DETC Accrediting Commission: Final Approval of Standards, Policies and Procedures

The Distance Education and Training Council's Standards, Policies and Procedures are under continuous review, and revisions are made by the Accrediting Commission as appropriate. When new or revised Standards, Policies or Procedures are adopted, the Commission sets the date by which its accredited institutions must be in full compliance.

You can use the list below to view information on Standards, Policies and Procedures revised during the Commission's 2011 meetings. Revisions from previous years are incorporated into the DETC Accreditation Handbook, which is updated each January.

• Meeting of January 11, 2013
  
  
• Meeting of June 15, 2012
  
  
• Meeting of January 20, 2012
  
  
• Meeting of December 1, 2011
  
  
• Meeting of October 7, 2011
  
  
• Meeting of August 31, 2011
  
  
• Meeting of June 3, 2011
  
  
• Meeting of January 14, 2011

January 11, 2013

The DETC Accrediting Commission adopted the following changes in DETC's Policies, Procedures and Standards June 15, 2012. DETC Accredited Institutions must be in full compliance by July 1, 2013.

Standards

1. Standard IX.A. Financial Practices
   Added "audited or reviewed."
   

Guide

1. B.1. Guide to SER
   Adding question on CEUs (II.C.4.) — also deleted separate incorporated questions that were previous in E.5. Application for Doctoral Degree Programs and C.15. Policy on Institutions Participating in Title IV Programs.

Policies

1. C.5. Policy on Course/Program Approval
   Reorganization and editorial changes.
   
   
2. C.7. Policy on new Combination Programs/Training Sites
   Deleting E.16. Application and changing date of submissions.
   
   
3. C.9. Policy on Degree Programs
   a) Standard II. Programs Objectives: Pages 3, 7 and 9 — adding "research project."
   
   b) Standard IV. Student Support Services: page 9 — Program Administration (First Professional and Professional Doctoral) — "the administrator must hold the appropriate terminal degree...
   
   c) Standard VI — Qualifications of Faculty: page 10 — Requiring relevant terminal degrees for faculty teaching Master's programs; Page 11 — Exceptional cases
   
   d) Standard VI — Qualifications of Faculty: Page 11 — "The institution must have on its full-time staff prior to enrolling students, a Dean..."
   
   e) Standard VII. Admissions: Page 12 — added "This also applies to vocational institutions that require a high school diploma or its equivalent for admission."
   
   
4. C.14. Policy on Student Achievement and Satisfaction
   Major revision.
   
   
5. C.21. Policy on Required Institutions Documents
   Page 1 — Adding resumes and official transcripts of its instructors and institutional verification mark or stamp that the original document was verified as an "official transcript."
   
   

Procedures

1. E.2. Application for Accreditation
   Added question "Do you offer CEUs?" — will be for the 2013 Annual Report.
   
   
2. E.5. Application for Course/Program Reviews
   New — Replaced Application for Doctoral Program. This application must be used when sending in courses/programs for reviews.
   
   
3. E.7. GlossaryProcedures
   Revision — now E.16. Added several new definitions.
   
   
4. H.14. Facilities, Equipment and Supplies Maintenance Plan
   New Critical Document.
   
   
5. H.15. Emergency Action Plan
   New Critical Document.
   
   

June 15, 2012

The DETC Accrediting Commission adopted the following changes in DETC's Policies, Procedures and Standards June 15, 2012. DETC Accredited Institutions must be in full compliance by January 1, 2013.

Standards

1. Standards V.B. (adding "as described in C.14.") and V.C. (adding "The factors considered by the Commission in making this determination...etc."
   

Policies

1. C.1. Policy on Substantive Change and Notification
   Added #10 on acquisition of a hybrid and what constitutes ordering a comprehensive review.
   
   
2. C.2. Policy on Change of Mission, Goals, and Objectives
   Added “The Accrediting Commission will review the Change of Mission/Goals/Objectives Report to decide if an on-site visit is required or if further reporting is necessary.” and deleted redundant paragraphs and adding the action of the Commission.
   
   
3. C.6. Policy on Combination Distance Study-Resident Programs or Training Sites Added #6 on page 3 on implementing a teach-out plan to accommodate students needing to find another resident facilities.
   
