/6918454002/ |website=www.usatoday.com |publisher=USA Today |access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref>

⚫ ACICS was established in 1912. At one time it ] 245 institutions of ] offering ] and ] diplomas and degrees in both traditional formats and through distance education.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Department of Education, Staff Report to the Senior Department Official on Recognition Compliance Issues|url=https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalStaffReports.cfm?aID=15&mid=68|publisher=U.S. Department of Education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413172412/https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalStaffReports.cfm?aID=15&mid=68|archive-date=13 April 2018|access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref> ACICS is incorporated in ] and operates from offices in ]<ref>{{cite web|title=ACICS - About Us|url=http://www.acics.org/contact/content.aspx?id=2446|access-date=2013-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319095539/http://www.acics.org/contact/content.aspx?id=2446|archive-date=2015-03-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the ], concerns about the validity of its accreditation led the ] to revoke the accreditor's recognition in 2016, making the students of schools without other accreditation ineligible for ].<ref name=usnwr>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-09-22/education-department-strips-authority-of-acics-the-largest-for-profit-college-accreditor |title=Education Department Strips Authority of Largest For-Profit Accreditor |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=September 22, 2016}}</ref> After a legal battle, ]'s administration undid that move.<ref>{{cite news|title=A worthless degree? Betsy DeVos wants to change rules for which colleges stay open, close |first=Chris |last=Quintana |newspaper=] |date=June 21, 2019 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2019/06/21/college-closing-accreditation-betsy-devos-u-s-department-education/1505318001/}}</ref> Through a lawsuit, Trump's ], ], restored the institution's recognition (although the ] (CHEA) withdrew the organization's membership).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.educationdive.com/news/breaking-acics-withdraws-application-for-recognition/570711/ |title=ACICS no longer seeking recognition from key oversight group |access-date=4 May 2020 |publisher=EducationDive}}</ref>

Immediately after ]'s inauguration in January of 2021, an independent advisory board, the ], following a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Education staff,<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Department of Education Staff Report to the Senior Department Official on Recognition Compliance Issues |date=January 22, 2021 |url=https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/Home/StaffReport?aid=15&mid=117&status=final&format=html |others=OMB 1840-0788}}</ref> recommended 11–1 that the ACICS lose its recognition by the U.S. Department of Education as an authorized accrediting body.<ref>{{cite news|title=Federal advisory board votes to drop controversial for-profit college accreditor |first=Danielle |last=Douglas-Gabriel |date=March 5, 2021 |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/03/05/acics-accreditation-federal-student-aid/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Colleges Are Fleeing a Troubled Accreditor. Can They Find a New One? |first=Eric |last=Kelderman |date=March 10, 2021 |newspaper=] |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/colleges-are-fleeing-a-troubled-accreditor-can-they-find-a-new-one}}</ref> In June 2021, the department again revoked ACICS recognition as an accreditor.<ref name=wapo2june>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/06/02/acics-loses-education-department-recognition/ |title=Education Dept. drops embattled for-profit college accreditor |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Danielle |last=Douglas-Gabriel |date=2 June 2021 |access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref> At the time of this revocation, ACICS was an accreditor for about 60 colleges.<ref>{{cite news|work=USA Today|last=Quintana|first=Chris|title=Feds cancel accreditor over apparent fake college |date=4 June 2021}}</ref>

Federal financial aid for higher education—] and ] are the largest programs—requires that the aid be used at an institution whose accreditation the U.S. Department of Education recognizes. Usually, schools that lose recognized accreditation, and consequently access to federal financial aid, subsequently close.

