...worked with Congress to improve the eligibility and certification process, and our combined efforts nave paid off handsomely. For example, the percentage of...certification has declined more than 50 percent since 1991. An institution seeking initial eligibility must be accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized...

...institutions participating in Title IV programs, certification standards have been strengthened. As a result, the percentage of initial applications for certification...30.5 percent in 1992 to nearly 40 percent in 1995. * To improve the effectiveness of accrediting agencies that evaluate institutions, the Department is...

...off handsomely. For example, the percentage of initial applications for certification that has been denied has increased substantially, from 16.6 percent in 1990 to 30.5 percent in 1992 to more than 43 percent so far this year. [Charts, graphs, and a paper describing the existing gatekeeping...