   
4. C.7. Policy on Approval of New Combination Distance Study-Resident Programs or Training Sites
   Added #19 about adding a teach-out plan to accommodate students needing to find another resident facilities.
   
   
5. C.9. Policy on Degree Programs
   Page 1: Standard I: Institutional Mission, Goals, and Objectives (added to second paragraph, # 1) establishes an Advisory Council “that includes members not otherwise employed or contracted by your institution.”
   
   Page 9: Standard VI: Qualifications and Duties of Owners, Governing Board Members, Officials, Administrators, Instructors/Faculty (added Standards VI.B. and VI.C.).
   
   Page 11: Standard VII. Admission Practices (revised high school requirements and approved documentation).
   
   
6. C.14. Policy on Student Achievement and Satisfaction
   Page 2: Added “In order to make it statistically valid, there must be at least five institutions in the group”
   Page 3: Added “If the institution receives less than 75% for those who answered “yes” to the three questions,” and “Graduation rates within 15 percentage points of the mean for the assigned degree level will be considered to meet the benchmark.”
   Page 5: Added “of at least five."
   Page 6: Added “The institution should have at least a 30% response rate on its surveys.”
   Page 10: Added “with graduation rates for similar degree levels e.g., Associate, Bachelors, Master’s, First Professional, and Professional Doctorate,” and also revised Standards V.B. and V.C. as shown in the Policies section above.
   
   
7. C.15. Policy on Institutions Participating in Title IV
   Page 4: Included “that includes members not otherwise employed or contracted by your institution” in #3, under Standard II. Educational Program Objectives, Curricula, and Materials
   
   
8. C.18. Policy on Annual Reports
   P age 2: Added “or a deficit in” and “audited or review” under “Analyzing Financial Information.”
   
   
9. C.25. Policy on Change of Name
   Major revision: Added “or adding a New Division.”
   
   
10. C.27. Policy on Teach-Out Plans
    Page 1: Added information on hybrid programs and option to require a Teach-Out Agreement.
    Page 2: Added requirement for teach-out in #2.

Procedures

1. D.3. Notification and Information Sharing
   Page 1: Adding effective date of a Commission’s decision.
   
   
2. D.4. Retention of Commission Files and Records
   Page 1: Added “in hard copy or electronic form.”
   
   
3. D.5. Reviewing, Adopting, and Circulating Standards, Policies, and Procedures
   Page 3: Added the option of Commission adopting changes and then sending them out for public comment.
   
   
4. D.8. Conflict of Interest Policy
   P age 1: Changed “relative” to “family member.”
   
   
5. D.8.1. Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form
   Page 1: Changed “relative” to “family member.”
   
   
6. D.10. Selection and Training of Commissioners
   Page 1: Added more information on Executive Director interviewing nominees before they are vetted by the Nominating Committee.
   
   
7. E.6. Annual Report
   Page 4: Revised language under VI. Financial Conditions to clarify that institutions must submit an audited or review statement if they show a loss.
   
   
8. E.7. Annual Report with Title IV
   Page 5: Same changes as shown in E.6. above.

January 20, 2012

The DETC Accrediting Commission adopted the following changes in DETC's Policies, Procedures and Standards January 20, 2012. DETC Accredited Institutions must be in full compliance by July 1, 2012.

1. New DETC Business Standard II. Student Enrollment, A. Enrollment Agreements
   New #2, clarifies obligations of student and instruction if student enrolls by course and/or program.
   
   
2. Changes to C.9. Policy on Degree Programs, Standard VII: Admission Practices
   
   • Added minimum B1 English proficiency level identified within the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) standards and assessed through various ESOL examinations—under "When Applicant's Native Language is other than English"; and
     
     
   • Under Experiential Equivalent Credit—added institution must have published evaluation standards similar to CAEL's and a qualified individual with experience to oversee evaluations of learning portfolios. Also added CAEL's "Ten Standards for Assessing Learning."

    

December 1, 2011

The DETC Accrediting Commission adopted the following changes in DETC's Policies, Procedures and Standards December 1, 2011. DETC Accredited Institutions must be in full compliance by January 1, 2012.