⚫ On August 19, 2022, the US Department of Education terminated the ACICS as a nationally recognized accrediting agency losing its oversight role for the federal funding aid for education.<ref></ref><ref></ref> At the time of the United States Department of Education termination of ACICS recognition, there were 27 schools accredited by ACICS with enrollment of 5,000 students. <ref>[https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-terminates-federal-recognition-acics-enhances-federal-aid-program-participation-requirements-acics-accredited-colleges/ U.S. Department of Education Terminates Federal Recognition of ACICS |date=August 19, 2022 |</ref>


==History== ==History==
ACICS was established upon the request of Benjamin Franklin Williams, President of Capital City Commercial College of ]. Upon the meeting of 22 school administrators, who met in ], Illinois, on December 12, 1912, the original alliance formed the basis of National Association of Accredited Commercial Schools (NAACS), which was later renamed ACICS.<ref>{{cite web|title=ACICS - Events|url=http://www.acics.org/events/content.aspx?id=5205}}</ref> ACICS was established upon the request of Benjamin Franklin Williams, president of Capital City Commercial College in ].<ref>{{cite web|title=ACICS - Events|url=http://www.acics.org/events/content.aspx?id=5205}}</ref>

===Accreditation===
The scope of ACICS' recognition by the Department of Education and CHEA was defined as accreditation of private ]al institutions, both for-profit and non-profit, offering nondegree programs or ]s, ]s and master's degrees in programs "designed to train and educate persons for professional, technical, or occupational careers".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg6.html#RegionalInstitutional |title=Accreditation in the United States |date=29 July 2021 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="CHEA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.chea.org/Directories/private.asp |title=CHEA: Directory of National Career-Related Accrediting Organizations |access-date=December 28, 2016 |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224213200/http://www.chea.org/Directories/private.asp |archive-date=2016-12-24 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

As an accreditor for many for-profit colleges, ACICS provided information during ]ional investigations of for-profit education in 2010. ACICS reported that the institutions it accredits are required to demonstrate a student retention rate of at least 75 percent.<ref>{{cite news|first=Gerald |last=Helguero |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/67974/20101003/clampdown-on-for-profit-schools-faces-opposition.htm |title=Clampdown on for-profit schools faces opposition |newspaper=International Business Times |date=October 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005235802/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/67974/20101003/clampdown-on-for-profit-schools-faces-opposition.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2010}}</ref> Retention rates are calculated within a single academic year.<ref>{{cite news|title=How Jewish College Uses Federal Funds To Grow|url=http://forward.com/articles/163766/how-jewish-college-uses-federal-funds-to-grow/?p=2|newspaper=Forward|date=October 4, 2012}}</ref>


⚫ At one time it ] 245 institutions of higher education offering ] and ] diplomas and degrees in both traditional formats and through ].<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Department of Education, Staff Report to the Senior Department Official on Recognition Compliance Issues|url=https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalStaffReports.cfm?aID=15&mid=68|publisher=U.S. Department of Education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413172412/https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalStaffReports.cfm?aID=15&mid=68|archive-date=13 April 2018|access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref> ACICS is incorporated in ] and operates from offices in ]<ref>{{cite web|title=ACICS - About Us|url=http://www.acics.org/contact/content.aspx?id=2446|access-date=2013-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319095539/http://www.acics.org/contact/content.aspx?id=2446|archive-date=2015-03-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> The scope of its recognition by the Department of Education and ] was defined as accreditation of private post-secondary educational institutions, both for-profit and non-profit, offering nondegree programs or ]s, ]s and ] in programs "designed to train and educate persons for professional, technical, or occupational careers".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg6.html#RegionalInstitutional |title=Accreditation in the United States |date=29 July 2021 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="CHEA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.chea.org/Directories/private.asp |title=CHEA: Directory of National Career-Related Accrediting Organizations |access-date=December 28, 2016 |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224213200/http://www.chea.org/Directories/private.asp |archive-date=2016-12-24 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
⚫ In 2015, ACICS fell under significant scrutiny after the collapse of ], a for-profit institution that was accredited by ACICS until its sudden demise. A subcommittee of the ] requested information from ACICS in November 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/11/06/senate-investigative-panel-opens-inquiry-about-college-accreditors |title=Senate Inquiry Into Accreditation |first=Michael |last=Stratford |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=November 6, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2016}}</ref> Five months later, twelve ] requested that the U.S. Department of Education withdraw recognition from ACICS as a federally-recognized accreditor.<ref name=CHE13>{{cite news |url=http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/13-state-attorneys-general-say-accreditors-recognition-should-be-revoked/110189 |title=13 State Attorneys General Say Accreditor's Recognition Should Be Revoked |first=Andy |last=Thomason |work=The Chronicle of Higher Education |date=April 8, 2016 |access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="propublica.org">{{cite news |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/attorneys-general-come-down-on-accreditor-of-for-profit-colleges#comments|title= Attorneys General Come Down on Accreditor of For-profit Colleges|date= April 11, 2016|work=ProPublica}}</ref> The ] petitioned a federal court to order ACICS to make available information about "its decision to approve several controversial for-profit college chains",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/10/15/federal-watchdog-seeks-information-national-accreditor-about-profit-colleges |title=Federal Watchdog Eyes Accreditor |first=Paul |last=Fain |publisher=Inside Higher Ed |date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2016}}</ref> and the president of the organization, Al Gray, resigned.<ref name="propublica.org"/><ref name=CHESudden>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/04/18/head-embattled-profit-college-accrediting-agency-resigns |title=Sudden Departure at For-Profit Accreditor |first=Michael |last=Stratford |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=April 18, 2016 |access-date=April 18, 2016}}</ref>


