09-22-2016, 07:41 PM
By Jennifer C. Kerr | AP
September 22 at 7:05 PM
WASHINGTON â The Education Department withdrew recognition of the nationâs largest accreditor of for-profit colleges on Thursday, a decision that could force schools to close and threaten financial aid to hundreds of thousands of students.
The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools said it would appeal the decision to Education Secretary John B. King Jr. In a statement, ACICS Interim President Roger Williams said the council would âcontinue diligent efforts to renew and strengthen its policies and practicesâ to meet the departmentâs criteria for accreditors.
The accrediting agency has been accused of lax oversight of its schools, which included those once owned by the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges Inc. and the recently shuttered ITT Technical Institute.
The departmentâs decision was announced in a blog post on its website.
In a letter to the council released later Thursday, Emma Vadehra, Kingâs chief of staff, said âACICSâ track record does not inspire confidence that it can address all of the problems effectively.â
Vadehra said the department found fundamental problems with the councilâs work as an accreditor. Her decision followed staff and advisory panel recommendations to sever ties with the council.
If ACICS loses its appeal, hundreds of schools would be forced to find a new accreditor within 18 months or lose their ability to participate in federal financial aid programs, such as student loans and Pell Grants. About 600,000 students currently attend ACICS-accredited institutions, Williams said.
While the appeal is pending, ACICS retains its federal recognition and remains determined to fully execute its accreditation responsibilities in a professional manner, he said.
Thursdayâs decision was met with praise from Democratic lawmakers.
âAccreditors are supposed to be watchdogs, but this negligent agency rubber-stamped shady institutions like ITT and Corinthian for years, right up until the moment they collapsed,â said Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Here is the direct link to the story:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/607582df-17...-with.html
September 22 at 7:05 PM
WASHINGTON â The Education Department withdrew recognition of the nationâs largest accreditor of for-profit colleges on Thursday, a decision that could force schools to close and threaten financial aid to hundreds of thousands of students.
The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools said it would appeal the decision to Education Secretary John B. King Jr. In a statement, ACICS Interim President Roger Williams said the council would âcontinue diligent efforts to renew and strengthen its policies and practicesâ to meet the departmentâs criteria for accreditors.
The accrediting agency has been accused of lax oversight of its schools, which included those once owned by the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges Inc. and the recently shuttered ITT Technical Institute.
The departmentâs decision was announced in a blog post on its website.
In a letter to the council released later Thursday, Emma Vadehra, Kingâs chief of staff, said âACICSâ track record does not inspire confidence that it can address all of the problems effectively.â
Vadehra said the department found fundamental problems with the councilâs work as an accreditor. Her decision followed staff and advisory panel recommendations to sever ties with the council.
If ACICS loses its appeal, hundreds of schools would be forced to find a new accreditor within 18 months or lose their ability to participate in federal financial aid programs, such as student loans and Pell Grants. About 600,000 students currently attend ACICS-accredited institutions, Williams said.
While the appeal is pending, ACICS retains its federal recognition and remains determined to fully execute its accreditation responsibilities in a professional manner, he said.
Thursdayâs decision was met with praise from Democratic lawmakers.
âAccreditors are supposed to be watchdogs, but this negligent agency rubber-stamped shady institutions like ITT and Corinthian for years, right up until the moment they collapsed,â said Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Here is the direct link to the story:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/607582df-17...-with.html
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