The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) is excited to announce that Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown, Pennsylvania is the first school to earn an Essential Workforce Skills (EWS) Programmatic Level II Certification for its Building Maintenance program.
Leveraging decades of experience as an accrediting agency focused on vocational and career education, today, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) in partnership with MaxKnowledge, has launched its new Essential Workforce Skills (EWS) Programmatic Certification (www.essentialworkforceskills.org).
ACCSC Offers Comments on Proposed Revisions to CHEA Recognition Criteria
On September 4, 2018, ACCSC provided written comments on the proposed revisions of the 2010 CHEA Recognition Policy and Procedures. In particular, ACCSC's written comments focus on the requirement for "a majority of institutions or programs the organization accredits is at the associate level or higher" in order for an agency to be eligible to apply for CHEA Recognition.
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Certified Accreditation Professional (CAP)
On July 24th, the Accrediting Commission launched the ACCSC Certified Accreditation Professional (CAP) program, an online certification program designed to make accreditation more accessible, understandable and useable.
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Necessity to Invention: Beyond the "Toggle Switch" Approach to Accreditation
On July 19, 2018, Higher Learning Advocates, a non-profit advocacy organization, published the inaugural edition of its Fresh Perspectives on High Learning: Insights & Outlooks Series which features leaders with thoughtful insights into the issues that today's students are facing.
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ACCSC's Executive Director Testifies at House Education Committee Hearing
On April 27, 2017, ACCSC's Executive Director, Dr. Michale S. McComis, testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce at the full-committee hearing "Strengthening Accreditation to Better Protect Students and Taxpayers."
U.S. Department of Education Renews ACCSC's Recognition for 5 Years
On October 28, 2016, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) received notice of the United States Department of Education's decision to renew ACCSC's recognition for five years, the maximum time-frame permitted under federal guidelines. In reaching this decision, the Department not only found ACCSC to be in compliance with all federal requirements mandated for recognized accrediting agencies, but also recognized the work of ACCSC to improve the quality and success of U.S. postsecondary education. This marks the second consecutive 5 year recognition grant earned by ACCSC and its accredited member institutions.
As previously announced to the membership on August 23, 2016, the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), which provides recommendations to the United States Department of Education regarding accrediting agencies that monitor the academic quality of post-secondary institutions and educational programs for federal purposes, also recommended that ACCSC's recognition as a reliable authority on quality education be continued for five years.
- Click Here to download the August 23, 2016 Press Release
ACCSC Earns Recognition from ARRT
February 19, 2016
On January 26, 2016, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) informed ACCSC that it had successfully earned recognition as an ARRT-recognized institutional accreditor. By earning this recognition, students who successfully complete a radiography, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance imaging, or sonography educational program from an ACCSC-accredited institution are eligible to pursue certification and registration.
As announced to the ACCSC membership during the 2014 Professional Development Conference in Denver, Colorado, today, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) launched its newly developed Online Training Center (ACCSC-OTC), www.accsctraining.org.
Powered by MaxKnowledge, the ACCSC-OTC provides a variety of free resources as well as fee-based training courses that cover a myriad of compliance elements required by ACCSC's Standards of Accreditation. The ACCSC-OTC also offers a wide range of professional development opportunities for administrators, staff, and faculty of ACCSC-accredited institutions, including an interactive development tool to enable employees to plan, monitor, and document their professional development activities.
Focus on Member Services: The ACCSC Monograph Series
August 15, 2014
As part of ACCSC's ongoing commitment to member services, the Commission has reissued The ACCSC Monograph Series which cover a diverse array of topics critical to institutional success and provide guidance on some of the more technical areas of ACCSC accreditation. The ACCSC Monograph Series are targeted to provide performance tools to not only help schools achieve and maintain accreditation with ACCSC, but also each topic in the series contributes a unique aspect of continuous improvement processes.
More information the ACCSC Monograph Series is available to ACCSC-accredited institutions by clicking here.
ACCSC Offers Comments on Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
May 23, 2014
ACCSC continues to participate in the dialogue with the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) as the Committee continues with its agenda to advise the Secretary of Education on accreditation policy and considers making recommendations for changes to the Higher Education Act.
ACCSC's Executive Director Testifies in Congress on Role of Accreditation
June 13, 2013
With an increase in Congressional interest in ensuring the strength of accreditation as a gatekeeper to Title IV funds, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training hosted a hearing on June 13, 2013 entitled, "Keeping College Within Reach: Discussing Program Quality Through Accreditation" which provided members of the Subcommittee with an opportunity to explore a variety of proposals to strengthen accreditation and its gatekeeping role, as well as to discuss alternative models. At the behest of the subcommittee, ACCSC's Executive Director, Dr. Michale McComis, accepted an invitation to provide testimony at the hearing.
Please note the full press release includes links to Dr. McComis' Testimony, the opening statement of Rep. Virginia Foxx, Subcommittee Chair, and a link to the webcast of the hearing.
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