For Immediate Release
01/23/2021
Contact: Juan Ramiro Sarmiento
(785)760-6567 | juanramiro.sarmiento@younginvincibles.org

Statement on U.S. Education Department Staff Recommendation to Terminate ACICS Accreditation Authority

(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, professional staff from the U.S. Department of Education recommended the Department terminate recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). This recommendation reflects what Young Invincibles and a diverse coalition of advocacy organizations called on the Department to do as a result of the agency’s remaining out of compliance with federal requirements, failure to protect students and taxpayers, and precarious financial conditions that have placed students at further risk.

In response, Kyle Southern, Policy and Advocacy Director for Higher Education and Workforce for Young Invincibles, issues the following statement:

“Yesterday’s recommendation from staff at the Education Department only affirms what too many people have known for too long: ACICS has failed in its responsibility to ensure its member institutions provide anything close to the quality of education we should expect from any college or university. While the previous administration aided and abetted their indefensible practices that put students in academic and financial harm’s way, we welcome this step in the process toward revoking ACICS as an accreditor and putting some of the worst actors in the field of higher education on notice. The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) should take this recommendation seriously, and the Department should ultimately fulfill its obligation to maintain the integrity of accreditation and access to federal funds.”

NACIQI will meet February 24-25 to consider the recommendation to revoke ACICS’ standing as an accreditor. After that review, Education Department officials will consider the recommendation and issue a final decision.