The accreditor for a handful of local universities was shut down yesterday by the federal government.
Victory Trade School LLC, Bolivar Technical College, Everest College and Bryan University all are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. The now-defunct ITT Technical Institute also was accredited by the ACICS.
In a
letter sent to ACICS yesterday, Emma Vadehra, chief of staff to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, said the accreditor was being shut down after recommendations by DOE staff and the National Advisory Council on Institutional Quality and Integrity - ACICS’ accrediting body.
“The Department of Education staff report concluded that ACICS could not remedy many of the serious deficiencies identified and therefore come into full compliance,” Vadehra wrote. “ACICS' track record does not inspire confidence that it can address all of the problems effectively."
Officials have cited the accreditor’s inability to accurately oversee educational institutions and billions of taxpayer dollars. ACICS counts about 725 accredited institutions and last year distributed $3.3 billion in federal financial aid.
While ACICS intends to appeal the decision, Victory Trade School is moving forward to find a new accrediting body.
“We did not receive notification until 5 last night,” Chief Administrative Officer David Myers said this morning. “I am shocked. I’m still try to process all of that.”
Making the situation more complicated for VTS, the Springfield culinary school was about halfway through being reaccredited by the ACICS.
Though the federal government gives schools 18 months to find a new accreditor, VTS’ addredication expires in 13 months.
“We have identified some accreditors,” Myers said, declining to name them. “We’re in the very early stages of whether or not they’re going to accept us.”
For Everest College, the ACICS decision may not matter locally. Everest College’s Springfield campus is no longer accepting new students after the 81 students in the Queen City complete their programs of study.
