CLINTON —
Ashford University has been placed on notice by its accrediting body because of concerns that it is not meeting the accreditor’s criteria, the university’s parent company announced Friday.
Bridgepoint Education announced that on Feb. 27, officials received a letter from Ashford’s accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of schools and colleges (HLC), that the university has been placed on notice — a status that indicates a university is pursuing a course of action that, if continued, could lead to it being out of compliance with one or more criteria of accreditation.
The HLC is the accrediting body for a 19-state region, including Iowa.
The HLC Board of Trustees noted Ashford had not demonstrated that it was substantially present in the region as required by a jurisdictional policy the board adopted in June 2012.
Ashford is currently pursuing accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the regional accrediting body that covers institutions in California where Ashford maintains a substantial administrative and executive presence and where a majority of the for-profit institutions’ students are based.
Ashford was denied initial accreditation by the WASC in June and officials stated they would reapply for accreditation. According to HLC policy and federal regulations, if another institutional accrediting body takes an adverse or probationary action against an HLC institution, the HLC must begin a review of the institution to determine if sanctions, further action or removal of accreditation were appropriate, according to a disclosure from the HLC.
In December, Ashford filed a plan to come into compliance immediately with the substantial presence requirement in July 2013 should it not achieve accreditation with WASC, according to a disclosure from the HLC. The HLC Board determined it was in students’ best interest to allow Ashford a limited amount of time to complete the WASC accreditation process before taking further action regarding the substantial presence issue.
The HLC Commission requested a report from Ashford regarding its accreditation status with the WASC by July 10.
If Ashford is not accredited by the WASC, it will need to host a focused evaluation no later than Oct. 1, to evaluate if it has taken steps to comply with the substantial presence requirement. The evaluation also will examine issues noted by the WASC in denying accreditation.
In placing Ashford on notice, the HLC’s board also noted in concerns related to the alignment of the university mission with its instructional model, governance of the university independent from its corporate parent, sufficiency of faculty, assessment of student learning and use of data to improve graduation and retention rates, and shared governance structures involving faculty and administration, according to the HLC disclosure.
Local News
March 2, 2013
Ashford University placed on notice by HLC
- Local News
-
- YWCA pushes forward with shelter CLINTON — The Clinton YWCA will no longer receive government funding for its domestic violence and sexual assault resource center, but Executive Director Lori Freudenberg said her organization was prepared and will continue to offer services for vict
- No Headline Provided Baseball AMERICAN LEAGUE East Division W L Pct GB New York 26 16 .619 -- Boston 25 17 .595 1 Baltimore 23 18 .561 2½ Tampa Bay 21 20 .512 4½ Toronto 17 25 .405 9 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 23 17 .575 -- Detroit 23 17 .575 -- Kansas City
-
Planning for the future
CLINTON -- No Kohl's. No casino. No development in the Lyons Tech Park. Less tax revenue. More blight. That's what Clinton officials say the city would have if they hadn't used tax increment financing to attract development. Tax increment fina
- No Headline Provided Baseball NATIONAL LEAGUE East Division W L Pct GB Atlanta 23 18 .561 -- Washington 22 19 .537 1 Philadelphia 20 22 .476 3½ New York 16 23 .410 6 Miami 11 31 .262 12½ Central Division W L Pct GB St. Louis 27 14 .659 -- Cincinnati 25 17 .595 2½ Pitts
-
Clinton law enforcement honored
CLINTON — Members of the Clinton Police Department and Clinton County Sheriff's Office commemorated National Police Week with an awards ceremony and a memorial ceremony to honor those who protect the community.
-
2 finalists named for city administrator
CLINTON — Two finalists have been selected in the search for Clinton's next city administrator: Clinton Finance Director and interim City Administrator Jessica Kinser and Joliet, Ill., Assistant City Manager Benjamin Benson.
-
Jail escapee pleads guilty
CLINTON -- A man who escaped from the Clinton County jail on April 6 will spend as much as 10 years in prison. Kendrell Keith, 18, pleaded guilty Thursday to the escape and the second-degree theft charge that put him in jail.
-
Council targets late bills
CLINTON - Business owners won't be able to dodge sewer bills while staying in operation under an ordinance amendment that was approved by City Council members Tuesday.
-
Trying to find a family member
CLINTON — Jean King's heart aches for a daughter she never knew. Christmas time especially brings sorrow and speculation about the daughter she gave up for adoption 36 years ago. "I wonder what she's doing. I wonder if she's successful. I wonder how
- Council explores new solid-waste system CLINTON -- City officials are considering paying the Minnesota firm that evaluated the solid waste system $17,000 to help in the search for a solid-waste service provider. The $17,000 would be paid to Springsted in order for the firm to assemble a r
- More Local News Headlines
