NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING AGENCIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

The following accrediting bodies have been recognized by the U.S. Commissioner of Education as being reliable authorities concerning the quality of education or training offered by educational institutions or programs, February 1974. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Office of Education, Bureau of Postsecondary Education, Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility Staff.

REGIONAL ACCREDITING COMMISSIONS

Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, Harry W. Porter, Executive Secretary, Commission on Higher Education, Gateway One, Raymond Plaza West, Newark, N.J. 07102.

New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Robert R. Ramsey, Jr., Director of Evaluation, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, 131 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Mass. 01803. Ralph O. West, Director of Evaluation, Commission on Independent Secondary Schools, 131 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Mass. 01803. Richard J. Bradley, Director of Evaluation, Commission on Public Secondary Schools, 131 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Mass. 01803. Daniel S. Maloney, Director of Evaluation, Commission on Vocational Technical Institutions, 131 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Mass. 08103.

North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, Joseph Semrow, Executive Secretary, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, 5454 South Shore Dr., Chicago, Ill. 60615.

Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools, James F. Bemis, Executive Director, Commission on Higher Schools, 3731 University Way, NE., #104, Seattle, Wash. 98105.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Gordon W. Sweet, Executive Secretary, Commission on Colleges, 795 Peachtree St., NE., Atlanta, Ga. 30308. Bob E. Childers, Commission on Occupational Education Institutions, 795 Peachtree St., NE., Atlanta, Ga. 30308.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Kay J. Andersen, Executive Director, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, c/o Mills College, Oakland, Calif. 95350. Harry D. Wiser, Secretary, Accrediting Commission for Junior Colleges, Post Office Box 4065, Modesto, Calif. 95350.

NATIONAL SPECIALIZED ACCREDITING ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES

Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges, John Mostert, Executive Director, Box 543, Wheaton, Ill. 60187.

Accrediting Bureau of Medical Laboratory Schools, Hugh A. Woosley, Administrator, 3038 West Lexington Ave., Oak Manor Offices, Elkhart, Ind. 46154. Accrediting Commission on Graduate Education for Hospital Administration, Gary L. Filerman, Executive Director, One Dupont Circle, NW., Washington, D.C. 20036.

American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business, Jesse M. Smith, Jr., Managing Director, 101 North Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63130.

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Bernice O. Baum, Executive Director, 111 East Wacker Dr., Chicago, Ill. 60601.

American Association of Theological Schools, Jesse H. Ziegler, Executive Director, 534 Third National Bldg., Dayton, Ohio 45402.

American Bar Association, Louis Potter, Assistant Director, Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, 1155 East 60th St., Chicago, Ill. 60637. American Board of Funeral Service Education, William H. Ford, Administrator, 201 Columbia St., Fairmont W.Va. 26554.

American Chemical Society, J. H. Howard, Secretary, Committee on Professional Training, 343 State St., Rochester, N.Y. 14650.

American Council on Education for Journalism, Baskett Mosse, Executive Secretary, Accrediting Committee, Northwestern University, 215 Fisk Hall, Evanston, Ill. 60201.

American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, Fred T. Mahaffey, Secretary, 77 West Washington St., Chicago, Ill. 60602.

American Dental Association, Thomas J. Ginley, Secretary, Council on Dental Education, 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.

American Library Association, Agnes L. Reagan, Assistant Director for Education, Office of Library Education, 50 East Huron St., Chicago, Ill. 60611. American Optometric Association, Ellis S. Smith, Jr., Executive Secretary, Council on Optometric Education, 7000 Chippewa St., St. Louis, Mo. 63119. American Osteopathic Association, Albert E. O'Donnell, Director, Office of Education, 212 East Ohio St., Chicago, Ill. 60611.

American Podiatry Association, John L. Bennett, Director, Council on Podiatry Education, 20 Chevy Chase Circle, NW., Washington, D.C. 20015. American Psychological Association, Ronald B. Kurz, Associate Educational Affairs Officer, 1200 17th St., NW., Washington, D.C. 20036.

American Public Health Association, Inc., Maggie Matthews, Staff Associate, Office of Health and Manpower, 1015 H St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20036. American Society of Landscape Architects, Gary O. Robinette, Associate Executive Director, 1750 Old Meadow Rd., McLean, Va. 22101.

American Speech and Hearing Association, Claude S. Haynes, Chairman, Education and Training Board, 9030 Old Georgetown Rd., Washington, D.C. 20014.

American Veterinary Medical Association, W. M. Decker, Director of Scientific Activities, Department of Education and Licensure, 600 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60605.

Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Charles E. Hall, Jr., Executive Director, Interchurch Center, Suite 450, 475 Riverside Dr., New York, N.Y. 10027.

