Fixing Our Accrediting Institutions
Fixing our accrediting institutions will not be easy but it must be done. One of the key segments in need of repair in The New Counselor Supply Chain is the one dealing with Accrediting Institutions and for the most part they are broken. Their function is to determine which universities are the cream of the crop and merit status as America's finest academic institutions. What we're seeing are programs being fueled by DEI initiatives and an anti-Christian bias. Unfortunately this has become a classic case of who's watching the watchers?
Fixing Our Accrediting Institutions
President Trump recently signed an Executive Order aimed at removing the stain of DEI ideology form the mission of the accrediting org's. The EO's main premise is that accrediting institutions are requiring DEI initiatives to the detriment of a merit-based platform. Mentioned as a prominent example is the ABA, the American Bar Association's Council which is the accrediting body for the legal profession. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which is the only federally recognized body that accredits Doctor of Medicine degree programs is also mentioned.
A second very prominent issue in the EO is of the financial effects on students that the lowering of the bar of accreditation has produced. Accreditation for lower-performing programs and low-economic impact degrees needs to be examined and the bar raised because the graduation rate is too low, the employment possibilities are sparse, and the student loan debt is far too big a problem.
Does This Apply to the Mental Health Profession?
The BIG Question. And the answer is, I don't know for sure. BUT, the EO is written in a manner that seems to target the legal and medical professions but leaves the door open for interpretation as to whether or not it applies to other accrediting institutions overseeing accreditation of other disciplines. Common sense would seem to indicate a probable umbrella approach towards all accrediting orgs since if the intent is to cleanse the DEI ideology from the American landscape that this would sound an alarm to other accrediting orgs that they might take this as a very probable assumption that this applies to them as well.
What Changes Need to Happen?
Sec. 3 of the EO is devoted to what needs to happen and there are far too many items to list here but there are some very interesting items in the list including this one:
(i) resume recognizing new accreditors to increase competition and accountability in promoting high-quality, high-value academic programs focused on student outcomes;
Competition always seems to straighten out a lot of problems so we'll see what happens here.
Interesting to note that at least one bill, HB1870, has been filed in the 89th TX Legislature to address the accrediting issues in the State of Texas. The Federal EO mentions that some accrediting orgs have practiced some shenanigans that seemingly overrode state code. Interesting to see how this bill, if it succeeds, and the EO compliment each other.
Who's Watching the Watchers Now?
The Federal Attorney General and the Sec of Education are tasked with executing this EO. And what if the accrediting orgs don't get in line? Federal recognition will not be provided to accreditors engaging in unlawful discrimination in violation of Federal law. Recognition is everything, probably worse than pulling funding.
What are your thoughts on what needs to happen to our accrediting orgs?
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About the Author
Phillip's background has blessed him with a variety of interests, skills, and tools to get things done. He spent 25 years in the printing and marketing industry before meeting Kathleen Mills in 2015. They quickly figured out that they made a pretty good business team and, owing to Kathleen's story, embarked upon a mission that would see the creation of PracticeMentors.us and eventually the Association for Mental Health Professionals.
