US Department of Education withdraws recognition of accreditation body ACICS

ACICS initially had recognition withdrawn in late 2016, a decision which at the time impacted around 16,000 international students at ACICS-accredited institutions. After an appeal, recognition was temporarily reinstated by the then Education Secretary Betty Devos in 2018.

However, the current Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten confirmed last month that the Department of Education had terminated federal recognition of ACICS.

The US Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) said in statement that it would communicate directly with SEVP-certified schools affected by the ruling. SEVP certification is required for institutions to host international students on F-1 or M-1 visas, and recognition by approved body is a pre-condition for certification.

The Board of ACICS confirmed that it would not appeal the decision and that it will “begin an orderly dissolution of the corporation”.

In her decision letter, Deputy Secretary Marten said, “Recognition by the Department must be reserved for agencies that adhere to high standards, just as accreditation by agencies must be reserved for institutions and programs that adhere to high standards. The regulations provide for conditional recognition for up to 12 months, the kind of latitude ACICS seeks on this matter, when an agency will remedy an instance of noncompliance in that time period.

“However, ACICS has already had multiple opportunities to achieve full compliance. ACICS was found noncompliant with 34 C.F.R. § 602.15(a)(2) as far back as 2016. Despite its professed improvements, the agency remained out of compliance in 2018, at which time it was given another opportunity to reach full compliance. Its continuing failure to reach full compliance with this criterion alone is a sufficient basis to terminate ACICS’ recognition.”

ACICS said it would work with its remaining 44 accredited institutions and 67 campuses in the USA and overseas to prepare for transition,

Institutions that participate in US federal student aid programmes will be provisionally certified for up to 18 months as a transition, the Department of Education confirmed.

The Department of Education said that when ACICS first had recognition withdrawn in 2016, it accredited 237 schools with a total enrolment of 361,000 students.

ACICS said that it had made many changes to improve quality in the last five years.

Michelle Edwards, ACICS President and CEO, “I am extremely proud of the work we have done, especially in the last five years. Nevertheless, the time has come to initiate the steps necessary to dissolve the corporation. In its 110 years of service as an accreditor, ACICS has had the honour of working to advance educational excellence at independent, non-public career schools, colleges, and organizations in the United States and abroad.  We will continue to uphold those principles as we wind down our operations.”

ACICS estimates that it will conclude accreditation operations no later than March 1, 2024.

Click on the links to read the Department of Education statement, and a list of related resources on the issue.