Latest news with #MiddleStatesCommission
CNN
5 days ago
- Business
- CNN
What is accreditation and what happens if Columbia University loses it?
Student life Federal agencies Education policy Donald TrumpFacebookTweetLink Follow Columbia University could find itself facing far-reaching consequences as the Trump administration threatens its accreditation and accuses the school of violating federal anti-discrimination laws. The potential loss of accreditation raises unanswered questions and poses serious risks for Columbia – or any other higher education institution – as a high-stakes battle between the White House and colleges across the country escalates. Accreditation is required for federal student loan eligibility and Pell Grants, and its loss would have direct impacts on students and faculty. Here's what we know about what losing accreditation could mean for Columbia. The Department of Education announced Wednesday it had notified Columbia's accrediting agency – the Middle States Commission on Higher Education – of the school's alleged violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and said the school 'no longer appears to meet' the commission's accreditation standards. Accreditation decisions are made by federally recognized independent accrediting bodies through a lengthy process, but the new Department of Education statement adds significant pressure on Columbia. It's a peer-review process where schools and programs are evaluated to ensure they meet basic standards of quality, according to the Department of Education. Standards are set by accrediting agencies – private organizations that work with educational institutions to establish benchmarks. It's a critical system that determines which institutions can access billions of dollars in federal financial aid. In order to ensure 'a basic level of quality, the practice of accreditation arose in the United States as a means of conducting non-governmental, peer evaluation of educational institutions and programs,' the Department of Education's website says. If the institution or program meets the agency's standards, it earns accreditation and is listed in official publications. But it doesn't stop there. Accrediting agencies monitor schools and re-evaluate them periodically to ensure they continue to meet the required standards. Accreditation comes in two forms: institutional, for entire colleges, and specialized, for specific programs like law or nursing. Some accreditors also assess vocational institutions. The system helps identify quality schools, ease credit transfers, secure federal aid, and set professional licensing standards. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation ensures accrediting agencies uphold rigorous standards. The US has numerous accrediting agencies, but only those recognized by the Department of Education are considered reliable authorities on educational quality. The department currently recognizes dozens of accrediting agencies. Loss of accreditation could have sweeping consequences for Columbia students, rendering their academic credits ineligible for transfer and potentially disqualifying them from admission to many graduate programs, which typically require a degree from an accredited institution. And accreditation is required for federal student loans and Pell Grant eligibility. Columbia, in a statement, said Wednesday it is 'aware of the concerns raised' by the government and has 'addressed those concerns directly with Middle States.' 'Columbia is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism on our campus. We take this issue seriously and are continuing to work with the federal government to address it,' the university said. But the White House takes an entirely different view. 'After Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, Columbia University's leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus,' US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Wednesday. 'We look forward to the Commission keeping the Department fully informed of actions taken to ensure Columbia's compliance with accreditation standards including compliance with federal civil rights laws,' McMahon said. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, one of the nation's major accrediting agencies, serves as the accreditor for Columbia University. 'Everything done in the name of the institution, including all academic programs and services, falls within their scope of accreditation,' the commission's website reads. Columbia University was set to undergo an accreditation review by the commission during the 2024-25 academic year, according to the student newspaper Columbia Spectator. The university was previously accredited in 2015-16, with an earlier review in 2005-06. The process is crucial for maintaining access to federal student aid, including grants and loans, and serves as a measure of academic quality. The commission said it received a letter on the matter but does 'not have any other comment at this time.' Columbia has been gearing up for the review since early 2023 by forming a steering committee and six working groups tasked with addressing seven core accreditation standards, including governance, ethics, educational effectiveness and institutional improvement, the newspaper wrote. In September, the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Programs released a 103-page draft self-study report outlining Columbia's compliance with accreditation benchmarks. 'It provides an opportunity for us to showcase the work that we're doing and our ongoing evolution as an institution,' Dana Palmer, senior associate provost for academic programs, told the student paper. 'What does student life look like outside of the classroom, looking at a very multidimensional perspective?' Schools have lost accreditation – or had it revoked and reinstated – in the past. In 2004, Barber-Scotia College, a historically Black institution founded by the Presbyterian Church, lost its accreditation and chose not to appeal, leaving its students ineligible for federal financial aid, according to the Church's news service. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools cited 'a fundamental issue of integrity,' including improperly awarded degrees, in its decision. Schools that fail to meet accreditation standards may be placed on probation, according to the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. A few schools currently on probation include Cambridge Technical Institute in Puerto Rico, East West College of Natural Medicine in Florida, and American Trade School in Missouri. On April 23, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at overhauling the university accreditation process. The executive order accuses accreditors – independent bodies that regulate academic standards – of abusing their authority by prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives over academic outcomes. That order singled out on its criticism the American Bar Association – which provides accreditation for Juris Doctor programs in the country – and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the only federally recognized body that accredits Doctor of Medicine degree programs in the US and Canada. The White House criticism set the tone for its take on higher education institutions. At the core of its offensive was the requirement of concrete actions to end diversity and inclusion programs for both student bodies and faculty. 'American students and taxpayers deserve better, and my Administration will reform our dysfunctional accreditation system so that colleges and universities focus on delivering high-quality academic programs at a reasonable price,' the April executive order stated. The Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions, which represents the seven largest accrediting entities, criticized Trump's order, saying it misrepresented the role of accreditors in higher education. 'Accrediting agencies are instrumental to promoting quality assurance and protecting student and taxpayer investments in higher education,' Heather Perfetti, the president of the organization, said, adding the council 'firmly rejects' the administration's characterization. The order makes it easier for universities to switch accreditors or for new accrediting institutions, while also directing the government to 'take appropriate action to terminate unlawful discrimination' in the accreditation process.
