Accreditation Hearings

During a program's accreditation hearing the Council can make one of the following actions regarding the program's accreditation status:

Action 1, Approval: Accreditation or re-accreditation is granted:

• With commendations: Council may recognize exemplary performance with reference to specific standards and learning outcomes through commendations.
   
• With or without recommendations:  Based on the Visitation Report and directly relating to the standards, the Council may suggest non-binding recommendations, which Programs/Specializations may choose to implement. Recommendations are considered minor in nature; they are not grounds for conditional accreditation, or for deferral or denial of accreditation.
   
• With or without requirement of additional information and/or minor revisions:  Accreditation or reaccreditation will be contingent upon Program’s response to specific, minor concerns about one or more standards by a date specified in the motion. Failure to provide the requested changes or revisions within the time period will result in placement of the Program on Conditional status.

Action 2, Extension:  Extend current accreditation and defer action on reaccreditation with:

• Conditions: Conditions are based on noncompliance with specific standards or failure to provide sufficient evidence to document compliance with the standards. Conditions are more serious than Recommendations and Requests for additional information and/or revisions, and may arise from “major concerns” noted by Site Visitors. In the case that a Program/Specialization fails to address conditions by the designated deadline, fails to address the conditions to the satisfaction of the Council, or submits no response to conditions by the established deadline, a warning is issued that withdrawal of accreditation is imminent. Upon receipt of a written petition from the institution and at its discretion, Council may extend conditions for an additional specified period of time. 
   
• Warning:  The Program is placed on warning.  Warnings are formal statements issued by the Council that signal serious concerns about lack of evidence supporting compliance with standards and the imminent withdrawal of accreditation if issues are not addressed. Warnings are given when an accredited Program/Specialization is shown to have fallen significantly and/or consistently below standards, or has submitted materials that inadequately document compliance with conditions. It should be noted that the Council may issue a warning to a Program/Specialization that has not previously received one or more conditions. The Program/Specialization is warned that accreditation will be withdrawn if specific improvements are not made within a prescribed time.

Action 3, Deferral: Deferral refers to the act of delaying the decision on accreditation. Deferrals may occur only on initial accreditation reviews. A deferral may be issued when compelling evidence indicates that Program/Specialization weaknesses can be minimized or eliminated in a short period of time.

Action 4, Denial: Accreditation not granted/withdrawn.