States and Quality Assurance in Higher Education | Council for Higher Education Accreditation

HEADLINES

States and Quality Assurance in Higher Education (Inside Higher Ed, July 20, 2020) “The number of Americans who are enrolling in interstate distance education has reached an all-time high — and that means the stakes have never been higher for quality assurance in online education.”

Five Questions College Students Should Ask, If Classes Close in Fall (The Clermont Sun [Ohio], July 15, 2020) “When it comes to online higher education, students want to know their degree holds the same value as one earned in a traditional classroom. More than ever, accredited online degree programs are well-received by employers.”

Colleges Grapple With Professional Licensure Disclosures (Inside Higher Ed, July 14, 2020) “Federal rules requiring institutions to tell students if they will be qualified to practice their chosen career in their chosen state went into effect earlier this month. Regulatory experts say few institutions were prepared.Some fields are a lot more complicated to research than others. Social work, for instance, isn’t that hard because most states require that programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.”

Another Regional Accreditor Drops Geographic Limits (Education Dive, July 14, 2020) “The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) announced Monday that it will accept applications for accreditation from institutions located outside its historical territory, which is primarily the mid-Atlantic states.”

An Analysis of What’s in the U.S. News Community College Directory (WTOP, July 14, 2020) “In order to be included in the directory, a school has to hold regional accreditation from one of the regional accrediting organizations or be accredited by other accrediting bodies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s website.”

Delaware State University to Acquire Wesley College (ABC47, July 9, 2020) “Delaware State University and Wesley College have signed a Definitive Agreement for DSU to acquire Wesley College no later than June 30, 2021. Acquisition of Wesley College requires approval from appropriate governing and accrediting bodies (i.e. the U.S. Department of Education, Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)).”

Questions Raised About Marlboro College Buyer in 11th Hour (VT Digger, July 9, 2020) “Andrew has told reporter he intended to seek accreditation with the New England Commission of Higher Education, a regional accreditor, or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, a national accreditor for online schools. If he could not secure independent accreditation in time for a fall opening, Andrew has also said he could partner with another school that already has accreditation. Barbara Brittingham, the president of the NECHE, said Wednesday that the organization had had ‘no official communication’ with Democracy Builders. The accreditor has also not yet heard from any institution interested in partnering with the group, she said.”

Untangling the Web: How to Monitor the Risks of Online Education (The Institute for College Access and Success, July 2020) “The U.S. Department of Education, states, and accreditors, commonly referred to as the triad and compared to a ‘three-legged stool,’ are collectively responsible for the oversight of quality in higher education. All three of these key regulators struggle to oversee online programs.”