4.6.3. Second Progress Report Decisions

After hearing the accreditation specialist’s review of the first progress report or after reviewing the first progress report itself, the COA takes one of the following actions, regardless of who reviewed the report:

  1. Accept the Second Progress Report. All areas of concern were addressed in the progress report, and no further action by the program is required.
  2. Place the Program on Conditional Accredited Status. The COA finds the program out of compliance with one or more educational policy and/or accreditation standard and places it on conditional accredited status if it believes that noncompliance issues can be resolved by the program within 1 year. The COA’s letter identifies specific areas of noncompliance. Conditional status is an adverse decision, and programs may request reconsideration. If the program accepts the COA’s decision, it submits a restoration report.
  3. Initiate Withdrawal of Accredited Status. The COA initiates withdrawal of accredited status if the program is found to be out of compliance with one or more educational policies or accreditation standards and the COA does not believe that noncompliance issues can be resolved within 1 year. The COA’s letter identifies specific areas of noncompliance and instructs the program to work with its accreditation specialist to arrange for the graduation or transfer of its students and determine when the program’s accreditation will be withdrawn. The decision to initiate withdrawal of accredited status is an adverse one, and programs may request reconsideration. After its official withdrawal date a program may apply for candidacy status.
  4. Order a Modified Site Visit. If the COA believes that a program may be out of compliance with one or more educational policies or accreditation standards, the COA can order a modified site visit to collect more information. A site visitor is sent at the program’s expense to review specific compliance issues. This program is reviewed at the next COA meeting after the site visit.
  5. Accept the Program's Response to the Modified Site Visit Report. All areas of concern were addressed in the program’s response, and no further action by the program is required.