At least one for-profit college has shut its doors after the
Department of Education stripped its accrediting body of its ability
to operate.
Sage College, a 350-student legal training school in Moreno
Valley, California, recently announced it was closing, citing the
formal revocation in December of the authority of the Accrediting Council for
Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).
The ACICS was the main accreditation body for the for-profit
sector. It has filed an appeal in federal court,
but failed to secure an interim injunction.
Schools have 18 months to find another accreditation agency,
though they will have to abide by more rigorous standards. Sage
College did not apply for certification that would allow it to remain
open.
Mary Clare Reim, of the
right-leaning Heritage Foundation, told the Higher Education Tribune that the action came as a surprise because it has never been done before.
“I find it an interesting move, but it is just another move to
adversely affect the for-profit sector,” she said.
Reim, a research associate with deep education experience, said that while colleges have time to find new certification,
she is not aware of a body that might easily fill the gap left by the
ACICS. Most colleges affected by the decision accepted provisional
certification from the education department.
Robert Rasha, Sage College’s former chief technology officer,
told the San Diego Tribune that he did not know why the school
did not accept the government’s offer of provisional certification,
especially since the owners had indicated earlier that they would do
so.
Rasha said he believes the owners were concerned about meeting the
new standards, but expected another accrediting agency to approve
the school in the future.
Reim said she is uncertain how the incoming Trump Administration
and its pick for Secretary of Education, Betty DeVos, will approach
higher education issues.
“But given her history with school choice, the logic would
naturally follow in supporting more student-centered options,
allowing students to pursue more technical, career-focused options,”
Reim said.
DeVos is a strong proponent of K-12 choice.
In announcing the move against ACICS, Secretary of Education John
King said it had "exhibited a profound lack of compliance” with its
responsibilities as an accreditor. Officials cited the closures of
ITT and Corinthian Colleges, and a federal investigation into others
for deceptive and abusive practices.
ACICS filed an appeal in federal court in Washington, arguing that
political pressure was to blame for the department's action, which “consistently ignored the facts” as it evaluated the council’s
petition to renew its accreditation powers.
According to a report by Courthouse News, the ACICS claims
that a department staff report on the petition “bears the hallmarks
of having been subjected to the irregular and unprecedented
involvement of individuals outside the Department of Education’s
accreditation group.”
More Stories
- Omnibus package needed to support front-line university research on COVID-19
- AACC president recognized with leadership award
- BERRY COLLEGE: Online Add/Drop for Cleared Returning Students Opens at 8am
- ANDREWS UNIVERSITY: Thoughtful Thursday to be Held January 14
- Ross, Showalter: Education and Employment promise can help future generations survive
- AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: 32nd Annual Ann Ferren Conference
- EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appoints Nathan K. Ford and Dr. Jessie Kimbrough Marshall to the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents
- EASTER MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY: Read President Smith's Dec. 18 update to campus, which includes information about advising over break and the announcement of two personal wellness days in March
- BERRY COLLEGE: Prayer & Share for Women
- ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION INC.: Adtalem Global Education Named One of America's Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek