On April 3, 2018, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) temporarily reinstated its recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as the department conducts a further review of the accrediting body. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will continue to monitor the evolving situation and review its impact on stakeholders on a case-by-case basis.

On March 15, 2017, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) began issuing notices or requests, as appropriate, to SEVP-certified schools accredited by Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) who failed to report their loss of accreditation to SEVP as required in 8CFR 214.3 (G)(2).

In December of 2016, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it no longer recognizes ACICS as an accrediting agency, a decision that impacted some SEVP-certified schools because SEVP only recognizes a school’s accreditation if it is from an accrediting agency recognized by ED.

Current law and regulations only require English as Second Language (ESL) schools and programs to be accredited, and non-ESL schools have the option to submit evidence in lieu of accreditation for SEVP-certification purposes. For more information about this process, please visit the Schools section of ICE.gov.

SEVP has clarified its guidance on the ACICS Loss of Accreditation Recognition Information page and has begun sending notices to affected schools.

The updated guidance and the notices accurately reflect the program’s policy in following federal regulation as it relates to this issue. Impacted schools are advised to visit the above link for specific compliance-related information and to abide by the options and requirements stated in the notice they receive.

If you are a school official at an ACICS-accredited school and have case-specific questions, please contact the SEVP Response Center.