===Government investigations and removal of accreditation authority===
⚫ Scrutiny continued in 2016 and intensified after another large chain of for-profit institutions accredited by ACICS, ], came under fire by state and federal agencies; the chain closed in 2016 and filed for bankruptcy. U.S. Senator ], a prominent critic of ACICS, released a report critical of the accreditor in June. Several days later, the U.S. Department of Education formally recommended that the accreditor's recognition be withdrawn.<ref name=IHE_July_2016_ED_termination>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/06/15/education-department-recommends-eliminating-national-accreditor-many-profit-colleges |title=U.S. Recommends Shutting For-Profit Accreditor |first=Paul |last=Fain |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalStaffReports.cfm?aID=15&mid=68 |title=U.S. Department of Education Staff Report to the Senior Department Official on Recognition Compliance Issues |author=U.S. Department of Education |author-link=U.S. Department of Education |date=June 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref>
⚫ In 2010, ACICS provided information during a U.S. Congressional investigation of ]. ACICS reported that the institutions it accredits are required to demonstrate a student retention rate of at least 75 percent.<ref>{{cite news|first=Gerald |last=Helguero |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/67974/20101003/clampdown-on-for-profit-schools-faces-opposition.htm |title=Clampdown on for-profit schools faces opposition |newspaper=International Business Times |date=October 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005235802/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/67974/20101003/clampdown-on-for-profit-schools-faces-opposition.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2010}}</ref> Retention rates are calculated within a single academic year.<ref>{{cite news|title=How Jewish College Uses Federal Funds To Grow|url=http://forward.com/articles/163766/how-jewish-college-uses-federal-funds-to-grow/?p=2|newspaper=Forward|date=October 4, 2012}}</ref> In 2015, ACICS fell under significant scrutiny after the collapse of ], a for-profit institution that was accredited by ACICS until its sudden demise. A subcommittee of the ] requested information from ACICS in November 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/11/06/senate-investigative-panel-opens-inquiry-about-college-accreditors |title=Senate Inquiry Into Accreditation |first=Michael |last=Stratford |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=November 6, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2016}}</ref> Five months later, twelve ] requested that the ] withdraw recognition from ACICS as a federally-recognized accreditor.<ref name=CHE13>{{cite news |url=http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/13-state-attorneys-general-say-accreditors-recognition-should-be-revoked/110189 |title=13 State Attorneys General Say Accreditor's Recognition Should Be Revoked |first=Andy |last=Thomason |work=The Chronicle of Higher Education |date=April 8, 2016 |access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="propublica.org">{{cite news |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/attorneys-general-come-down-on-accreditor-of-for-profit-colleges#comments|title= Attorneys General Come Down on Accreditor of For-profit Colleges|date= April 11, 2016|work=ProPublica}}</ref> The ] petitioned a federal court to order ACICS to make available information about "its decision to approve several controversial for-profit college chains",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/10/15/federal-watchdog-seeks-information-national-accreditor-about-profit-colleges |title=Federal Watchdog Eyes Accreditor |first=Paul |last=Fain |publisher=Inside Higher Ed |date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2016}}</ref> and the president of the organization, Al Gray, resigned.<ref name="propublica.org"/><ref name=CHESudden>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/04/18/head-embattled-profit-college-accrediting-agency-resigns |title=Sudden Departure at For-Profit Accreditor |first=Michael |last=Stratford |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=April 18, 2016 |access-date=April 18, 2016}}</ref>