Association of Independent Colleges and Schools, Dana R. Hart, Secretary, Accrediting Commission, 1730 M St., NW., Washington, D.C. 20036.

Cosmetology Accrediting Commission, James R. Taylor, Executive Director, 25775 Southfield Rd., Southfield, Mich. 48075.

Council on Medical Education, American Medical Association in Cooperation with: Accreditation Committee, American Occupational Therapy Association; Committee on Accreditation in Basic Education, American Physical Therapy Association; Curriculum Review Board, American Association of Medical Assistants; Education and Registration Committee, American Medical Record Association; Joint Review Committee for Inhalation Therapy Education; Joint Review Committee on Education for the Assistant to the Primary Care Physician; Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology; Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology; National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, C. H. William Ruhe, Secretary, Council on Medical Education, AMA, 535 North Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. 60610.

Council on Social Work Education, Alfred Stamm, Director, Division of Educational Standards and Accreditation, 345 East 46th St., New York, N.Y. 10017.

Engineers' Council for Professional Development, David R. Reyes-Guerra, Executive Director, 345 East 46th St., New York, N.Y. 10017.

Liaison Committee on Medical Education, (In even numbered years), C. H. William Ruhe, Secretary, Council on Medical Education, American Medical Association, 535 North Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. 60610.

(In odd numbered years), John A. D. Cooper. President, Association of American Medical Colleges, One Dupont Circle, NW., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20036.

National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Alexander F. Handel, Executive Director, 79 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016.

National Architectural Accrediting Board, Helen Steele, Executive Secretary, 1735 New York Ave., NW., Washington, D.C. 20006.

National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service, Rose G. Martin, Executive Director, 122 East 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017.

National Association of Schools of Art, William Lewis, Director. Commission on Accrediting College of Architecture and Design, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104.

National Association of Schools of Music, Robert Glidden, Executive Secretary, One Dupont Circle, NW., Suite 650, Washington, D.C. 20036.

National Association of Trade and Technical Schools, William A. Goddard, Secretary, Accrediting Commission, 2021 L St., NW., Washington, D.C. 20036. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, Rolf W. Larson, Director, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, D.C. 20006.

National Home Study Council, William A. Fowler, Executive Secretary, Accrediting Commission, 1601 18th St., NW., Washington, D.C. 20009.

National League for Nursing, Margaret E. Walsh, General Director and Secretary, 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019.

Society of American Foresters, Donald R. Theoe, Director of Professional Programs, 1010 16th St., NW., Washington, D.C. 20036.

OTHER

Board of Regents, Ewald Nyquist, Commissioner of Education, State Education Department, The University of the State of New York, Albany, N.Y. 12224. Inquiries should be directed to: John R. Proffitt, Director, Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility Staff, Bureau of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Office of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202.

Mr. O'HARA. Our first witness today will be Hon. Peter Muirhead, Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education, who will introduce those accompanying him, and who will give us the information that we will need to start off these hearings.

Mr. Muirhead.

STATEMENT OF PETER P. MUIRHEAD, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, BUREAU OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION, ACCOMPANIED BY CHARLES M. COOKE, JR., DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR LEGISLATION (EDUCATION); JOHN R. PROFFITT, DIRECTOR, ACCREDITATION AND INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY STAFF, BUREAU OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION; AND JAMES W. MOORE, ACTING ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER, OFFICE OF GUARANTEED STUDENT LOANS, OFFICE

OF MANAGEMENT

Mr. MUIRHEAD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I am accompanied this morning by Mr. Charles Cooke, our deputy assistant secretary for legislation, and on my left, Mr. John Proffitt, the director of our accreditation and institutional eligibility staff, and on my right, the acting director of the guaranteed student loan

program.

Mr. Chairman, I think you have provided what I consider to be a very succinct and excellent statement of the issues involved in accreditation and eligibility, and indeed, all of your hearings have been significant and important, but these hearings I think take on an even larger significance because as we move through the hearing it will become increasingly evident that this authority, accreditation and eligibility can be characterized almost as the powerhouse from which all the programs operate.

With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I should like to submit for the record a rather detailed statement. I would like to present a

briefer version of that statement and join with my colleagues in responding to your questions.

Mr. O'HARA. That would be an eminently satisfactory procedure. The full text of your statement will be entered at this point in the record.

[The document referred to follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF PETER P. MUIRHEAD, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, BUREAU OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

INTRODUCTION

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, I want to thank you for the opportunity to present this statement to you.

My statement is divided into three major sections. First, I will sketch for you an overview of Institutional Eligibility determination by the Office of Education as it pertains to funding programs for postsecondary educational institutions.

