The question to be considered in an adverse action proceeding is whether to withdraw the program’s accreditation status. The board’s decision (step 8) is subject to appeal. See TEAC’s Appeals policy (VIII).

Adverse action (that is, accreditation denied) is taken also against programs holding accreditation, whose subsequent Inquiry Brief fails to meet the quality principles and standards, but this kind of adverse action is taken by the Accreditation Committee. In adverse action cases, provided the eligibility requirements are still met, the program may hold candidate status if it so desires.

V. Complaints against TEAC or members of TEAC

TEAC accreditation is an expression of confidence that a program is satisfactorily achieving its objectives and that it meets or exceeds TEAC’s standards of program quality and institutional capacity. TEAC is concerned with institutional integrity and with performance consistent with its standards and policies.

Consequently, TEAC values information provided by students, faculty, and other members of the public about TEAC accredited programs. This information helps TEAC assure that a program continues to meet the standards set by TEAC.

Procedures have been established, therefore, to provide a mechanism for TEAC to consider complaints that address violations of TEAC’s standards of accreditation, eligibility requirements, or procedures.

TEAC, however, does not intervene in the internal procedures of institutions or perform as a regulatory body or grievance-resolving body for the institution. Accordingly, TEAC does not consider allegations concerning the personal lives of individuals connected with its affiliate or regular member institutions. It assumes no responsibility for adjudicating isolated grievances between students, faculty, or members of the public and individual institutions.

TEAC will not act as a court of appeal in matters of admission, granting or transfer of academic credit, grades, fees, student financial aid, student discipline, collective bargaining, staff or faculty appointments, promotion, tenure, and dismissals or similar matters.

TEAC can and does respond, however, to complaints regarding allegations of conditions at member institutions that raise significant questions about the institution’s compliance with TEAC’s standards of capacity and with its program’s adherence to TEAC’s quality principles. See Third-party comment policy (XXXVII).

In addition to TEAC’s procedures for the review of complaints, each member institution is required to have in place student grievance and public complaint policies and procedures that are reasonable, fairly administered, and well-publicized.

TEAC also requires, per federal mandate, that each institution maintain a record of complaints received by the institution, and their resolution, which is available to TEAC. Complaint records about a program should be maintained by the institution for the time period of its membership in TEAC.

Complaints against TEAC or TEAC staff. Complaints by accredited programs or other parties about the opera-ions of TEAC shall be brought to the attention of the president of TEAC. The matter shall be investigated by the president, who shall bring the matter to the attention of the executive committee of the board within 30 days of receipt of the complaint. The executive committee of the board will then make a determination of the appropriate action, if any, to be taken in response to the complaint. Complaints involving the president shall be brought to the attention of the chair of the board within 30 days of its receipt. The chair shall investigate the matter and accept a written statement from the president prior to review by the executive committee of the board. In either case, the executive committee will respond to the complaints within 90 days of its receipt by TEAC.

Complaints against Members of TEAC. Complaints by a third-party, which pertain to a program accredited by TEAC, or action involving an accredited program, shall be reviewed in accordance with the procedures for review of complaints set forth in steps 1–8 below. TEAC is concerned with programmatic integrity and performance consistent with its accreditation measures and procedures. TEAC promises serious attention to allegations that an accredited program has fallen out of compliance with its accreditation principles and standards.

TEAC will only consider written complaints where the complainant is identified. The written complaint should include relevant information to support the allegation. Before Steps 1–8 (below) are implemented, the complainant should demonstrate that a serious effort was made to resolve the issue through an institution’s or program’s own quality control procedures.

Procedures for review of a complaint: eight steps

1. A complaint received by TEAC will be acknowledged in writing and reviewed by the TEAC president.

2. If the president determines that the complaint is not within the scope of TEAC’s policies, he or she will so inform the complainant within 30 days of receipt of the complaint. If the president considers it necessary at this time, he or she will refer the complainant to appropriate federal, state, and other agencies (as outlined in the U. S. Department of Education’s regulations, §602.27 and §602.28).

