University of the Potomac

CEO: Ms. Andrea Kemp-Curtis, President
Accreditation Liaison Officer: Ms. Camilla Meros
Commission Staff Liaison: Kathy Feith, Vice President
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus: Business » No research designation
Control: Private (For-Profit)
Former Name(s): Potomac College (6/11/2013)
Phase: Accredited
Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
Candidacy Granted: January 1, 2001
Accreditation Granted: June 22, 2006
Last Reaffirmation: March 13, 2025
Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2031-2032

Contact Information

1401 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

(202) 247-2300

www.potomac.edu

March 12, 2026
To acknowledge receipt of the monitoring report. To note the follow-up team visit by Commission representatives to the main campus at 1401 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 on October 7-8, 2025, and to the branch campus at 7799 Leesburg Pike Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22043 on October 7, 2025. To request a supplemental information report, due March 11, 2027, providing further evidence of (1) organized and systematic assessment (Standard V) and (2) periodic assessment of the effectiveness of assessment policies and processes utilized by the institution for the improvement of educational effectiveness (Standard V) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032.
June 6, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to note the Commission liaison guidance visit occurred on April 25, 2025. To remind the institution of the Commission request of March 13, 2025, for a monitoring report due September 2, 2025. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032.
March 13, 2025
To acknowledge receipt of the show cause report. To reaffirm accreditation because the institution is now in compliance with Standard II (Ethics and Integrity), Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement), and Standard VII (Governance, Leadership, and Administration). To note the on-site show cause visit by Commission representatives to the main campus at 1410 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 on January 21-22, 2025. To note that the visit to the branch campus at 7799 Leesburg Pike, Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22043, did not occur. To acknowledge receipt of the intent to appear before the Commission to present its reasons why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. To note the presentation by institutional representatives on March 12, 2025. To acknowledge receipt of the request to present new information as approved by the Chair of the Commission: (1) email of submission with summary and evidence and (2) a presentation for use during the show cause appearance. To request a monitoring report, due September 2, 2025, demonstrating sustainability of implemented corrective measures and further evidence of (1) the institution honoring contracts and commitments, adhering to policies, and representing itself truthfully, in all activities, whether internal or external (Standard II); (2) compliance with all applicable government laws and regulations and Commission policies and procedures, including but not limited to adverse or material actions by all its accrediting and licensing agencies and/or renewals or extensions of approvals, and other material issues which must be disclosed in a timely and accurate fashion (Standard II, Related Entities Policy and Procedures, and Third-Party Providers Policy and Procedures); (3) institutional and unit goals that are clearly stated, assessed appropriately, linked to mission and goal achievement, reflect conclusions drawn from assessment results, and are used for planning and resource allocation (Standard VI); (4) submission of the fiscal year 2024 audit confirming financial viability and proper internal financial controls, with evidence of corrective measures taken to address any material findings cited in the audit or an accompanying management letter (Standard VI); (5) documentation of the structure, authority, and autonomy of the governing body, including any related entities (Standard VII); and (6) a governing body that makes freely available to the Commission accurate, fair, and complete information on all aspects of the institution and its operations, including but not limited to any third-party provider or related entity, and ensuring the institution describes itself in comparable and consistent terms to all of its accrediting and regulatory agencies (Standard VII, Accreditation Review Cycle and Monitoring Policy and Procedures, Related Entities Policy and Procedures, Third-Party Providers Policy and Procedures, and Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). To request that the monitoring report also provide evidence of (1) curriculum maps (Standard V); (2) periodic assessment of the effectiveness of assessment policies and processes utilized by the institution for the improvement of educational effectiveness (Standard V); (3) audited financial statements for related entities, including documentation of funding streams (Standard VI and Related Entities Policy and Procedures); and (4) analysis of the institutional financial independence from related entities (Standard VI and Related Entities Policy and Procedures). To direct a follow-up team visit following submission of the monitoring report. To direct the follow-up team visit includes the following branch campus: 7799 Leesburg Pike, Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22043. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss Commission expectations. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032. 
March 13, 2025
To acknowledge receipt of the teach-out plan and teach-out agreements. To note that an updated teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreements will not be required. 
November 1, 2024
To note that the Commission liaison guidance visit occurred on September 11, 2024. To remind the institution of its requirement to show cause by November 1, 2024, requested by the Commission action of June 27, 2024. The date of the next evaluation will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation.