⚫ Scrutiny continued in 2016 and intensified after another large chain of for-profit institutions accredited by ACICS, ], came under fire by state and federal agencies; the chain closed in 2016 and filed for bankruptcy. U.S. Senator ], a prominent critic of ACICS, released a report critical of the accreditor in June. Several days later, the U.S. Department of Education formally recommended that the accreditor's recognition be withdrawn.<ref name="IHE_July_2016_ED_termination">{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/06/15/education-department-recommends-eliminating-national-accreditor-many-profit-colleges |title=U.S. Recommends Shutting For-Profit Accreditor |first=Paul |last=Fain |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalStaffReports.cfm?aID=15&mid=68 |title=U.S. Department of Education Staff Report to the Senior Department Official on Recognition Compliance Issues |author=U.S. Department of Education |author-link=U.S. Department of Education |date=June 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref>
⚫ In September 2016, the chief of staff to the U.S. education secretary wrote in a letter to ACICS: "I am terminating the department's recognition of ACICS as a national recognized accrediting agency. ... ACICS's track record does not inspire confidence that it can address all of the problems effectively."<ref name=usnwr /> The company immediately announced that it would appeal the decision within the 30 days allowed for appeal, to Education Secretary ]<ref name=usnwr /> ACICS unsuccessfully appealed the decision<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acics.org/news/content.aspx?id=6800 |title=ACICS Status Update|access-date=October 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name="RevocationFinalized">{{Cite press release |url=http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-establishes-enhanced-federal-aid-participation-requirements-acics-accredited-colleges |title=Education Department Establishes Enhanced Federal Aid Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges |date=December 12, 2016 |publisher=United States Department of Education |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226185552/http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-establishes-enhanced-federal-aid-participation-requirements-acics-accredited-colleges |archive-date=December 26, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=December 28, 2016}}</ref> and subsequently sued the Department of Education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acics.org/news/content.aspx?id=6809|title=Department of Education Appeal Decision|access-date=14 December 2016}}</ref> Although Secretary of Education King finalized the process of revoking the U.S. Department of Education's recognition of ACICS as an accreditor in December 2016,<ref name="RevocationFinalized"/> ACICS's lawsuit resulted in a judge ordering Secretary of Education ] to review the decision in March 2018 as King did not take into account all of the evidence;<ref name=2018_remand>{{cite web |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Federal-Judge-Hands-a-Victory/242918 |title=Federal Judge Hands a Victory to Embattled Accreditor |first=Adam |last=Harris |work=] |date=March 25, 2018 |access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> DeVos subsequently restored the accreditor's recognition by the Department of Education.<ref name=2019_June_status />