Then, I will move to a discussion of accreditation as it relates to Institutional Eligibility for Federal funding programs.

And finally, I will review the strengths, weaknesses and problem areas which we perceive in the present system for Institutional Eligibility determination— a system which stipulates heavy reliance upon accreditation of educational institutions and programs by private organizations that have no legal responsibility to the Federal government.

Included as portions of my statement are several informational attachments. These include:

1. An eligibility checklist, or chart; and

2. A list of Governmental and Non-Governmental uses of accreditation; 3. List of accrediting agencies recognized by the Commissioner of Education.

OVERVIEW OF INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION

Passage of the Higher Education Act and related statutes in 1965 that year launched the need for the Office of Education to determine, compile, and prepare lists of institutions eligible to participate in various Federal education programs established under the Act.

Culmination of the efforts may be seen in the list of over 8,300 institutions cited as eligible to participate in the largest and most broadly based Office of Education program of aid to students: the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, also called the Federal Insured Student Loan program. This program activity currently is providing Federal, State, or nonprofit guarantees to lenders in behalf of nearly seven million separate student loans for nearly seven billion dollars.

To assist with identifying and creating this list of more than 8,300 eligible institutions, the Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility Staff was formed in May of 1968 to produce eligibility determinations for some twenty U.S.O.E. programs. That Staff also provides assistance to other agencies within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, such as the Public Health Service in relation to health training programs, plus affording eligibility determinations to the Department of Justice, Federal Aviation Agency, Veterans Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development and other Federal and State agencies. Furthermore, it engages in an extensive information dissemination program to institutions, students and the general public regarding eligibility and accreditation matters.

The universe of eligible institutions in the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, which is our largest single listing of eligible institutions, can be divided into seven main categories:

Foreign schools, 800; proprietary, 1,685; 4-year and higher, 1,730; junior

colleges and institutes, 1,300; hospital schools of nursing, 450; medical technology and related, 1,353; and public area vocational schools, 1,000.

Institutional eligibility based upon the 1965 Higher Education Act, and the series of amendments and statutes related thereto, is linked to two broad types of Federal program assistance: student financial aid, and direct institutional aid or support. Student financial assistance programs include the Basic and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants Program, the College WorkStudy Program, the National Direct Student Loan Program and the aforementioned Guaranteed Student Loan Program. Institutional support programs include ones such as that for Strengthening Developing Institutions, the College Library Support Program, and Loans and Grants for Academic Facilities.

The term "Institutions of higher education" as defined in the statutory requirements, include public and nonprofit institutions which offer the traditional collegiate programs of study leading to a degree. The term also includes other public and nonprofit schools which offer one year programs of study that lead to gainful employment in recognized occupations such as hospital schools of nursing and other allied health schools, public area vocational schools and nonprofit business, trade and technical schools. Public and nonprofit institutions which meet all of the other specific requirements stated in the legislation, which I will discuss later, are eligible to participate in institutional support programs and programs that provide financial assistance to students attending these institutions. According to our latest figures, over 3,584 schools meet the statutory definition of “institution of higher education" and have been awarded eligibility status to participate in both institutional support and student financial aid programs.

Eligible proprietary schools may apply for participation in the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program, the National Direct Student Loan Program and the College Work-Study Program. Presently, 1,341 accredited proprietary institutions are eligible to participate in the Basic and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants Program, the National Direct Student Loan Program and the College Work-Study Program.

The Guaranteed Student Loan Program provides for the definition of a special category of schools, called "vocational schools," which include public, private non-profit and proprietary schools which offer postsecondary occupationally oriented programs to high school graduates and non-high school graduates. Over 3,000 of these vocational schools have been advised of their eligibility for this program. This figure includes 344 unaccredited proprietary vocational schools.

Before any school or institution may become eligible to participate in education programs administered by the Office of Education, it must meet certain minimum statutory requirements such as those indicated on the attached chart. These statutory eligibility elements fall into three categories. The first of these categories relate to factual information such as type of school, length of programs, and legal authorization. The second category involves special requirements established by program administrators under broader provisions of law, through regulation specifying provisions which participating schools must meet (such as "maintenance of efforts requirements" for library aid programs). The third category deals with the qualitative aspects of schools-or educational programs-in other words, accreditation, or one of the alternatives to accredited status.

It is in administering the Office of Education's responsibilities in relation to the qualitative factor of eligibility (i.e., that dealing with accreditation or its alternatives) that the greatest and most complex problems arise. Before mentioning some of these specific problems, however, we might first discuss accreditation and the Commissioner of Education's recognition of accrediting agencies.