DETC Accrediting Commission: Documents out for Public Comment

The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council has the power and responsibility to establish and promulgate criteria for the evaluation and accreditation of distance education institutions. These criteria take the form of Accreditation Standards, Policies, and Procedures followed by the Commission as it evaluates and accredits institutions. The criteria are under continual review and changes are made as appropriate and as required.

Persons, institutions, and organizations affected by or with an interest in the Commission standards and policies will be advised of Proposed Accreditation Standards, Policies and Procedures, and of the date they will be given final consideration by the Commission. Interested persons, institutions, and organizations will be given at least 30 days to file written comments with the Executive Director of the Accrediting Commission.

The Accrediting Commission, after considering written comments, will do a further review of the Standards, Policies and Procedures. The Commission can adopt the Accreditation Standards, Policies and Procedures as proposed, adopt with changes or modifications, defer action until further study and consideration is given, or reject them.

Below is a list of Proposed Accreditation Standards, Policies and Procedures currently out for comment. Any comments on proposed changes should be sent via email to Sally Welch before May 1, 2013. Final adoption of these policies will be considered by the Commission at its June 2013 meeting.

1. Business Standard III.A.
   5-8: Changes on discounting tuition.
   
   
2. C.3. Change of Ownership/Management
   Major revision.
   Add requirement to submit a new Teach-Out Commitment (page 5).
   
   
3. C.4. Policy on Change of Location or New Administrative Site
   Adding "The Commission must also be notified when an administrative site is closed" to page 1, and "Closure of an Administrative Site," page 4. Adding definitions of "location" and "Administrative Site" to page 1.
   
   
4. C.9. Policy on Degree Programs (Change to Standard VII. Admission Practices)
   Deleting English requirements AND changing English proficiency level for CEFR to
   B-2.
   
   
5. C.14. Policy on Student Achievement and Satisfaction
   Major changes. Schools no longer will have to report completion rates for degree courses; completion and graduation rates charts are revised; for completion rates, students still studying may be removed; graduation rates now exclude students who have not completed 3 academic credits and students still studying; degree graduation rates are done by cohort going back 150% of normal time; Commission reviews completion and graduation rates data and will establish minimum acceptable rates.
   View/Download a Summary of the Revisions to C.14.!
   
   
6. C17. Policy on International Activities
   Requiring on-site visits.
   
   
7. C.29. Policy on Contract for Educational Delivery
   Major revision.
   
   
8. E.2. Application for Accreditation
   Added requirement for physical office (#3 on page 2).

Any comments on Proposed Accreditation Standards and Policies should be sent via email to Sally Welch before May 1, 2013. Final adoption of these policies will be considered by the Commission at its June 2013 meeting.

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