⚫ In September 2016, A U.S. education secretary wrote in a letter to ACICS: "I am terminating the department's recognition of ACICS as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. ACICS's track record does not inspire confidence that it can address all of the problems effectively."<ref name=usnwr>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-09-22/education-department-strips-authority-of-acics-the-largest-for-profit-college-accreditor |title=Education Department Strips Authority of Largest For-Profit Accreditor |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=September 22, 2016}}</ref> The company immediately announced that it would appeal the decision within the 30 days allowed for appeal, to Education Secretary ]<ref name=usnwr /> ACICS unsuccessfully appealed the decision<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acics.org/news/content.aspx?id=6800 |title=ACICS Status Update|access-date=October 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name="RevocationFinalized">{{Cite press release |url=http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-establishes-enhanced-federal-aid-participation-requirements-acics-accredited-colleges |title=Education Department Establishes Enhanced Federal Aid Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges |date=December 12, 2016 |publisher=United States Department of Education |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226185552/http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-establishes-enhanced-federal-aid-participation-requirements-acics-accredited-colleges |archive-date=December 26, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=December 28, 2016}}</ref> and subsequently sued the Department of Education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acics.org/news/content.aspx?id=6809|title=Department of Education Appeal Decision|access-date=14 December 2016}}</ref> Although the Secretary of Education finalized the process of revoking the U.S. Department of Education's recognition of ACICS as an accreditor in December 2016,<ref name="RevocationFinalized"/> ACICS's lawsuit resulted in a judge ordering Secretary of Education ] to review the decision in March 2018 as King did not take into account all of the evidence;<ref name=2018_remand>{{cite web |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Federal-Judge-Hands-a-Victory/242918 |title=Federal Judge Hands a Victory to Embattled Accreditor |first=Adam |last=Harris |work=] |date=March 25, 2018 |access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> DeVos subsequently restored the accreditor's recognition by the Department of Education.<ref name=2019_June_status />
Although the Department of Education continued to recognize the accreditor, many institutions left the organization while its status was in question. At the same time, many institutions formerly accredited by ACICS closed. This loss in membership, combined with the legal costs associated with the lawsuits and legal proceedings, placed the organization into financial difficulties including a $2.1 million deficit in 2019.<ref name=2019_June_status>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/06/04/embattled-accreditor-projects-losses-after-closure-member-colleges |title=Embattled Accreditor Projects Losses After Closure of Member Colleges |work=] |first=Andrew |last=Kreighbaum |date=June 6, 2019 |access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> Although the Department of Education restored its recognition of ACICS following its lawsuit, ] did not and ACICS withdrew its application to CHEA in early 2020.<ref name=2020_CHEA>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2020/01/20/profit-accreditor-drops-recognition-bid |title=For-Profit Accreditor Drops Recognition Bid |work=] |first=Paul |last=Fain|date=January 20, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> Following the inauguration of ] in 2021, the Department of Education again moved to withdraw recognition of ACICS with department staff recommending withdrawal in January and the ] recommending withdrawal in March. The department made its final decision to withdraw recognition in June. ACICS can appeal the decision to the Secretary of Education and plans to do so.<ref name=wapo2june /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/06/03/education-department-ends-recognition-acics |title=Education Department Ends Recognition of ACICS |first=Alexis |last=Gravely |date=June 3, 2021 |accessdate=June 3, 2021}}</ref>


Whether ACICS deserves recognition as an accreditor was called into question by an investigation by '']'' published in February 2020 that found that ACICS had accredited a school, ], was a sham. According to this report, Reagan National University had no campus, faculty, current students, or alumni.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/02/15/college-accreditation-department-education-betsy-devos-south-dakota-sioux-falls/4746906002/|title=This college was accredited by a DeVos-sanctioned group. We couldn't find evidence of students or faculty|work=]|date=February 15, 2020|access-date=3 June 2021 |first1=Chris |last1=Quintana |first2=Shelly |last2=Conlon}}</ref> Although the Department of Education continued to recognize the accreditor, many institutions left the organization while its status was in question. At the same time, many institutions formerly accredited by ACICS closed. This loss in membership, combined with the legal costs associated with the lawsuits and legal proceedings, placed the organization into financial difficulties including a $2.1 million deficit in 2019.<ref name=2019_June_status>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/06/04/embattled-accreditor-projects-losses-after-closure-member-colleges |title=Embattled Accreditor Projects Losses After Closure of Member Colleges |work=] |first=Andrew |last=Kreighbaum |date=June 6, 2019 |access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> Although the Department of Education restored its recognition of ACICS following its lawsuit, CHEA did not and ACICS withdrew its application to CHEA in early 2020.<ref name=2020_CHEA>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2020/01/20/profit-accreditor-drops-recognition-bid |title=For-Profit Accreditor Drops Recognition Bid |work=] |first=Paul |last=Fain|date=January 20, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> The scandals surrounding ACICS peaked in Spring of 2020 when USA Today revealed ACICS accredited the "Reagan National University" despite evidence of the "institution" having no students and no faculty. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/02/15/college-accreditation-department-education-betsy-devos-south-dakota-sioux-falls/4746906002/ | title=This college was accredited by a DeVos-sanctioned group. We couldn't find evidence of students or faculty | website=] }}</ref>


