DATE:        July 29, 2008

TO:        Career Schools and Colleges Operating Under National Accrediting Agencies

FROM:        Susan E. Hetzler

SUBJECT:    Recognition of National Accrediting Agencies


Career Schools and Colleges, and Private and Out-of-State Public Postsecondary Institutions Operating in Texas each have rules related to the issuance of certificates of authority, the establishment of minimum standards, and operating requirements. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) recently determined that by repealing both Chapter 7 and Chapter 12, consolidating and reorganizing the material into a new Chapter 7 (Degree Granting Colleges and Universities Other Than Texas Public Institutions), and adding new provisions, postsecondary institutions wishing to operate in Texas would be able to establish operations more easily and quickly without compromising safeguards for students.    

Consequently, Chapters 7 and 12 of Board rules were repealed and new Chapter 7 rules relating to Degree Granting Colleges and Universities Other Than Texas Public Institutions were simultaneously adopted by the Board at its April 24, 2008 meeting. The language in the new Chapter 7 rules improves the understanding of the rules, clarifies the standards for recognizing national accrediting agencies, and includes language for the alternative certificate of authority. Following the April adoption of the new Chapter 7 rules, the following national accreditation agencies submitted applications for THECB recognition:

•    Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES);
•    Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT);
•    Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS);
•    Council on Occupational Education (COE); and
•    Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Following the adoption of the rules in April, amendments to the new Chapter 7 rules were posted for public comment June 20, 2008 and the amended rules were approved by the Board at its July 24, 2008 meeting. Further, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved these five accrediting agencies for degree granting authority within the state of Texas at the July 2008 meeting. This approval will be effective August 25, 2008, twenty days after filing the revised rules covering the recognition of national accrediting agencies with the Texas Register.

To expedite the transition from THECB oversight, please notify us of your intent to continue under THECB oversight, or if your accrediting agency was not one of the five recognized, no notification is required. If you wish to discontinue THECB oversight, please send us a letter of intent, along with your original THECB Certificate of Authority as soon as possible. Once Coordinating Board staff has received your notification and Certificate of Authority, we will issue a Certificate of Authorization acknowledging your exempt status.
   
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or Mr. Fred White, Program Director, Career Technical Programs, by telephone at 512.427.6238 or via email at Fred.White@thecb.state.tx.us.