Middle States accreditor leaves C-RAC group

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has left the Council of Recognized Accrediting Commissions, according to a news release. This marks the second departure from the seven-member group in the last two months, following the exit of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities on July 1.

Accreditation is a private process that signals quality and can qualify colleges to receive federal student aid. Geographic boundaries for accreditors were removed in 2019, allowing institutions nationwide to choose their accreditor. The group, once called the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions, officially changed the R in its name to 'recognized' in January of this year.

Remaining members and responses

The five remaining C-RAC members are the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, the Higher Learning Commission, the New England Commission of Higher Education, the Commission on Colleges and Universities, and the WASC Senior College and University Commission. When contacted by Inside Higher Ed, the first three confirmed they plan to stay in the voluntary association.

Larry Schall, president of the New England Commission and vice-chair of C-RAC, described the group as an informal organization with no staff or budget. "Things have certainly changed since the regional boundaries were broken, and I think each of our agencies have different perspectives on growth, different perspectives on the administration," he said.

Middle States stated in its release that it is "driving broader partnerships" and continues to partner individually with other accrediting commissions. The accreditor did not provide an interview, with a spokesperson saying only that "the decision resulted from a number of considerations."

New collaborative avenues emerge

Accreditation leaders have other forums for collaboration. In May, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation announced a working group called the Accreditor Leadership Roundtable. CHEA's president developed it alongside Northwest Commission President Selena M. Grace, who serves as co-chair, and collaborated with the presidents of Middle States and WASC.

Unlike C-RAC, this roundtable includes the Commission for Public Higher Education and other accreditors never subject to geographic limits. When the Northwest Commission left C-RAC in June, it praised this new roundtable for embodying "the agility, creativity, and innovative collaboration" it believes is required.

Grace told The Chronicle of Higher Education that former regional accreditors in C-RAC are increasingly competing. She said C-RAC's structure makes it difficult to engage nationally "with all different accreditor types" and to unite on policy. "By engaging at a national level with diverse accreditor types," she said, "I think we can change and carry the message much better than by staying in our historical clique."

Unrelated initiatives and continued commitment

However, Antoinette Flores, CHEA's vice president of federal policy, said the roundtable was not created to replace C-RAC. "The two are entirely unrelated," Flores said, noting the roundtable brings together a wide variety of agencies.

Barbara Gellman-Danley, president of the Higher Learning Commission, affirmed her organization's commitment to C-RAC. "HLC is very committed to the C-RAC group," she said, adding that the group is "still moving forward" and has continued for six years since the end of regional boundaries. C-RAC plans to meet next month in Washington, D.C.