North Central Association of Colleges and Schools - Credit Inflation

Credit Inflation

In a letter dated December 17, 2009, Wanda A. Scott, an Assistant Inspector General of the United States Department of Education reported on an inspection of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools' (HLC) standards for program length and credit hours, and "identified a serious issue" wherein HLC had found problems in American InterContinental University's (AIU) assignment of credit hours where bachelor's courses were inflated relative to common practice, yet HLC granted full accreditation to AIU. Scott wrote, "This action by HLC is not in the best interest of students and calls into question whether the accrediting decisions made by HLC should be relied upon by the Department of Education when assisting students to obtain quality education through the Title IV programs."

In a later letter to the HLC, Scott remarked that, "We recommended that OPE determine whether HLC is in compliance with 34 C.F.R Part 602 and, if not, take appropriate action under 34 C.F.R. Part 602 to limit, suspend, or terminate HLC’s recognition by the Secretary." Sylvia Manning, President of the HLC, in a letter dated March 17, 2010, responded to Scott's letter saying that the Inspector General's office failed to take into consideration that HLC's accreditation of AIU was conditional and limited, and was not a full accreditation, as reported by Scott.

Manning made the argument that the definition of credit hours "... was always a fluid measure in higher education and relied on the integrity and judgement of experienced faculty members ..." Manning points out that the ED is calling for the HLC to adopt a standard definition of the credit hour "because the payment system for Title IV is based around the credit hour."