Regard for Decisions of States and Other Accrediting Organizations

The Commission does not accredit or grant candidacy to institutions that lack legal authorization under applicable State or foreign law to provide a program of education beyond the secondary level, if such authorization is required.

The Commission does not accredit or grant candidacy, initial accreditation, or renewed accreditation to an institution if it is known that the institution is the subject of a pending or final action by a State agency to suspend, revoke, withdraw, or terminate its legal authority to provide postsecondary education; a denial of accreditation or candidacy by an accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education; or a pending or final action by a recognized accreditor to suspend, revoke, withdraw, or terminate accreditation or candidacy, or to impose probation or an equivalent status, except as noted in the next guideline.

If the Commission grants candidacy or accreditation to an institution described above, the Commission provides the U.S. Secretary of Education, within 30 days of its action, a thorough and reasonable explanation, consistent with its standards, of why the action of the other accreditor does not preclude the Commission's grant of candidacy or accreditation.

If the Commission learns that an institution with candidacy or accredited status is the subject of adverse action by another recognized accreditor or has been placed on probation or equivalent status, the Commission promptly reviews the institution's accreditation or candidacy to determine whether it should also take adverse action or place the institution on probation or show cause.

The Commission shares with other appropriate recognized accrediting organizations and recognized State approval agencies information about the accreditation status of