Federal education officials are recommending that one of the country’s major college accrediting authorities lose that power. But state leaders in Oregon are urging patience.
The U.S. Department of Education’s threat against the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is the latest chapter in the federal crackdown on for-profit colleges.
If ACICS loses its accrediting authority, it could affect nine colleges in Oregon with that council’s accreditation.
Schools like ITT Tech, Pioneer Pacific and the Oregon Culinary Institute offer more than 100 certificates and degree programs. Losing accreditation means students at those schools could lose government financial aid.
Oregon’s Office of Private Postsecondary Education said it's watching what federal officials are doing, but are taking a cautious tone at this stage.
"Our Office of Private Postsecondary Education is aware of the concerns raised about the ACICS and the U.S. Department of Education’s staff recommendation on this," said the office's director, Juan Báez Arévalo. "If a definitive decision is made, our understanding ... is that schools under that accrediting body would have a window of time to find a new authorized accrediting body.
"We stand ready to support Oregon students and the affected schools," Arévalo added.
In other words, there are two reasons not to be overly worried — yet. First, the Department of Education has made only a recommendation at this point and not a final decision.
And second, if colleges lose accreditation, they have 1 1/2 years to regain it with another organization.
Copyright 2016 Oregon Public Broadcasting.
