For more than a year, criticism of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools has been growing over the poor student outcomes at its member colleges and allegations of misconduct against some of those institutions.
Now the U.S. Department of Education has recommended that the accrediting agency lose its authority as a gatekeeper of federal financial aid.
In a 29-page report released on Wednesday, department analysts laid out 21 areas where they say the accreditor, known as Acics, has failed to follow federal rules. In a call with reporters, department officials said the accreditor’s shortcomings were "extensive and pervasive."
In a written statement, the accreditor’s executive in charge, Anthony S. Bieda, said the "recommendation to deny recognition is disappointing and must be addressed directly and decisively by the board and senior management of the agency."
Read more at The Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.com/article/Call-to-Shut-Down-a/236829