Authority and Accreditation

State Authorization

In an historic and unanimous vote on May 20, 2015, the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education welcomed College Unbound as a nonprofit degree-granting post secondary option in the state. It was standing room only as College Unbound supporters flooded the boardroom to hear the final verdict.

The crowd cheered when council member John J. Smith spoke of College Unbound’s ability to serve underrepresented, low-income adult learners, saying, “This particular program appears to give them hope, so they are able to not only feel pride in themselves and in their work, but have an opportunity to grow, expand, and to find their pathway.”

(Former) Rhode Island Commissioner of Post secondary Education Dr. Jim Purcell also praised the college, saying, “Education is all about bringing forth the capacity that exists within people, and College Unbound offers people the opportunity to expand their minds, finish their degrees, and build better lives.” Dr. Purcell continued, saying, “These types of adult degree completion programs are transformative not just for the individuals and their families, but also for our community and workforce.”

Accreditation

College Unbound has been granted initial accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Accreditation by the Commission indicates that the institution meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process.

An accredited college or university has been found to have the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs. It also gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

Inquiries regarding an institution’s affiliation status with the Commission should be directed to:

The New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514
U.S.A. Direct line to Commission offices: (781) 425-7785
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.neche.org

College Unbound will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit March 22-25 2020, by a team representing the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, NEASC).

The New England Commission of Higher Education is one of seven accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole. The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 220 institutions in the six-state New England region as well as several American-style institutions overseas.

College Unbound has received candidacy for accreditation in its last review in 2018. Its accreditation by the Commission encompasses the entire institution.

For the past year and a half, College Unbound has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation. An evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will recommend to the Commission a continuing status for the institution. Following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution to:

Public Comment on College Unbound

New England Commission of Higher Education

3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100

Burlington, MA 01803-4514

E-mail: [email protected]

Public Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution. The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Comments will not be treated as confidential and must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments.

Public Comments must be received by March 25, 2020. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.