3. If the complaint appears to be within the scope of TEAC’s responsibility and is documented, a copy of the complaint will be forwarded to the program head who must respond in 30 days. The identity of the complainant, if requested by the complainant, shall be held in confidence. TEAC itself may initiate a complaint against a member at this step in the procedure in accordance with its policy on Adverse action (IV) or Non-compliance (X).

4. The program’s response is reviewed by the TEAC staff to determine whether the program has violated any of TEAC’s standards or policies. The program must provide evidence to TEAC that its policies and processes are occurring as they were represented in the Inquiry Brief or Inquiry Brief Proposal and that the complaint does not represent a breach of TEAC’s principles of quality and standards of capacity for quality.

5. Upon receipt of the program’s response to the complaint, the TEAC president places the matter before the board’s Accreditation Committee for consideration. If the Accreditation Committee determines that the program fails to demonstrate that its policies and processes are occurring as they were represented in the Inquiry Brief or Inquiry Brief Proposal, or determines that the complaint represents a breach of TEAC’s principles of quality and standards of capacity for quality, or if the program fails to respond to the complaint, the Accreditation Committee may take action against the program. The program will be notified of the Accreditation Committee’s decision to consider the complaint and be permitted to provide additional evidence concerning the matters addressed in the complaint.

6. At the next meeting of the Accreditation Committee, the members will review the program’s responses and decide whether the program should submit additional information regarding the complaint and its compliance with TEAC standards or whether the program’s accreditation status should be changed. A written response that details the basis for the Accreditation Committee’s decision will be sent within thirty days of this meeting to the program head.

7. The Accreditation Committee will then inform the complainant and the program of the actions it has taken with regard to the complaint in writing within 30 days See Information sharing policy (XXXV) as appropriate.

VIII. Appeals process policy

A program can make an appeal of an accreditation determination (including adverse actions). The following reasons establish grounds for appeal:

1. Evidence of errors or omissions in carrying out prescribed procedures by the auditors, any reviewers, the members of the Accreditation Panel, the TEAC staff, or the Accreditation Committee.

2. Evidence that demonstrable bias, conflict of interest, or prejudice by a member of the TEAC staff or board, an auditor, a reviewer, or member of the Accreditation Panel or Accreditation Committee influenced the Accreditation Committee’s accreditation decision.

3. Evidence that TEAC’s decision was not supported adequately or was contrary to the facts presented and known at the time of the decision. The program must file its intent for appeal and its written grounds for appeal within 30 days of being notified of the decision being appealed. The program must pay all expenses associated with the appeal.

Relevant documentation should be included with the written grounds for appeal. A program may also elect to make an oral presentation at the appeal hearing and may be represented by legal counsel at the hearing. Until the appeals process is completed, the awarded accreditation status of the program will remain in effect.

The Appeals Panel
To adjudicate appeals, a five-member appeals panel will be appointed by the chair of the TEAC board of directors. No appeals panel member may participate in an appeal by a program in which he or she voted in an accreditation determination. Members of the appeals panel will select a chair from among the members of the appeals panel.

The TEAC president will forward the program’s intent to appeal and its written grounds for appeal to the chair of the appeals panel within 30 days of submission. In deciding whether the appeal has merit, the appeals panel will consider the record before the TEAC Accreditation Committee at the time of its decision.

The record includes the Brief, the final audit report, any reviewer’s evaluation, the staff analysis, the accreditation report, the Accreditation Committee’s decision and report, and any institutional responses made during the accreditation process. The record considered by the appeals panel shall also include the written grounds for appeal with any attached documents, and the record of any complaints.

The appeals panel will not consider evidence that was not reviewed or considered by the TEAC Accreditation Committee at the time of its decision and cannot take into account evidence of corrective action that occurs after the date of the decision by the TEAC Accreditation Committee.

The appeal hearing will be held within 60 days of the filing of the appeal. The program will be provided with an opportunity to provide a verbal statement and to respond to questions of the appeals panel. The appeals panel shall then meet in closed session to deliberate on the merits of the program’s appeal.

In consultation with the members of the appeals panel, the chair of the group will prepare a written report of the panel’s findings, which should include a proposed action by TEAC based on the appeals panel’s review.

