Texas Administrative Code › Title 19 - EDUCATION › Part 1 - TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD › Chapter 7 - DEGREE GRANTING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OTHER THAN TEXAS PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS › Subchapter A - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 7.6 - Recognition of Accrediting Agencies

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a)
				  Eligibility Criteria--The Board may recognize accrediting agencies with a
				  commitment to academic quality and student achievement that demonstrate,
				  through an application process, compliance with the following criteria:
(1) Eligibility. The accrediting agency's
				  application for recognition must demonstrate that the entity:
(A) Is recognized by the Secretary of
				  Education of the United States Department of Education as an accrediting agency
				  authorized to accredit educational institutions that offer the associate degree
				  or higher. Demonstration of authorization shall include clear description of
				  the scope of recognized accreditation.
(B) Is applying for the same scope of
				  recognition as that for which it is recognized by the Secretary of Education of
				  the United States Department of Education:
(i) Using the U.S. Department of Education
				  classification of instructional programs (CIP) code at the two-digit level, the
				  applicant shall identify all fields of study in which institutions it accredits
				  may offer degree programs.
(ii)
				  Accrediting agencies shall, for each field of study in which an accredited
				  institution may offer degree programs, specify the levels of degrees that may
				  be awarded. Levels must be differentiated at least to the following, as defined
				  in §
													7.3 of
				  this chapter (relating to Definitions): applied associate degree, academic
				  associate degree, baccalaureate degree, master's degree, first professional
				  degree and doctoral degree. Associate of occupational studies (AOS) degrees are
				  only allowed under §
													7.5(c)
				  of this chapter (relating to Administrative Injunctions, Limitations, and
				  Penalties).
(iii) Only institutions
				  that qualify as eligible for United States Department of Education Title IV
				  programs as a result of accreditation by the applicant agency will be
				  considered exempt under §
													7.7
				  of this chapter (relating to Institutions Accredited by Board-Recognized
				  Accreditors).
(C)
				  Accredits institutions that have legal authority to confer postsecondary
				  degrees as its primary activity:
(i)
				  Accrediting agencies must identify all institutions accredited by the agency
				  that either the majority of the accredited institutions have the legal
				  authority to award postsecondary degrees or that it accredits at least fifty
				  (50) institutions that have the legal authority to award postsecondary
				  degrees.
(ii) An accrediting agency
				  that accredits programs as well as institutions shall demonstrate that either
				  it accredits more institutions than programs or that it has policies,
				  procedures and staff sufficient to address institutional standards of quality
				  in addition to program standards of quality.
(iii) Accrediting agencies must have
				  standards that require all accredited institutions to comply with all
				  applicable laws in the state and local jurisdiction in which they operate and
				  that require accredited institutions to clearly and accurately communicate
				  their accreditation status to the public.
(D) Requires an on-site review by a visiting
				  team as part of initial and continuing accreditation of educational
				  institutions:
(i) Each accrediting agency
				  shall demonstrate, through its documented practices and/or its official
				  policies, that it requires no fewer than three (3) members on a team when
				  conducting initial and continuing accreditation visits, that none have a
				  monetary or personal interest in the findings of the on-site review, that all
				  have professional experience and knowledge that qualifies them to review the
				  institution's compliance with the standards of the agency, and that the
				  combined team experience and knowledge are sufficient to review all applicable
				  standards of the agency.
(ii)
				  Accrediting agencies may conduct site visits for reasons other than initial and
				  continuing accreditation with fewer team members.
(iii) Accrediting agencies shall provide a
				  list of the visiting team members for the five (5) most recently completed
				  on-site reviews. The list shall show name, employer, title of positions held
				  with that employer and the standards for which the individual was responsible
				  in that on-site review.
(E) Has policies or procedures that ensure
				  the entity will promptly respond to requests for information from the Board:
(i) Each accrediting agency shall provide the
				  Board its official policy regarding disclosure of information about
				  institutions that are or have been candidates for accreditation and are or have
				  been accredited. Agencies shall provide to the Board, within ten (10) working
				  days, any new information and any requested information about a Texas
				  institution that would be available to the public under that official
				  policy.
(ii) Each accrediting
				  agency shall include in its standards for accreditation of Texas institutions
				  that the institutions disclose publicly and to the Board the number of degrees
				  awarded at each level each year and the number of students enrolled in the fall
				  of each year.
(F) Has
				  sufficient resources to carry out its functions:
(i) Accrediting agencies shall identify the
				  number of on-site reviews conducted during the most recent twelve (12) month
				  period, the number of staff members who participated in those on-site reviews
				  and the maximum number of on-site reviews conducted by any individual staff
				  member. If that maximum number exceeds thirty (30), the agency shall explain
				  how it expects to carry out its function of enforcing its standards on Texas
				  institutions.
(ii) Each accrediting
				  agency shall provide evidence that its ratio of current assets to current
				  liabilities equals or exceeds 1.2.
(iii) Each accrediting agency shall
				  demonstrate that its fees are reasonable for the accreditation services
				  provided.