A chorus of powerful critics wants to shut down the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, a national accreditor, for allegedly being too lax with Corinthian Colleges and other controversial for-profit institutions.
In December, however, ACICS tried to slap the most severe sanction available to accreditors on a small for-profit, Bristol University, by denying Bristol鈥檚 bid to renew its accreditation. ACICS鈥檚 final decision in March, which resulted in the university shutting down immediately, was based on 24 identified deficiencies, touching on all of Bristol鈥檚 academic programs and administration.
Yet a federal judge last week blocked the accreditor鈥檚 move, citing 鈥渋rreparable harm鈥 to the university if it permanently lost accreditation. The judge said Bristol now may operate as it did before the sanction and can enroll new students.
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