Following the inauguration of ] in 2021, the Department of Education again moved to withdraw recognition of ACICS with department staff recommending withdrawal in January and the ] recommending withdrawal in March.
Due to the decertification of ACICS, ] announced that it would close following the end of the Fall 2022 ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Va.-based Stratford University to close down |url=https://wtop.com/education/2022/09/va-based-stratford-university-to-close-down/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=WTOP News |language=en}}</ref>


⚫ On August 19, 2022, the Department of Education terminated the ACICS as a higher education accrediting body losing its oversight role for the federal funding aid for education.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ed.gov/acics | title=Termination of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools as an ED Recognized Accrediting Agency &#124; U.S. Department of Education }}</ref><ref>washingtonpost.com/education/2022/08/19/acics-accreditation-recognition-colleges/</ref> At that time, there were 27 schools accredited by ACICS with a total enrollment of 5,000 students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Department of Education Terminates Federal Recognition of ACICS, Enhances Federal Aid Program Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges |url=https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-terminates-federal-recognition-acics-enhances-federal-aid-program-participation-requirements-acics-accredited-colleges |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=U.S. Department of Education}}</ref>
==Council Meetings==
Beginning in 2021, Council meetings to present actions are made in April and November and the Annual Meeting is held in June.


== See also == == See also ==
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==External links== ==External links==
* {{official|http://www.acics.org}} *{{official website|http://www.acics.org}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025}}


{{Postsecondary Institutional Accreditors in the United States}} {{Postsecondary Institutional Accreditors in the United States}}

Latest revision as of 20:13, 6 January 2025

Former American educational accrediting body
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
Formation1912
DissolvedMarch 2024
TypeFormer U.S. Higher education accreditor
Location
PresidentMichelle Edwards
Websitewww.acics.org

The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) was a non-profit education corporation that was recognized by the United States Department of Education as an independent and autonomous higher education accrediting body until 2022. ACICS was also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) until 2017. ACICS shut down in March 2024.

History

ACICS was established upon the request of Benjamin Franklin Williams, president of Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines, Iowa.

At one time it accredited 245 institutions of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate diplomas and degrees in both traditional formats and through distance education. ACICS is incorporated in Virginia and operates from offices in Washington, D.C. The scope of its recognition by the Department of Education and CHEA was defined as accreditation of private post-secondary educational institutions, both for-profit and non-profit, offering nondegree programs or Associate degrees, Bachelor's degrees and Master's degrees in programs "designed to train and educate persons for professional, technical, or occupational careers".

Government investigations and removal of accreditation authority

In 2010, ACICS provided information during a U.S. Congressional investigation of for-profit education. ACICS reported that the institutions it accredits are required to demonstrate a student retention rate of at least 75 percent. Retention rates are calculated within a single academic year. In 2015, ACICS fell under significant scrutiny after the collapse of Corinthian Colleges, a for-profit institution that was accredited by ACICS until its sudden demise. A subcommittee of the United States Senate requested information from ACICS in November 2015. Five months later, twelve state attorneys general requested that the U.S. Department of Education withdraw recognition from ACICS as a federally-recognized accreditor. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau petitioned a federal court to order ACICS to make available information about "its decision to approve several controversial for-profit college chains", and the president of the organization, Al Gray, resigned.

Scrutiny continued in 2016 and intensified after another large chain of for-profit institutions accredited by ACICS, ITT Technical Institute, came under fire by state and federal agencies; the chain closed in 2016 and filed for bankruptcy. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a prominent critic of ACICS, released a report critical of the accreditor in June. Several days later, the U.S. Department of Education formally recommended that the accreditor's recognition be withdrawn.

In September 2016, A U.S. education secretary wrote in a letter to ACICS: "I am terminating the department's recognition of ACICS as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. ACICS's track record does not inspire confidence that it can address all of the problems effectively." The company immediately announced that it would appeal the decision within the 30 days allowed for appeal, to Education Secretary John King Jr. ACICS unsuccessfully appealed the decision and subsequently sued the Department of Education. Although the Secretary of Education finalized the process of revoking the U.S. Department of Education's recognition of ACICS as an accreditor in December 2016, ACICS's lawsuit resulted in a judge ordering Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to review the decision in March 2018 as King did not take into account all of the evidence; DeVos subsequently restored the accreditor's recognition by the Department of Education.

