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Community College Watch – Autumn 2016 Edition

HEAG ., Community Colleges

The recent announcement by the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions to further review institutions with extremely low graduation rates puts many community colleges in the spotlight. According to Insider Higher Ed, “Tougher Scrutiny for Colleges with Low Graduation Rates,” 279 two-year institutions have graduation rates at or below 15% over four years. Accreditation is like horror movies on Halloween, it sends real shivers down your spine. The loss of accreditation means schools lose their ability to administer federal financial aid programs.

Here are some trending news stories regarding accreditation:community college watch

• Center for American Progress’s (CAP) alternative to accreditation report was recently released. Here’s an overview by Jolanta Juszkiewicz from the American Association of Community Colleges.

Tougher Scrutiny for Colleges With Low Graduation Rates, Inside Higher Ed, by Andrew Kreighbaum

What College Accreditation Changes Mean for Students, ED HomeRoom Blog

Group releases draft quality standards for competency-based education, Inside Higher Ed, by Paul Fain


 

Don’t let accreditation scare you. HEAG’s financial aid and compliance experts are here to help keep the ghosts away.

Karyn Wright-Moore, HEAG’s Vice President of Compliance and Quality Assurance has more than 25 years of experience in compliant delivery of Federal Student Aid Programs. She has helped schools through the accreditation process from both senior management positions within schools and as a consultant.

Dr. Erica Holmes has successfully led colleges through accreditation reaffirmations and compliance audits. She has more than 20 years of experience working in financial aid.

Jennifer Tonneson Sherman’s broad background in management and process improvement allows her to help departments and institutions operate more effectively and efficiently. She has more than 20 years of experience working in higher education.