Shortcomings
The shortcomings indicated here include two levels of compliance and non-compliance with an applicable criterion, policy, or procedure.
- Deficiency– indicates that a criterion, policy, or procedure is not satisfied.
- Concern– indicates that a program currently satisfies a criterion, policy, or procedure. However, the potential exists for the situation change to not meeting the criterion, policy, or procedure.
Decision and Notification
A draft of the final report is prepared based on the institution’s responses during the due process response period. This final report will be presented to the applicable accreditation council at the summer Council Meetings. During this meeting, the Council members collectively examine all information relating to each accreditation review and determine their decision, called an accreditation action.
The final version of the report along with a summary of accreditation actions conferred will be mailed to the institution by no later than mid September.
Types of Accreditation Actions
Full Accreditation
The final accreditation decision rests Council, not with the individual review team. The accreditation actions which are available to the commissions are:
Accreditation of a program is granted for a period of either three (for colleges and technical institutes) or six years (for universities).
Conditional Accreditation
If an evaluation indicates that the future of a program appears precarious or that there is/are definite weakness(es) or deficiencies exist, conditional accreditation may be granted followed by an “interim review”. The accreditation decision will be specific in terms of what criteria need to be satisfied before full accreditation is granted. The interim review of the shorter accreditation can take on two forms:
• Interim Report: The nature of the weakness is such that an on-site visit will not be required to evaluate the remedial actions taken by the institution. A report focusing on the remedial actions taken by the institution will be required.
• Interim Visit: The nature of the weakness is such that an on-site visit will be required to evaluate the remedial actions taken by the institution.
The Interim Report and the Interim Visit may result in an extension of the accreditation period.
Not-to-Accredit
A “Not-To-Accredit” decision indicates that a program has deficiencies such that the program is currently or continues to be (in the case of an Interim Visit or Report) in non-compliance with the applicable criteria.