Statement of Accreditation Status

Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law

  • CEO: Dr. Julio Fontanet, Dean
  • Accreditation Liaison Officer: Mrs. Edith Pabón-Rodríguez
  • Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Tiffany Lee, Vice President
  • Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Law Schools » Exclusively graduate/professional
  • Control: Private (Non-Profit)
  • Phase: Accredited
  • Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
  • Accreditation Granted: 1961
  • Last Reaffirmation: 2023
  • Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2030-2031

Contact Information

170 Federico Costa St.
San Juan, PR 00936-8351

(787) 751-1912

www.derecho.inter.edu

  • October 31, 2023
    To note the verification visit took place on July 21, 2023 to the main campus at 170 Federico Costa Street, San Juan, PR 00936.
  • March 9, 2023
    To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note that the institution hosted a virtual site visit in lieu of an on-site visit in accordance with the United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 17, 2020. To reaffirm accreditation. To request that, beginning in 2023 and in conjunction with each Annual Institutional Update, the institution provide further evidence of (1) periodic assessment of the effectiveness of assessment processes utilized by the institution for the improvement of educational effectiveness (Standard V) and (2) the establishment and implementation of written conflict of interest policies (Standard VII). To note that a verification visit is required by USDE guidelines and will be conducted within a reasonable period of time following the virtual site visit. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2030-2031.
  • February 17, 2022
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include alternative delivery method-distance education within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require written evidence of approvals from all necessary licensing, regulatory, or other legal entities as necessary, including the Puerto Rico Board of Post-Secondary Institutions. To note that the Commission may rescind this action if the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2022-2023.
  • June 24, 2021
    To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2022-2023.
  • June 9, 2020
    Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report due March 1, 2021, addressing recent action by the American Bar Association (ABA) which may have implications for current and future compliance with Standard III (Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience), Standard IV (Support of the Student Experience), Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment), and Requirement of Affiliation 6.
  • April 16, 2020
    To acknowledge receipt of formal written notice from the institution in response to the Commission's request of March 9, 2020. To temporarily waive Substantive Change Policy and Procedures and allow the use of distance education to accommodate students impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) interruptions, in accordance with United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 5, 2020. Continued use of distance education beyond the limitations of USDE guidelines will require substantive change approval in accordance with Substantive Change Policy and Procedures. This flexibility is not available for clock-hour courses that lead to licensure if the licensing body will not accept distance learning courses or hours or give credit for them toward the number of hours a student must complete. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2022-2023.
  • March 5, 2020
    To note that the Mid-Point Peer Review has been conducted. To request that the next self-study, in preparation for a visit in 2022-2023, provide further evidence of the improvement of key indicators of student success, including retention and graduation rates (Standard IV).
  • November 15, 2018
    To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. To note that a follow-up team visit will not be conducted. To request that, beginning in 2019 and in conjunction with each Annual Institutional Update prior to the self-study visit in 2022-2023, the institution provide further evidence of enrollment management planning linked to budget development (Standard VI).
  • April 30, 2018
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the second Master's degree program (Master of Law in Notary and the Registry for Real Property) within the scope of the institution's accreditation. To remind the institution of the Commission's request of March 15, 2018 for a supplemental information report due August 1, 2018. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2022-2023.
  • March 15, 2018
    To accept the Supplemental Information report. To request a Supplemental Information report, due August 1, 2018, regarding the status of the institution. A small team visit may follow submission of the report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2022-2023.
  • October 19, 2017
    To request a supplemental information report due December 1, 2017, regarding the status of the institution.
  • May 2, 2016
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) (Doctor's - Research/Scholarship) within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2018.
  • November 20, 2014
    To accept the monitoring report and to note that a small team visit will not be conducted at this time. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2018.
  • November 21, 2013
    To accept the supplemental information report and to reaffirm accreditation. To remind the institution of the monitoring report due September 1, 2014, documenting evidence of (1) the implementation of appropriate governance structures to support institutional planning (Standard 2); (2) the development of an enrollment management plan for recruitment, retention and marketing (Standard 8); and (3) the further implementation of the 2012 Learning Outcomes Assessment Plan including clearly articulated statements of student learning goals for all programs, direct and indirect measures, and the use of assessment results to improve teaching and learning and to inform institutional effectiveness (Standard 14). A small team visit may follow submission of the monitoring report. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2018.
  • June 27, 2013
    To postpone a decision on accreditation and to request a supplemental information report, due by October 1, 2013, further documenting compliance with Standard 7 (Institutional Assessment) including evidence of the implementation of the 2012 Institutional Assessment Plan, using multiple direct and indirect measures, and documentation that results are used to improve all institutional programs, services and processes (Standard 7). To also request a monitoring report due September 1, 2014, documenting evidence of (1) the implementation of appropriate governance structures to support institutional planning (Standard 2); (2) the development of an enrollment management plan for recruitment, retention and marketing (Standard 8); and (3) the further implementation of the 2012 Learning Outcomes Assessment Plan including clearly articulated statements of student learning goals for all programs, direct and indirect measures, and the use of assessment results to improve teaching and learning and to inform institutional effectiveness (Standard 14). A small team visit may follow submission of the monitoring report. The date for the Periodic Review Report will be established when accreditation is reaffirmed.
  • August 30, 2011
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to include the master of law degree within the scope of the institution's accreditation. To request that the self-study, in preparation for the 2012-2013 evaluation visit, document the use of appropriate methods of assessment of student learning in the master of law program, including evidence that results are used to improve teaching and learning (Standard 14). To remind the institution that the self study must document the implementation of a comprehensive, organized, and systematic written plan that demonstrates appropriate integration among all assessment activities at the institution (Standards 7 and 14).
  • November 18, 2010
    To accept the monitoring report and to note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To request that the self study, in preparation for the 2012-2013 evaluation visit, document the implementation of a comprehensive, organized, and systematic written plan that demonstrates appropriate integration among all assessment activities (Standards 7 and 14).
  • Distance Education
    Approved to offer programs by this delivery method
  • Correspondence Education
    Not approved for this delivery method

Approved Credential Levels

The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:

  • Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Doctor's Degree - Professional Practice Included within the scope
  • Doctor's Degree- Research/Scholarship Included within the scope to offer ONE program
  • Main Campus
    Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law
    P. O. Box 70351 Federico Costa St. #170
    San Juan, PR 00936-8351

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