str@tford kalasala kaburlu (emails since yesterday)

[billa85]

Dear Stratford University Students,

 

As you can imagine, we are receiving inquiries concerning the upcoming accreditation timeline and its impact on Stratford’s students. Because it’s important to me that you are reassured with your decision to attend Stratford, I want to reach out and share the most recent information concerning our accreditation efforts.

 

I can assure you Stratford has been extremely proactive and taken every step possible to seek an alternative accreditor to ACICS and, while I can’t speak for any accrediting body, expects to be accredited prior to the June 12, 2018 deadline. It should also be noted that even the ACICS’s future is still in process. The US Department of Education has been requested by Federal District Court Judge Walton to further review the actions taken against ACICS in December 2016 and that ACICS is also on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity meeting agenda for reinstatement recognition on May 22 – 24, 2018. So between the two issues there is a likelihood the ACICS will be reinstated as a recognized accreditor. However, even if it is not reaffirmed, Stratford is well postured with an alternative accreditor as you can see from the attached letter.

 

Additionally, over the past four years, Stratford University has taken significant steps to ensure it remains consistently accredited. We have added additional terminally degreed faculty (those with the doctorate degree), we have better assessed our student learning outcomes and improved our programs, and we have invested in staff development, well maintained our facilities, as well as added programs the US Department of Labor indicates are in high demand. All of our internal and external audits have met and often well exceeded industry standards. Our retention, graduation and placement rates are well above those of other public, not-for-profit, and proprietary universities. We also have earned four programmatic accreditations that are aside from the institutional ones. These accreditations are a clear indicator Stratford is a quality institution.

 

Furthermore, we have applied to the regional accrediting body Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) for recognition, we have completed rigorous internal self-study examinations at each campus, and we have hosted on-site visits by the Accrediting Commission of Career Colleges and Schools (ACCSC). While the SACSCOC application is under SACSCOC review, the ACCSC accrediting Council has Stratford scheduled for review in June. I can assure you accreditors are aware of the critically of theJune 12, 2018 deadline. We have also fully met both Maryland and Virginia State requirements for licensure.

 

As part of a recent ACCSC accreditation visit to the Stratford campuses in January, 2018, the survey satisfaction data objectively obtained by ACCSC team averaged over 96%! With numbers like this it is hard for me to believe an accrediting body would not warmly accept Stratford University.

 

In conclusion, while I cannot speak for any accrediting body, I can assure you we have done everything possible to meet the standards of all accrediting bodies. Stratford has done nothing wrong and simply got caught up in the turmoil created by some large ACICS accredited chain schools. We expect the right thing to happen before the June 12, 2018 deadline.

 

If you note any areas you feel impact Stratford’s chances for accreditation please share them with me.

 

Thank you for your commitment to Stratford University.

 

 

Dr. Valarie Trimarchi

Campus President, Falls Church

Interim Campus President, Woodridge Campus

[billa85]

http://www.acics.org/uploadedFiles/News_and_Accreditation_Alerts/News/Council_Advisories/ACICS Dkt No 16-44-O Order of the Secretary 4.3.18.pdf

[Pumpuhaar]

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