[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 34, Volume 3]
[Revised as of July 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 34CFR600.11]

[Page 181-182]
 
                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION
 
             CHAPTER VI--OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION,
                         DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 
PART 600--INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 600.11  Special rules regarding institutional accreditation or preaccreditation.

    (a) Change of accrediting agencies. For purposes of 
Secs. 600.4(a)(5)(i), 600.5(a)(6), and 600.6(a)(5)(i), the Secretary 
does not recognize the accreditation or preaccreditation of an otherwise 
eligible institution if that institution is in the process of changing 
its accrediting agency, unless the institution provides to the 
Secretary--
    (1) All materials related to its prior accreditation or 
preaccreditation; and
    (2) Materials demonstrating reasonable cause for changing its 
accrediting agency.

[[Page 182]]

    (b) Multiple accreditation. The Secretary does not recognize the 
accreditation or preaccreditation of an otherwise eligible institution 
if that institution is accredited or preaccredited as an institution by 
more than one accrediting agency, unless the institution--
    (1) Provides to each such accrediting agency and the Secretary the 
reasons for that multiple accreditation or preaccreditation;
    (2) Demonstrates to the Secretary reasonable cause for that multiple 
accreditation or preaccreditation; and
    (3) Designates to the Secretary which agency's accreditation or 
preaccreditation the institution uses to establish its eligibility under 
this part.
    (c) Loss of accreditation or preaccreditation. (1) An institution 
may not be considered eligible for 24 months after it has had its 
accreditation or preaccreditation withdrawn, revoked, or otherwise 
terminated for cause, unless the accrediting agency that took that 
action rescinds that action.
    (2) An institution may not be considered eligible for 24 months 
after it has withdrawn voluntarily from its accreditation or 
preaccreditation status under a show-cause or suspension order issued by 
an accrediting agency, unless that agency rescinds its order.
    (d) Religious exception. (1) If an otherwise eligible institution 
loses its accreditation or preaccreditation, the Secretary considers the 
institution to be accredited or preaccredited for purposes of complying 
with the provisions of Secs. 600.4, 600.5, and 600.6 if the Secretary 
determines that its loss of accreditation or preaccreditation--
    (i) Is related to the religious mission or affiliation of the 
institution; and
    (ii) Is not related to its failure to satisfy the accrediting 
agency's standards.
    (2) If the Secretary considers an unaccredited institution to be 
accredited or preaccredited under the provisions of paragraph (d)(1) of 
this section, the Secretary will consider that unaccredited institution 
to be accredited or preaccredited for a period sufficient to allow the 
institution to obtain alternative accreditation or preaccreditation, 
except that period may not exceed 18 months.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)