APA Accrediation

[Istilldontknow]

I know that the APA website lists current accredited schools and programs that are on probation. Is there a way to find out when and why a program was on probation in the past?

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[ItsNotMe_ItsYou]

Yes. The APA website contains extensive information about all aspects of the accreditation process. If you're on the site, go to the Education page, do some research, and you will learn how to access the information you seek.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I know the site lists why a program is currently on probation (in a general sense). I'm not sure about past probationary periods.

 

[Istilldontknow]

Yes. The APA website contains extensive information about all aspects of the accreditation process. If you're on the site, go to the Education page, do some research, and you will learn how to access the information you seek.

Thank you. I've already done this and cant find the information anywhere. Do you happen to know where exactly I find out the information?

 

[MCParent]

Thank you. I've already done this and cant find the information anywhere. Do you happen to know where exactly I find out the information?

You can't get the reason why a specific program is on probation, only got 3 or 5 year renewal, etc. It can range from serious problems to a program doing great but just doing a really bad job putting together the reaccreditation materials.

 

[ItsNotMe_ItsYou]

I included some information you might find helpful. Links to the documents are provided below. Similar to what others have said, it's not likely that you'll find the nitty-gritty details about the probationary status of a doctoral program on the web. Apparently, other info is published elsewhere, but you will likely have to contact the program to get all of your questions answered. When I said "you will learn how to access the information..." before, I meant it literally. Sorry this isn't what you're looking for, but hopefully it's useful.

4. THIRD-PARTY COMMENT/TESTIMONY – Provision of Third-Party Testimony Related to Initial or Periodic Review for Accreditation

The U.S. Secretary of Education‘s criteria for recognition activities states: “In providing public notice that an institution or program subject to its jurisdiction is being considered for accreditation or preaccreditation, the agency must provide an opportunity for third party comment concerning the institution’s or program’s qualifications for accreditation or preaccreditation.” The following section outlines the steps that will be taken by the CoA, consistent with the Secretary’s requirements.

4.1 Provision of Third-Party Comment

(a) The CoA will provide public notice of all programs scheduled for initial or periodic review prior to the beginning of each review year.

(1) In the case of programs applying for continued accreditation, such notice will appear in the APA Monitor on Psychology and/or on the Commission on Accreditation website and will include a summary of the accreditation guidelines. In addition, a notice regarding public comment will be added to the listing of accredited programs in American Psychologist, along with instructions that questions regarding testimony be directed to the Program Consultation and Accreditation Office. Such notice may also appear on related web pages with information for students/interns/residents.​

(2) In the case of programs applying for initial accreditation (whether “full” or “contingent”), the CoA will provide public notice of all programs that have submitted initial application materials. Such notice will appear on the Commission on Accreditation website, and may appear on related web pages with information for students/interns/residents.
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(b) Deadlines for receipt of third-party testimony will be given in the notice. The deadlines will be determined according to the following formula: the due date of self-study reports for programs in each review cycle, plus 5 additional working days.

(c) All third-party testimony must state the name of the person(s) or the party(ies) represented by the testimony. Issues addressed in the testimony must be limited to a program’s consistency with the SoA. All testimony must be in writing and is limited to 10 pages.

(d) All third-party testimony made on a program will be incorporated into the preliminary review process, as governed by Sections 6 D, 6 I; and 6 P of the Accreditation Operating Procedures. The testimony provided will be forwarded to the program, which will be given the opportunity to comment in writing no later than 1 month prior to the meeting during which the review will occur. Should no comments be received from the program during this time, the CoA will consider the testimony to be undisputed.

(e) The CoA will consider all third-party testimony and program comments part of the record for purposes of program review and decision. Consideration of the testimony will be governed by Section 4 of the Accreditation Operating Procedures.

(f) Third-party testimony is not to be confused with the complaint process. Although both deal with a program’s consistency with the Standards of Accreditation, the complaint process differs in many respects:

(1) The process and actions to be taken with the CoA in the review of a complaint are governed by Section 3.1.3 of the Accreditation Operating Procedures;​

(2) Complaints may be filed only against the operations of an accredited program and not against those reviewed for initial accreditation;

(3) Submission of third-party testimony can be made only in the context of a program’s review for initial or continued accreditation, as appropriate;

(4) Third-party testimony may be filed on behalf of a program as well as against it; and

(5) A program has the option of declining to respond to third- party testimony.​

Attention will be invited to the existence of the complaint process, with instructions to contact the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation should questions arise.​

4.2 Provision of Third-Party Information for the Identification of Incorrect/Misleading Information Released by an Accredited or Applicant Program

(a) The CoA provides for the public correction of incorrect or misleading information released by an accredited or applicant program about:

(1) The program’s accreditation status;​

(2) The contents of reports of site team visitors; and​

(3) The CoA’s accrediting actions with respect to the program.​

(b) The procedure for providing such correction is as follows:

(1) All third-party testimony must state the name of the person(s) or the party(ies) represented by the testimony. Issues addressed in the testimony must identify the incorrect/misleading information alleged to have been provided by the program. All testimony must be in writing and is limited to 10 pages. If the information appeared in print form, a copy of the document in question should accompany the testimony.

