Student Defense makes requests for records relating to the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (“ACICS”). The background surrounding ACICS’s status as a recognized accreditor is familiar to the Department as it has been the subject of numerous Secretarial orders, FOIA requests, and federal lawsuits.
FOIA Requests
- ACICS Communications - August 8, 2022
- ACICS Submissions Relating to June 2, 2021 SDO Decision - July 6, 2021
- Communications between the Department and ACICS from June 1, 2019 and December 23, 2019 - December 23, 2019
- ACICS May 30 Order - May 31, 2018
- Communications between the Department and ACICS after April 27, 2018 - June 15, 2018
- ACICS’s Part II Response/Part II Submission - April 4, 2018
- Communications between the Department and ACICS between April 3, 2018 and April 26, 2018 - April 27, 2018
- Communications between the Department and ACICS between March 23, 2018 and April 3, 2018 - April 4, 2018
ACICS Submissions Relating to June 2, 2021 SDO Decision - July 6, 2021
Seeking: All documents that constitute or have been submitted by ACICS (including by any representative of ACICS) in connection with any appeal of the June 2, 2021 SDO Decision, including but not limited to ACICS’s notice of appeal, appeal, and all documents and attachments filed in connection with the appeal.
Documents
On September 16, 2021, the Department provided a response. The responsive document are available here.
Communications between the Department and ACICS from June 1, 2019 and December 23, 2019 - December 23, 2019
Seeking: Documents constituting or reflecting communications, regardless of the subject matter, between the Department and its employees or representatives, on the one hand, and either or both of ACICS (including its representatives, counsel, and employees) and/or Career Education Colleges and Universities ("APSCU"), including its representatives, counsel, and employees.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents, as required by law. After Student Defense and the Project on Predatory Student Lending sued the Department in federal court, the Department made the responsive documents publicly available here.
ACICS May 30 Order - May 31, 2018
Seeking: Documents constituting ACICS’s submission of additional evidence in response to the April 3 Order, or which are otherwise being considered by the Department as being submitted by ACICS in response to the April 3 Order; and all communications between the United States Department of Education, including career and political employees, and any representative of ACICS, including staff, officers, and outside counsel, regarding the submission of documents by ACICS pursuant to the April 3 Order.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department made the responsive documents publicly available here.
Communications between the Department and ACICS after April 27, 2018 - June 15, 2018
Seeking: Documents constituting or reflecting communications, regardless of the subject matter, between the Department and its employees or representatives, on the one hand, and of ACICS (including its representatives, counsel, and employees).
Documents
On January 7, 2019, the Department provided a response. Those responsive documents are available here.
ACICS’s Part II Response/Part II Submission - April 4, 2018
Seeking: Documents constituting ACICS’s Part II response or Part II submission, as described by the District Court in its Mach 23, 2018 Order in Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools v. DeVos, No. 16-cv-2448 (D.D.C.).
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents, as required by law. After Student Defense and the Project on Predatory Student Lending sued the Department in federal court, the Department made the responsive documents publicly available here.
Communications between the Department and ACICS between April 3, 2018 and April 26, 2018 - April 27, 2018
Seeking: Documents constituting or reflecting communications, regardless of the subject matter, between the Department and its employees or representatives, on the one hand, and of ACICS (including its representatives, counsel, and employees).
Documents
On January 21, 2021, the Department provided a response. Those responsive documents are available here.
Communications between the Department and ACICS between March 23, 2018 and April 3, 2018 - April 4, 2018
Seeking: Documents constituting or reflecting communications, regardless of the subject matter, between the Department and its employees or representatives, on the one hand, and either or both of ACICS (including its representatives, counsel, and employees) and/or Career Education Colleges and Universities ("APSCU"), including its representatives, counsel, and employees.
Documents
On January 22, 2021, the Department provided a response. Those responsive documents are available here and here.