Number: COMM.C.10.030

The Commission shall participate in the recognition program mandated by federal law and conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, and it shall seek periodic continuance of its federal recognition. The Commission will notify the Department of any changes in the scope of its activities.

Notification of Actions and Other Institutional Information. Within thirty days after any institutional action is formally adopted or validated by the Board of Trustees the Commission will file with the Department a summary of actions it has taken on an institution. If the Board of Trustees takes an adverse action of denial or withdrawal of status or if it issues a sanction or show-cause order, it will simultaneously notify the institution and the U.S. Department of Education and place information about the action on its public website within 24 hours of notifying the institution. If the action was denial or withdrawal of accredited or candidate for accreditation status that Public Disclosure will within sixty (60) days after the action becomes final include comments from the affected institution or information to indicate that the institution was provided an opportunity to comment but did not do so. In addition, the Commission supplies, at the Department’s request, electronic membership information.

Other Communication. The Commission shall maintain regular communications with the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies. It will respond to U.S. Department of Education inquiries regarding institutional eligibility for Title IV; on receipt, it will forward to the institution for comment claims from students, the public and others of Title IV fraud and abuse and other allegations related to Title IV; and it will share with the U.S. Department of Education clear evidence received from Commission evaluation teams, Commission staff or other sources of possible Title IV fraud and abuse or failure to meet Title IV, HEA program responsibilities, along with a summary of the Commission’s reasons for concern. With the exception of information about possible Title IV fraud and abuse or a specific request for confidentiality of contact with the U.S. Department of Education, the Commission will typically notify an institution when the Commission provides information about it to the U.S. Department of Education but will consider each situation on a case-by-case basis to determine whether confidentiality is appropriate.

Policy History

Last Revised: February 2010 
First Adopted: February 1996 
Revision History: Adopted February 1996, effective February 1996, revised February 1998, revised June 2008, revised February 2009, revised February 2010
Notes: Former policy numbers-10.1, 10.1(a), 10.1(b).