Within 15 days of the appeal hearing, the appeals panel report is sent to the chair of the Accreditation Committee, who will consider the report and recommend to the executive committee whether TEAC should sustain its original decision, grant a new category of accreditation (including denial), or take administrative action to redress the grievances in the appeal. The executive committee will consider the results of the appeal within 30 days of the appeal hearing.

Notification
Within 45 days of the appeal hearing, the TEAC president will provide written notification to the program of the executive committee’s decision that details the basis for the committee’s decision.

X. Non-compliance policy

If, as the result of (1) confirmed complaints about the institution’s continued adherence to the TEAC quality principles and standards; (2) the identification of substantive changes in its professional education programs; or (3) a program’s annual report, or a complaint, that indicates that the program no longer has the evidence to support the claims made in the Inquiry Brief, TEAC has proper reasons to believe that the institution or program may no longer have the evidence to support or justify its accreditation status, TEAC may, in its discretion, require the program to provide a report showing corrective action regarding unmet claims, require that the program promptly repeat the accreditation process for initial accreditation, or take adverse action against the program.

XV. Code of ethics policy

Members of the board of directors, Accreditation Committee, Accreditation Panel, and auditors are expected to maintain the highest standards of ethical behavior, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Conduct themselves professionally, with truth, accuracy and fairness

2. Not accept consulting fees or other valuable considerations from applicants in exchange for offering confidential information in ways that might influence the accreditation process and decisions

3. Not represent conflicting or competing interests in the accreditation process (See Conflict of interest policy [XVI]).

4. Maintain confidences of all parties involved in the accreditation process and decisions

5. Not intentionally communicate false or misleading information that might compromise the integrity of the accreditation process or decision

6. Not undertake the accrediting responsibilities for which they have not been trained comprehensively in TEAC’s policies, practices, principles, and standards.

Members of the board of directors, Accreditation Panel, and auditors will be expected to assiduously adhere to the TEAC Conflict of Interest policy, below).

XVI. Conflict of interest policy

What constitutes conflict of interest or unethical conduct on the part of those affiliated with TEAC as associates, that is, TEAC employees, staff, officers, directors, auditors, panel members, consultants, and reviewers, has a moral as well as a legal base.

The TEAC associates are expected at all times to maintain relationships and practices in their TEAC activities that are legal, professional and ethical, and morally correct.

It is essential that all TEAC associates conduct TEAC business, and their private business and financial affairs that might impinge upon TEAC, in a manner that can withstand the sharpest scrutiny by those who would seek to find wrongdoing. It is also essential that TEAC have on record this written statement of this expectation of its associates.

The best way to ensure propriety and avoid even the semblance of wrongdoing is for all associates to follow a practice of full prior disclosure in writing of any association, relationship, business arrangement, or circumstance that might suggest to disinterested and objective referees that an associate’s decisions were made.

1. Contrary to TEAC policy,

2. Contrary to its stated duties to its clients, members, and stakeholders,

3. For personal gain or the gain of family, close friends, or non-TEAC associates.

When the rule of full prior disclosure is followed, interests, decisions, and actions that might otherwise seem questionable may be judged by TEAC to be entirely proper and acceptable.

When an associate has a material or substantial personal interest in an act ion, a decision, a contract, or other transaction to which TEAC is to be a party, either directly or indirectly, the associate shall disclose the existence of such interest. He or she shall also describe the nature of the interest (e.g., financial, family relationship, professional or business affiliation, etc.) to the other associates prior to the time action is taken by TEAC (or its board, panel, committee, or officers) with respect to the matter.

Further, he or she shall abstain from acting on the matter until TEAC determines whether or not the associate’s disclosed interest constitutes an unacceptable conflict of interest.

An interested associate may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum but his or her vote may not be counted for purposes of the requisite action. The interested associate shall absent himself or herself from the portion of the meeting relating to the transaction in which he or she has an interest where, in his or her opinion or in the opinion of the chairperson of the meeting, the presence of the interested associate would inhibit free and full discussion of the matter under consideration.

In the event that the chairperson of the meeting is an interested associate, the members of the board, panel, or committee shall appoint a member by majority vote to undertake the powers and duties of the chairman in connection with the matter under consideration.