Although the Department of Education continued to recognize the accreditor, many institutions left the organization while its status was in question. At the same time, many institutions formerly accredited by ACICS closed. This loss in membership, combined with the legal costs associated with the lawsuits and legal proceedings, placed the organization into financial difficulties including a $2.1 million deficit in 2019. Although the Department of Education restored its recognition of ACICS following its lawsuit, CHEA did not and ACICS withdrew its application to CHEA in early 2020. The scandals surrounding ACICS peaked in Spring of 2020 when USA Today revealed ACICS accredited the "Reagan National University" despite evidence of the "institution" having no students and no faculty.

Following the inauguration of Joe Biden in 2021, the Department of Education again moved to withdraw recognition of ACICS with department staff recommending withdrawal in January and the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity recommending withdrawal in March.

On August 19, 2022, the Department of Education terminated the ACICS as a higher education accrediting body losing its oversight role for the federal funding aid for education. At that time, there were 27 schools accredited by ACICS with a total enrollment of 5,000 students.

See also

References

  1. Douglas-Gabriel, Danielle (2 June 2021). "Education Dept. drops embattled for-profit college accreditor". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  2. "U.S. Department of Education Terminates Federal Recognition of ACICS, Enhances Federal Aid Program Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges". 19 August 2022.
  3. "CHEA: Directory of National Career-Related Accrediting Organizations". Archived from the original on 2016-12-24.
  4. "ACICS will shut down by early 2024".
  5. "ACICS - Events".
  6. "U.S. Department of Education, Staff Report to the Senior Department Official on Recognition Compliance Issues". U.S. Department of Education. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  7. "ACICS - About Us". Archived from the original on 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  8. "Accreditation in the United States". U.S. Department of Education. 29 July 2021.
  9. "CHEA: Directory of National Career-Related Accrediting Organizations". Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Archived from the original on 2016-12-24. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  10. Helguero, Gerald (October 3, 2010). "Clampdown on for-profit schools faces opposition". International Business Times. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010.
  11. "How Jewish College Uses Federal Funds To Grow". Forward. October 4, 2012.
  12. Stratford, Michael (November 6, 2015). "Senate Inquiry Into Accreditation". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  13. Thomason, Andy (April 8, 2016). "13 State Attorneys General Say Accreditor's Recognition Should Be Revoked". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Attorneys General Come Down on Accreditor of For-profit Colleges". ProPublica. April 11, 2016.
  15. Fain, Paul (October 15, 2015). "Federal Watchdog Eyes Accreditor". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  16. Stratford, Michael (April 18, 2016). "Sudden Departure at For-Profit Accreditor". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  17. Fain, Paul (June 15, 2016). "U.S. Recommends Shutting For-Profit Accreditor". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  18. U.S. Department of Education (June 2016). "U.S. Department of Education Staff Report to the Senior Department Official on Recognition Compliance Issues". Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  19. ^ "Education Department Strips Authority of Largest For-Profit Accreditor". U.S. News & World Report. September 22, 2016.
  20. "ACICS Status Update". Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "Education Department Establishes Enhanced Federal Aid Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges" (Press release). United States Department of Education. December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  22. "Department of Education Appeal Decision". Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  23. Harris, Adam (March 25, 2018). "Federal Judge Hands a Victory to Embattled Accreditor". Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  24. ^ Kreighbaum, Andrew (June 6, 2019). "Embattled Accreditor Projects Losses After Closure of Member Colleges". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  25. Fain, Paul (January 20, 2020). "For-Profit Accreditor Drops Recognition Bid". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  26. "This college was accredited by a DeVos-sanctioned group. We couldn't find evidence of students or faculty". USA Today.
  27. "Termination of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools as an ED Recognized Accrediting Agency | U.S. Department of Education".
  28. washingtonpost.com/education/2022/08/19/acics-accreditation-recognition-colleges/
  29. "U.S. Department of Education Terminates Federal Recognition of ACICS, Enhances Federal Aid Program Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges". U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved 2023-09-25.

External links

Postsecondary institutional accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
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