CNN
5 days ago
- Business
- CNN
What is accreditation and what happens if Columbia University loses it?
Student life Federal agencies Education policy Donald TrumpFacebookTweetLink Follow Columbia University could find itself facing far-reaching consequences as the Trump administration threatens its accreditation and accuses the school of violating federal anti-discrimination laws. The potential loss of accreditation raises unanswered questions and poses serious risks for Columbia – or any other higher education institution – as a high-stakes battle between the White House and colleges across the country escalates. Accreditation is required for federal student loan eligibility and Pell Grants, and its loss would have direct impacts on students and faculty. Here's what we know about what losing accreditation could mean for Columbia. The Department of Education announced Wednesday it had notified Columbia's accrediting agency – the Middle States Commission on Higher Education – of the school's alleged violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and said the school 'no longer appears to meet' the commission's accreditation standards. Accreditation decisions are made by federally recognized independent accrediting bodies through a lengthy process, but the new Department of Education statement adds significant pressure on Columbia. It's a peer-review process where schools and programs are evaluated to ensure they meet basic standards of quality, according to the Department of Education. Standards are set by accrediting agencies – private organizations that work with educational institutions to establish benchmarks. It's a critical system that determines which institutions can access billions of dollars in federal financial aid. In order to ensure 'a basic level of quality, the practice of accreditation arose in the United States as a means of conducting non-governmental, peer evaluation of educational institutions and programs,' the Department of Education's website says. If the institution or program meets the agency's standards, it earns accreditation and is listed in official publications. But it doesn't stop there. Accrediting agencies monitor schools and re-evaluate them periodically to ensure they continue to meet the required standards. Accreditation comes in two forms: institutional, for entire colleges, and specialized, for specific programs like law or nursing. Some accreditors also assess vocational institutions. The system helps identify quality schools, ease credit transfers, secure federal aid, and set professional licensing standards. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation ensures accrediting agencies uphold rigorous standards. The US has numerous accrediting agencies, but only those recognized by the Department of Education are considered reliable authorities on educational quality. The department currently recognizes dozens of accrediting agencies. Loss of accreditation could have sweeping consequences for Columbia students, rendering their academic credits ineligible for transfer and potentially disqualifying them from admission to many graduate programs, which typically require a degree from an accredited institution. And accreditation is required for federal student loans and Pell Grant eligibility. Columbia, in a statement, said Wednesday it is 'aware of the concerns raised' by the government and has 'addressed those concerns directly with Middle States.' 'Columbia is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism on our campus. We take this issue seriously and are continuing to work with the federal government to address it,' the university said. But the White House takes an entirely different view. 'After Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, Columbia University's leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus,' US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Wednesday. 'We look forward to the Commission keeping the Department fully informed of actions taken to ensure Columbia's compliance with accreditation standards including compliance with federal civil rights laws,' McMahon said. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, one of the nation's major accrediting agencies, serves as the accreditor for Columbia University. 'Everything done in the name of the institution, including all academic programs and services, falls within their scope of accreditation,' the commission's website reads. Columbia University was set to undergo an accreditation review by the commission during the 2024-25 academic year, according to the student newspaper Columbia Spectator. The university was previously accredited in 2015-16, with an earlier review in 2005-06. The process is crucial for maintaining access to federal student aid, including grants and loans, and serves as a measure of academic quality. The commission said it received a letter on the matter but does 'not have any other comment at this time.' Columbia has been gearing up for the review since early 2023 by forming a steering committee and six working groups tasked with addressing seven core accreditation standards, including governance, ethics, educational effectiveness and institutional improvement, the newspaper wrote. In September, the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Programs released a 103-page draft self-study report outlining Columbia's compliance with accreditation benchmarks. 'It provides an opportunity for us to showcase the work that we're doing and our ongoing evolution as an institution,' Dana Palmer, senior associate provost for academic programs, told the student paper. 'What does student life look like outside of the classroom, looking at a very multidimensional perspective?' Schools have lost accreditation – or had it revoked and reinstated – in the past. In 2004, Barber-Scotia College, a historically Black institution founded by the Presbyterian Church, lost its accreditation and chose not to appeal, leaving its students ineligible for federal financial aid, according to the Church's news service. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools cited 'a fundamental issue of integrity,' including improperly awarded degrees, in its decision. Schools that fail to meet accreditation standards may be placed on probation, according to the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. A few schools currently on probation include Cambridge Technical Institute in Puerto Rico, East West College of Natural Medicine in Florida, and American Trade School in Missouri. On April 23, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at overhauling the university accreditation process. The executive order accuses accreditors – independent bodies that regulate academic standards – of abusing their authority by prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives over academic outcomes. That order singled out on its criticism the American Bar Association – which provides accreditation for Juris Doctor programs in the country – and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the only federally recognized body that accredits Doctor of Medicine degree programs in the US and Canada. The White House criticism set the tone for its take on higher education institutions. At the core of its offensive was the requirement of concrete actions to end diversity and inclusion programs for both student bodies and faculty. 