?ig?liil? l'i'lf'l OF EDUCATION 5\ ., OF February 24. 2020 Michelle Edwards. President Accrediting Council for independent Colleges and Schools 1350 liye Street. NW. Suite 560 Washington. DC 20005 Via email: medwardst?igacicsorg Dear Ms. Edwards: On l-"cbruary l5. 2020. USA 'l'oday published the enclosed article regarding the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools or the agency) and its accreditation. of Reagan National University (RN or the institution}. The article includes information that AC IC accredited RN U. which is alleged. based on research conducted by the journalists. to not be operational. the article indicates that RN lacks faculty and students and does not have a physical presence. These allegations raise questions as to the. effectiveness of the agency?s evaluation and monitoring oliits applicant and member institutions. As ol? today. the website States that the RNU voluntarily withdrew its accreditation on February 8, 2020. the agency?s member directory indicates that RNU is still accredited and there is no indication that the institution voluntarily withdrew. The Secretary?s recognition oi" an accrediting agency attests that the agency is a reliable authority regarding the quality ol?education. or training offered by the institutions or programs it accredits. In light oi" the allegations raised by USA ?i?oday. the Department needs additional information about the agency's ability to meet its accrediting responsibilities and its compliance with Federal regulations. 'I'herct?ore. I am requesting that ACICS provide a full and documented reaponse to me by March 25. 2020. per the procedures for the review of agencies; during the period of recognition described in Section 602.33. This response must include: the agency?s accreditation actions on and signi?cant correspondence to or from RN15. to include any accreditation decisions taken by ACICS and any site visit or other reports. to the institution; 0 the institution's application for initial accreditation. application for renewal of accreditation, and signi?cant correspondence to ACICS. to include the noti?cation of voluntary withdrawal; 0 the agency's monitoring activities of and significant correspondence related to those activities to RNU. to include any annual or other reports from the institution and any agency a narri-itive response concerning the information included in the article and the agency?s compliance with l-?ederal regulations in related areas: and - any other inlormation and/or documentation to demonstrate compliance with the Secretary?s Criteria for Recognition. as related to this inquiry, 400 MARYLAND AVENUE, 20.209. cti .gnv Tin.- Is mission {3 mmnrirv' .st?irdmir and globn/ by fostering and ensuring": equal arr-ens. The analyst assigned to your agency is Ms. Elizabeth Daggett. Please send the information requested to her via email at olizabeth.daggott@ed.gov, Ifyou have any questions regarding this Ietter?s content or requests, please contact Ms? Daggett by phone at 202-453-6190 or email? Thank you for your prompt response to the requests for information made in this letter. Sincerely, e1 mm on (is, iroctor Accreditation Group Enclosures: