Home | FAQs | Site Map

Policies and Publications

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

» Accrediting Standards -
Principles of Accreditation
» Handbooks
» Publication Order Form
» Index for COC Documents
» Proceedings

Policies, Guidelines, Good Practices, and Position Statements

In addition to the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, the accreditation standards of the Commission on Colleges, the Commission has four categories of documents:policies, guidelines, good practices, and position statements.For each of the four categories below, the Commission defines the term and lists the documents categorized as such.There is also a link below explaining the recent changes to documents on this page.

For all, the Commission maintains currency on the Web and reserves the right to add, modify, or delete any of the documents listed.

Changes to Policies approved by the Commission in December 2005 (Added 01/06/2006)
Commission Policies
Commission Guidelines
Commission Good Practices
Commission Position Statements

Commission Policies

Definition:A policy is a required course of action to be followed by the Commission on Colleges or its member or candidate institutions.Commission policies may also include procedures, which are likewise a required course of action to be followed by the Commission on Colleges or its member or candidate institutions.The Principles of Accreditation requires that an institution comply with the policies and procedures of the Commission.Policies are approved by vote of the Commission on Colleges.At its discretion, the Commission may choose to forward a policy to the College Delegate Assembly for approval.

The following are categorized as policies of the Commission.

Accreditation Procedures for Applicant Institutions

(Updated June 2004)

Accrediting Decisions of Other Agencies (Approved June 2003)

Administrative Procedures for the Meetings of the Committees on Compliance and Reports

(Approved June 2006)

Appeals Procedures of the College Delegate Assembly of the Commission on Colleges (Revised Dec 2003)

Closing an Institution or Program: Teach-Out Agreement

(Approved Feb 2004)

Complaint Procedures for the Commission or Its Accredited Institutions (Modified for Principles Jan 2004)

Conflict of Interest: for Commission Staff (Revised Dec 2005)

Core Requirement 2.3:Documenting and Alternative Approach (Approved Mar 2005)

Core Requirement 2.7.4:Documenting an Alternative Approach

(Revised Dec 2003)

Deadlines for Reports and Profiles (Approved June 2006)

Disclosure of Accrediting Documents and Information

(Revised December 2004)

Distance Education (Revised June 2003)

Dues and Expenses

(Edited November 2005)

Ethical Obligations of Commissioners and Peer Evaluators (Approved Dec 2005)

Governing, Coordinating, and Other State Agencies: Representation on Evaluation Committees (Edited for Principles March 2004)

Integrity and Accuracy in Institutional Representation

(Revised June 2005)

Interpretation of Comprehensive Standards 3.2.5 and 3.2.12 (Approved June 2005)

Joint Curricular Ventures Involving the Award of Credit by Member Institutions (Approved Dec 2005)

Litigation: Financial Obligations

(Approved June 1992)

Observers on On-site Review Committees for Reaffirmation (Adopted June 2004)

Policies, Guidelines and Good Practices: Definitions for Accreditation Purposes

(Adopted June 2003)

QEP Lead Evaluator Nomination Process (Approved June 2006)

Reaffirmation of Accreditation and Subsequent Reports

(Revised Dec 2005)

Records Maintenance by the Commission on Colleges (Revised Dec 2005)

Reimbursement for Expenses

(Edited for Principles Feb 2004)

Reports Submitted for Committee or Commission Review (Updated Jan 2005)

Sanctions, Denial of Reaffirmation, and Removal from Membership

(Edited June 2005)

Separate Accreditation for Units of a Member Institution (Revised Feb 2004)

Special Committee Procedures and Team Report

(Edited for Principles Feb 2004)

Standing Rules: the Commission on Colleges, Executive Council, and the College Delegate Assembly (Approved June 2006)

Substantive Change for Accredited Institutions of the COC

(Revised Dec 2005)

The Transfer or Transcripting of Academic Credit (Edited for Principles Dec 2003)

Commission Guidelines

Definition: A guideline is an advisory statement designed to assist institutions in fulfilling accreditation requirements.As such, guidelines describe recommended educational practices for documenting requirements of the Principles of Accreditation and are approved by the Executive Council.Some guidelines are embedded within the Principles of Accreditation. These guidelines are examples of commonly accepted practices that constitute compliance with the standard.Depending upon the nature and mission of the institution, however, other approaches may be more appropriate and also provide evidence of compliance.

The following are categorized as guidelines of the Commission:

Advertising, Student Recruitment, and Representation of Accreditation Status (Edited for Principles June 2004)

Communicating Information Electronically: Guidelines

Role of Chair (Added 07/05/06)

Travel and Committees Visits (Updated Feb 2004)

Commission Good Practices

Definition: Good practices are commonly-accepted practices within the higher education community which enhance institutional quality.Good practices may be formulated by outside agencies and organizations and endorsed by the Executive Council or the Commission.These are posted only on the Commission's Web page and are not available in print documents.

Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs (Endorsed Dec 2000)

Commission Position Statements

Definition: A position statement examines an issue facing the Commission’s membership, describes appropriate approaches, and states the Commission’s stance on the issue. It is endorsed by the Executive Council or the Commission on Colleges.

The following are categorized as position statements of the Commission:

Impact of Budget Reductions on Higher Education (Endorsed Mar 2002)

Transfer of Academic Credit

(Approved June 2003)