[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 34, Volume 3] [Revised as of July 1, 2003] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 34CFR602.18] [Page 203] TITLE 34--EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PART 602--THE SECRETARY'S RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITING AGENCIES--Table of Contents Subpart B--The Criteria for Recognition Sec. 602.18 Ensuring consistency in decision-making. The agency must consistently apply and enforce its standards to ensure that the education or training offered by an institution or program, including any offered through distance education, is of sufficient quality to achieve its stated objective for the duration of any accreditation or preaccreditation period granted by the agency. The agency meets this requirement if the agency-- (a) Has effective controls against the inconsistent application of the agency's standards; (b) Bases decisions regarding accreditation and preaccreditation on the agency's published standards; and (c) Has a reasonable basis for determining that the information the agency relies on for making accrediting decisions is accurate. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)