(2) The third-party testimony will be forwarded to the program alleged to have supplied the information, and the program will have the opportunity to comment in writing no later than one month from the program’s receipt of the CoA’s letter. Should no comments be received from the program during this time, the CoA will consider the testimony to be undisputed.

(3) Upon receipt of a response from the program or in the absence of a response, one month after the program’s receipt of the CoA’s letter, the CoA will review the testimony and any program response. If a misleading instance is verified, the program will be informed by the CoA, in writing, that the program’s actions are not consistent with the SoA. The CoA reserves the right to take further action with regard to the program, consistent with the Accreditation Operating Procedures, as may be appropriate under the circumstances.

(4) In those instances in which incorrect/misleading information has been verified, the CoA will provide public correction of such information via its website and/or the APA Monitor on Psychology. This public announcement will include a summary of the information released by the program, accompanied by the CoA’s clarification/ correction of the information (subject to its procedures regarding confidentiality and public disclosure of information).
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5. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

An annual list of the status of accredited programs and the year of each program’s next scheduled site visit will be published in the American Psychologist, and an up-to-date listing of all accredited programs will be regularly available on the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation website. Included in all published lists will be the identity of programs whose accreditation has been denied, or revoked, as well as those voluntarily withdrawing from accredited status. The CoA will make public notice of all accreditation decisions no later than 30 days following the CoA meeting at which the decisions were made. In the case of programs for which appealable decisions have been reached, and appeal has been filed, the CoA will note that the decision is under appeal.​

An updated list that includes changes in status or new programs since the previous annual list will be published midyear in the American Psychologist. In addition, after each meeting of the CoA, the published lists of accredited programs will be updated as necessary by an addendum of decisions and will also be available through other means as appropriate. The CoA will share the accreditation status of programs with regional and specialized accrediting bodies as appropriate. All other information, and the records used in accreditation decisions, will be kept confidential by the CoA.​

The Commission will identify and make public, as appropriate, all applicant programs applying for initial review by the CoA for “accredited, on contingency” or “full accreditation” to allow for third-party comment.​

The CoA will notify the Department of Education of any accredited program that the CoA has reason to believe is failing to comply with financial aid responsibilities as outlined in Title IV of the Higher Education Act, or any purported fraud and abuse by accredited programs, and its reasons for such concern. The CoA also will take action to correct in a timely manner any incorrect or misleading information released by an accredited program about the accreditation status of the program, the contents of the site visit report, and the CoA’s accrediting actions with respect to the program.​

In addition, the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation will make disclosure as required by the U.S. Department of Education and in those instances when the CoA is legally required to disclose such information (p. 11-15).​

Accreditation Operating Procedures: http://apps.apa.org/AccredComment/attachments/Accreditation Operating Procedures_Approved 62015.pdf
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Notice of Actions - Accreditation Status
http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/newsletter/spring-actions.pdf
Helpful link of recent decisions.

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Accreditation Status and Contacting Doctoral Programs
Standard V.A.1.b of the Standards of Accreditation (SoA) for doctoral programs states that the program must include in its public materials:

“The program must disclose its status with regard to accreditation, including the specific academic program covered by that status, and the name, address, and telephone number of the Commission on Accreditation. The program should make available, as appropriate through its sponsor institution, such reports or other materials as pertain to the program’s accreditation status.” ​

Programs that are accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., CoA) are required to provide the contact information for the accrediting body when the accreditation status is cited. The intent of this Implementing Regulation is to clarify how this information should be presented in order to ensure consistency across programs as well as provide useful information to the public.

CoA Contact Information

• Programs should clarify that this contact information should be used for questions related to the program’s accreditation status. In doing so, the program should also ensure that its own contact information is clearly indicated in its materials so that the public knows how to contact the program directly with any other questions.

C-25 D. Accreditation Status and CoA Contact Information
http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/section-c-soa.pdf