1. C. 29. Policy on Contracting for Educational Delivery (new)
2. C.30. Policy on High School Programs (new)

Additional Documents Adopted

In addition, the Commission voted to give final adoption to the following new applications that were created to accompanying existing policies and to the revised policies (revisions were to include the new applications):

1. New Application (E.15.) for Change of Location or New Administrative Site
2. Revised C.4. Policy on Change of Location or New Administrative Site (to reflect addition of new application (E.15)
3. New Application (E.16.) for New Combination Distance Study-Resident Programs or Training Sites
4. Revised C.7. Policy on Approval of New Combination Distance Study-Resident Programs or Training Sites (to reflect addition of new application (E.16.)

In addition, the following documents had minor editorial changes that were given final adoption:

1. Editorial Changes to Accreditation Standards
2. Editorial Changes to Business Standards
3. Clarification to C.1. Policy on Substantive Change and Notification (added paragraph on page 2 on what would constitute a total re-evaluation of an institution)
4. Clarification of D.10. Selection and Training of Commissioners
5. Revised C.15. Policy on Institutions Participating in Title IV (added section on reaccreditation)
6. Revised E.1. Fees (updated page 3 to reflect new application fees)

October 7, 2011

The DETC Accrediting Commission adopted the following changes in DETC's Policies, Procedures and Standards October 7, 2011. DETC Accredited Institutions must be in full compliance by January 1, 2012.

Download a list of ALL changes to DETC Policies, Procedures and Standards.

1. A. 1. Accreditation Standards
   
2. A. 2. Business Standards
3. C.1. Policy on Substantive Change and Notification
4. C.2. Policy on Change of Mission, Goals, and Objectives
5. C.3. Policy on Change of Ownership/Management
6. C.4. Policy on Change of Location or New Administrative Site
7. C.5. Policy on Course/Program Approval
8. C.7. Policy on Approval of New Combination Distance Study-Resident Programs or Training Sites
9. C.9. Policy on Degree Programs
10. C.11. Policy on Change of Marketing Approach
11. C.13. Policy on Re-Accreditation Review (Renamed)
12. C.14. Policy on Student Achievement and Satisfaction
13. C.16. Policy on Special Visits
14. C.17. Policy on International Activities
15. C.18. Policy on Annual Reports
16. C.20. Policy on Complaints
17. C.22. Policy on Information Provided to the U.S. Department of Education
18. C.23. Policy on Credit Hour
19. C.25. Policy on Change of Name
20. C.27. Policy on Teach-Out Plans
21. C.28. Policy on Petition and Waivers (new)
22. D.1. Providing the Chair’s Report, Institution’s Response, and Advising the Institution of the Commission’s Decision
23. D.1.1. Actions Available to the Commission
24. D.2. Appealing Commission’s Adverse Decision
25. D.3. Notification and Information Sharing (renamed)
26. D.5. Reviewing, Adopting, and Circulating Standards, Policies, and Procedures
27. D.6. Undergoing an On-Site Visit
28. D.8. Conflict of Interest Policy (replaces D.8. Standards Ethics and Professionalism for Accreditation Participants) (new)
29. D.8.1. Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form (new)
30. D.9. Code of Conduct for On-Site Evaluators (new)
31. D.10. Selection and Training of Commissioners
32. D.11. Selection and Training of Evaluators
33. D.12. Selection and Training of the Appeal Panel Members (new)
34. D.13. Third-Party Comments (new)
35. E.2. Application for Accreditation
36. E.6. Annual Report
37. E.7. Annual Report with Title IV
38. E.14. Application for Change of Ownership/Management (new)
39. E.15. Glossary
40. DETC Accreditation Handbook, Pages 9-20
41. DETC Accreditation Handbook, Pages 21-32

Additional Documents Adopted

The following internal documents, i.e. guides to evaluators and institutions, were also given final approval:

1. B.7. Guide to Subject Specialist on Determining Credit Hours (New guide to help explain the new C.23. Policy on Credit Hours)
2. C.12. Financial Statement Analysis (new Critical Document)
3. C.13. Determining Clock/Credit Hours (New Critical Docukemt to help explain the new C.23. Policy on Credit Hours)

August 31, 2011

The DETC Accrediting Commission adopted the following changes in DETC's Policies, Procedures and Standards August 31, 2011. DETC Accredited Institutions must be in full compliance by January 1, 2012.