XVII. Open communication in the TEAC process policy

It is TEAC’s philosophy that throughout all stages of the accreditation process TEAC and the program faculty maintain open and frequent communications on any and all relevant matters.

This policy is particularly directed at all decision points in the TEAC accreditation process, that is, (1) determination of candidacy based upon eligibility; (2) staff approval of the Inquiry Brief as ready for audit; (3) the audit report; (4) the Accreditation Panel’s accreditation recommendation as presented in its accreditation report; (5) the decision of the Accreditation Committee; (6) the acceptance of the program’s annual report, and if necessary; (7) any notification by the president of the results of an appeal of an accreditation decision by the program; or (8) any adverse action taken by TEAC over a failure of the program to remain in compliance with its accreditation status owing to complaints, weak annual reports, failure to pay dues and fees, etc.

In each of these cases, it is TEAC’s policy to explain fully in writing the basis and logic of TEAC’s decision and to provide the program with sufficient opportunity to explain and support any contrary views they may have and may wish to have TEAC consider in its deliberations and decision making.

In the TEAC system, the program learns of the degree of the program’s compliance with TEAC’s standards, including areas needing improvement, and the program’s performance with respect to student achievement in two ways: (1) through attendance at the meeting of the Accreditation Panel, and (2) from the accreditation report written by the director of the Accreditation Panel.

The accreditation report gives the findings of the panel with regard to the degree of the program’s compliance with each of TEAC’s requirements (1.0–4.7). The accreditation report also notes any weaknesses in the evidence that should be addressed in the program’s subsequent annual reports and stipulates instances where the evidence is below standard and was determinative in the particular accreditation status earned by the program faculty.

Representatives of the program are entitled to attend the meeting of the Accreditation Panel at which their program is considered for accreditation. Their attendance is for the sole purpose of their responding to any remaining questions the TEAC staff and panel members may have about the Inquiry Brief or Inquiry Brief Proposal and the program under review for accreditation. They are further entitled to observe, without comment, the panel’s deliberations and voting process so that they may be fully aware of the issues and reasoning that played roles in the panel’s accreditation recommendation.

XXXIII. Revision of standards policy

Upon the directive of the board of directors, or its executive committee, the Accreditation Committee will draft revisions as soon as possible, but in no event should steps 1–5 below take more than twelve (12) months after the board or executive committee initiates the Revision of Standards Policy.

1. Draft revisions of the standards are first reviewed by the inquiry committees each member institution has formed, and subsequently by a focus group of representatives of accredited programs, communities and organizations of interest, regulators, employers, students, and graduates.

2. TEAC will also obtain member and third-party comments on the draft revisions as follows:

2.2. The notice of the proposed standard revisions will solicit comments from all communities of interest, including interested persons, institutions and organizations

2.3 Parties will have 30 days to provide comments. Comments can be provided to TEAC in hard copy or electronic form at the third-party comment link at www.teac.org.

2.4 The draft revisions in the TEAC system will presented for discussion at TEAC’s annual meeting of the members.

3. Once the comment period has expired, and after the annual meeting, the TEAC board or executive committee will consider and take action on the proposed standard revisions. The TEAC board or executive committee can adopt the standard revisions as proposed, adopt the proposed standard revisions with additional changes or modifications, defer action for further study and consideration, or reject the proposed standard revisions.

4. If the standard revisions are adopted, the TEAC board or executive committee will set a date for implementation and promptly announce the adoption of the standard revisions and their effective date.

5. The standard revisions, along with an explanation of the revisions, will be published and sent to all persons, institutions, and organizations with an interest in TEAC.

XXXV. Information sharing policy

TEAC will routinely share with other appropriate accrediting and state agencies information about the accredited status of its accredited programs and any adverse actions it has taken against its accredited programs. In addition TEAC will share information regarding its accrediting decisions in the following manner:

A. TEAC will regularly submit to the U.S. Department of Education the following items:

1. Notice of final accrediting actions taken by TEAC with respect to the programs it accredits.

2. A copy of any annual report that may be prepared by TEAC.

3. A copy, updated annually, of TEAC’s list of accredited programs.

4. A summary of TEAC’s major accrediting activities during the previous year, if so requested by the U.S. Department of Education

5. Upon request of the U.S. Department of Education, information regarding an accredited program’s compliance with Title IV, HEA program responsibilities, including its eligibility to participate in Title IV and HEA programs, for the purpose of assisting the U.S. Department of Education in resolving problems with the program’s participation in these programs.