'American students and taxpayers deserve better, and my Administration will reform our dysfunctional accreditation system so that colleges and universities focus on delivering high-quality academic programs at a reasonable price,' the April executive order stated. The Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions, which represents the seven largest accrediting entities, criticized Trump's order, saying it misrepresented the role of accreditors in higher education. 'Accrediting agencies are instrumental to promoting quality assurance and protecting student and taxpayer investments in higher education,' Heather Perfetti, the president of the organization, said, adding the council 'firmly rejects' the administration's characterization. The order makes it easier for universities to switch accreditors or for new accrediting institutions, while also directing the government to 'take appropriate action to terminate unlawful discrimination' in the accreditation process.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Trump administration eyes stripping Columbia's accreditation
The Trump administration is looking to strip Columbia University of its accreditation over claims it violated the civil rights of its Jewish President Donald Trump has condemned Columbia and other US universities, arguing the schools have failed to protect Jewish students in the aftermath of the war in Gaza and anti-war protests that roiled US Secretary Linda McMahon said in a letter that Columbia "acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students" in a manner that violated federal anti-discrimination accreditors play a key role in determining which universities are allowed to access billions of dollars in federal funding. "Accreditors have an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid," McMahon wrote in a letter on Wednesday, calling Columbia's actions "immoral" and "unlawful".The letter informs the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which oversees Columbia, that Columbia "no longer appears to meet the Commissions accreditation standards" by its alleged violation of anti-discrimination argues that the leadership of Columbia "failed to meaningfully protect Jewish students against severe and pervasive harassment on Columbia's campus and consequently denied these students' equal access to educational opportunities to which they are entitled under the law".The Middle States organisation is one of several independent accreditors that the government uses to determine how to allocate education department funds. Columbia University has yet to comment on the latest move comes as Trump continues his crackdown on institutions of higher learning. He also recently signed an order that changes the university accreditation February, the Trump administration stripped Columbia of $400m in federal funding due to his administration's allegations of antisemitism at the school. Columbia followed up by enacting campus rule changes demanded by the White House, including the re-organising of its Middle Eastern studies move was meant to appease the White House, but the deal appears to have had little White House also accused other universities of antisemitism, most notably Harvard University, which is locked in multiple legal battles with the Trump administration over its government funding and the administration attempting to blocks its ability to accept international letter from McMahon suggests that other universities' accreditation may also be targeted. "The Department has an obligation to promptly provide accreditors with any noncompliance findings related to member institutions," McMahon writes.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Trump officials intensify Columbia dispute with accreditation threat
The Department of Education announced on Wednesday afternoon that it has notified Columbia University's accreditor of a violation of federal anti-discrimination laws by the elite, private university in New York that is part of the Ivy League. The alleged violation means that Columbia, in the Trump administration's assessment, has 'failed to meet the standards' set by the relevant regional, government-recognized but independent body responsible for the accreditation of degree-granting institutions, as a kind of educational quality controller. In this case the accreditor is the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Accreditors determine which institutions are eligible for federal student loans and various federal grants. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The notice marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration's bid to dictate to Columbia after accusing the college of failing to protect students from antisemitic harassment. It follows the cancellation of $400m in federal grants and contracts, after which the university yielded to a series of changes demanded by the administration, including setting up a new disciplinary committee, initiating investigations into students critical of Israel's war in Gaza, and ceding control of its Middle East Studies department. Columbia was at the forefront of student encampment protests last spring, with more direct action protests erupting in recent weeks and jeers at leadership at commencement ceremonies last month, and has cycled through a series of university presidents in the past 18 months. More details soon … Reuters contributed reporting
Reuters
5 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Columbia failed to meet accreditation standards, US government says
WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Education said on Wednesday it has notified a university accreditation body that Columbia University had violated federal anti-discrimination laws by its alleged failure to protect Jewish students on its campus. The violation means that Columbia has not met the standards of accreditation set by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the department said. "Accreditors have an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid. They determine which institutions are eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants," U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Columbia has been the epicenter of a pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel student protest movement that roiled U.S. campuses over the last year and a half as Israel's war in Gaza raged. The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services said last month that an investigation found that the university had acted with "deliberate indifference" towards the harassment of Jewish students during campus protests.