1. Accreditation Standards (added NCHEMS’ suggestions and revised standard on succession plans)
2. Business Standards (added 3 items)
• New Standard I.A.6. (Institution's website must make available information prior to the collection of personal contact information)
• New Standard I.A.8. (Institutions must provide performance information)
• New Standard I.B.4. (DETC’s approved before sale and enrollments)
3. C.1. Policy on Substantive Change and Notification (major revision)
4. C.9. Standard II. (Changed “doctoral-level” to “graduate-level”)
5. C.18. Policy on Annual Reports (added compliance with C.1.)
6. C.20. Policy on Complaints (revised definition of complaint and revised section on complaints about applicant institutions)
7. C.24. Policy on Non-U.S. Institutions (no longer accepting foreign applications)
8. C.28. Policy on Credit Hour (new policy)
9. D.1. Policy on Providing the Chair’s Report (added to next to the last paragraph on written notification)
10. D.1.1. Actions Available to the Commission (added burden of proof rests with the institution under Show Cause Action)
11. D.2. Policy on Appealing Commission’s Adverse Decision (major revision)
12. D.4. Policy on Retention of Commission Files (major revision to simplify)
13. D.8. Policy on Standards of Ethics and Professionalism (added appeals panel and last paragraph)
14. Addition to E.14. Glossary (added new definition for correspondence education and distance education; also added Intellectual Property Rights)
15. DETC Accreditation Handbook, pages 9-18 (changes to pages 12, 14 & 16, added correspondence and distance education definitions)
16. DETC Accreditation Handbook, pages 19-32 (changes to Pages 26 & 27, revised section under Decisions of Other Agencies)

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June 3, 2011

The DETC Accrediting Commission adopted the following changes in DETC's Policies, Procedures and Standards June 3, 2011. DETC Accredited Institutions must be in full compliance by January 1, 2012.

• C.3. Policy on Change of Ownership/Management (revised and addition of “management” requirements)
• C.9. Policy on Degree Programs
  • editorial: moved copy about faculty interaction and intellectual property rights to “Curriculum” – page 3
  • alternatives to high school transcripts requirement – pages 10-11
  • additions to admission requirements for non-English speaking applicants – pages 12-13
• C.27. Policy on Teach-Out Plans (addition of new Federal requirements)
  
• DETC Business Standards
  • Addition of corresponding standards
  • I.A. Advertising and Promotion:
    • #6 – added “its catalog” and on its website (page 1)
    • #9 – added “$100” (page 2)
  • II.A. Enrollment Agreements:
    • #1 – requires institution to ensure applicants are informed of rights, responsibilities and obligations before enrollment agreement is signed (page 2).
    • #6 – no enrollment agreement is binding until submitted by student and accepted by institution (page 3)
  • II.B. add Referrals:
    • #3 – require official transcripts to be sent to the institution within one enrollment period not to exceed 12 semester credits or student will not be accepted into the program – (page 3);
    • #6 – if an institution provides incentives for referrals it must not exceed a nominal value (page 3);
  • II.C. add “and Monitoring” and “including employees or contractors” (page 3);
    • new #3 – on routinely monitoring compliance of standards (page 4);
  • III.A. Tuition Practices:
    • #3 – delete 5 day cooling-off period (page 4);
    • #4 – add “a best effort estimate” of costs of textbooks must be made available to the students on the enrollment agreement (page 5); and
  • Revised Code of Ethics, #4, 6, 7, 8, (pages 9 & 10)

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January 14, 2011

The DETC Accrediting Commission adopted the following changes in DETC's Policies, Procedures and Standards January 14, 2011. DETC Accredited Institutions must be in full compliance by January 1, 2012.

• Standard IX. Financial Responsibility (addition of three new standards)
• Business Standards III.A.3. (adding “High Schools” to keep application fee)
• E.1. Fees
• C.14. Policy on Student Achievement and Satisfaction (clarifying how to calculate completion and graduations rates) – with some changes.

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