6. The name of any program accredited by TEAC that TEAC has reason to believe is failing to meet its Title IV program responsibilities or is engaged in fraud or abuse and the reason for TEAC’s concern.

7. Any proposed change in TEAC’s policies, procedures, or accreditation standards that might alter TEAC’s scope of recognition or compliance with the U.S. Department of Education recognition requirements.

B. Within thirty (30) days from the date of the decision, TEAC notifies the U.S. Department of Education, the appropriate state authorities, the appropriate accrediting agencies and the public of the following:

1. A decision to award preaccreditation or initial or continued accreditation to a program.

2. All adverse actions, including a final decision by TEAC to deny or withdraw the preaccreditation or accreditation of a program. The U.S. Department of Education and the appropriate state authorities are notified of the final decision at the same time as the institution. TEAC will post a notice on its website, informing the public of final decisions to deny or withdrawal accreditation of a program, within 24 hours of its notice to the program.

3. A decision to withdraw preaccreditation or accreditation resulting from an accredited program’s voluntary withdrawal from the accredited list. The date of such a decision is the date on which TEAC receives notification from the program regarding the voluntary withdrawal. In such case, the notification will be made within 30 days from receipt of such notification.

4. A decision to withdraw preaccreditation or accreditation resulting from an accredited program’s decision to allow its accreditation or preaccreditation to lapse. The date of such a decision is the date on which the program’s accreditation or preaccreditation lapses. In such case, the notification will be made within 30 days of the date on which accreditation or preaccreditation lapses.

C. Within sixty (60) days after a final decision to deny or withdraw accreditation or preaccreditation, TEAC will provide the U.S. Department of Education, the appropriate state authorities, and the public upon request, a statement summarizing the basis for its decision and the program’s response to that decision, if any. Specifically, TEAC pro-vides the appropriate federal and state authorities with a copy of the final decision letter to the program, and the program’s written grounds for appeal, if any.

XXXVII. Third-party comment policy

At least 45 days prior to consideration by the Accreditation Committee of whether to grant a program accreditation or preaccreditation, TEAC will provide public notice to its communities of interest and to members of the public which states that the program is to be considered for accreditation or preaccreditation. The public notice shall provide an opportunity for third parties to provide written comments regarding the program’s qualifications for accreditation.

The TEAC president shall ensure that such notice is widely disseminated to relevant communities of interest such as member and non-member teacher education programs, program faculty and students, school superintendents, state boards of education, teachers, principals and employers of program graduates. Comments from third parties must be received at least 15 days prior to the Accreditation Committee meeting at which the program will be considered. Comments may be submitted in writing or through TEAC’s Web site. The program will be provided with an opportunity to respond to any comments submitted by third parties. The Accreditation Committee, if any, will consider the comments and the program’s responses to the comments.

XXXIX. Statements of affiliation and accreditation to the public

A programs that has earned TEAC accreditation and wishes to state this affiliation in published materials should use one of the following official statements:

(1) The [name of the institution]’s [name of the program] Program, which is designed to [statement of the goal or mission of the program] is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council for a period of [number] years, from (date) to (date)

(2) The [name of the institution]’s [name of the program] Program, which is designed to [statement of the goal or mission of the program] is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council for a period of [number] years from (date) to (date). This accreditation certifies that the [forenamed professional education program] has provided evidence that the program adheres to the Council’s quality principles.

Upon petition, variants of these statements of affiliation and accreditation may be authorized by TEAC. TEAC reserves the right to review institutional statements of affiliation and accreditation to ensure the accuracy of the information and representation.

The institution or program in its disclosure of its status must report that status accurately, including the specific academic or instructional programs covered by that status and the name, address, and telephone number of the Teacher Educational Accreditation Council (One Dupont Circle, Suite 320, Washington, DC, 20036, phone 202-466-7236).