Alexander Statement on Education Department Decision to Withdraw Recognition of College Accreditor

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 22, 2016 – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Senate education committee, today released the following statement about the decision by the U.S. Department of Education to terminate federal recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, a national institutional accrediting agency that accredits 245 colleges serving 600,000 students:

“With this decision, 245 colleges will start the extraordinarily difficult hunt to find a new accreditor within 18 months, while 600,000 students’ degrees and dollars hang in the balance. I will be watching this closely to ensure that the department is prepared to help students and colleges navigate the consequences of this unprecedented decision."

###