June 27, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note the on-site evaluation visit by Commission representatives to the main campus at 1401 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 on April 7-10, 2024. To note the following branch campus was visited: 7799 Leesburg Pike, Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22043. To require the institution to show cause, by November 1, 2024, to demonstrate why its accreditation should not be withdrawn because of insufficient evidence that the institution is in compliance with Standard II (Ethics and Integrity), Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement), Standard VII (Governance, Leadership, and Administration), and former Requirements of Affiliation 6, 10, 11, 12, and 14. To note that the institution remains accredited while on show cause. To note further that federal regulations limit the period during which an institution may be in non-compliance, which starts on June 27, 2024. To require a show cause report, due November 1, 2024, documenting evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Commission standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal requirements. The show cause report must include evidence of (1) the institution honoring contracts and commitments, adhering to policies, and representing itself truthfully, in all activities, whether internal or external (Standard II); (2) compliance with all applicable government laws and regulations and Commission policies and procedures, including but not limited to adverse or material actions by all its accrediting and licensing agencies and/or renewals or extensions of approvals by the Higher Education Learning Commission (HELC) and the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), and other material issues which must be disclosed in a timely and accurate fashion (Standard II, Related Entities Policy and Procedures, and Third-Party Providers Policy and Procedures); (3) institutional and unit goals that are clearly stated, assessed appropriately, linked to mission and goal achievement, reflect conclusions drawn from assessment results, and are used for planning and resource allocation (Standard VI); (4) submission of the fiscal year 2023 audit confirming financial viability and proper internal financial controls, with evidence of corrective measures taken to address any material findings cited in the audit or an accompanying management letter (Standard VI); (5) documentation of the structure, authority, and autonomy of the governing body, including any related entities (Standard VII); and (6) a governing body that makes freely available to the Commission accurate, fair, and complete information on all aspects of the institution and its operations, including but not limited to any third-party provider or related entity, and specifically those entities referenced in the team's findings, and ensuring the institution describes itself in comparable and consistent terms to all of its accrediting and regulatory agencies (Standard VII, Accreditation Review Cycle and Monitoring Policy and Procedures, Related Entities Policy and Procedures, Third-Party Providers Policy and Procedures, and Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). To require that the institution complete and submit for approval, by November 1, 2024, a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreements with appropriate teach-out partner institutions (Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures). In accordance with Commission policy and federal regulations, the teach-out plan must provide for the equitable treatment of students to complete their education or transfer to another institution, if the Commission were to withdraw accreditation. To note the Commission may reject the teach-out plan and require resubmission if all of the required information is not provided. To direct an on-site show cause visit following submission of the report. The purpose of the on-site show cause visit is to verify the information provided in the show cause report and the institution's ongoing and sustainable compliance with Commission standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements. To direct the on-site show cause visit to include the following branch campus: 7799 Leesburg Pike, Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22043. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss Commission expectations. To note that the institution will be invited to present before the Commission when it meets to consider its show cause report. To note that Recommendation Responses in conjunction with the Annual Institutional Update (AIU) are no longer required. To remind the institution of its obligation to provide to the Commission timely and accurate financial audits. The date of the next evaluation will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation. To note that additional reporting on Standard V will be required at a date to be determined dependent on the show cause outcome.
June 27, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of October 31, 2023.
March 28, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of November 6, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment – FTE), as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update (AIU) in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR 602.19(d). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
November 6, 2023
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due December 13, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment – FTE) as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19 (d). The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2023-2024. 
October 31, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of April 27, 2023. To note the follow-up team visit by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at 1401 H Street, Washington, DC 20005 on July 15, 2023. To request a supplemental information report, due December 8, 2023, providing documentation and analysis of (1) any and all developments related to any investigations conducted by the institution or by state, federal, or other government agencies related to the Commission's action of April 27, 2023 (Standard II); (2) compliance with all applicable government laws and regulations and Commission policies and procedures, including but not limited to evidence of compliance with all SEVP requirements and documentation related to the locations of all institutional operations (Standard II); and (3) an update on the status of operations of the Chicago other instructional site (Standard II). To note that Recommendation Responses in conjunction with the Annual Institutional Update (AIU) are no longer required. To remind the institution of its obligation to address the findings in the team report in the next self-study. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.

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:

Postsecondary award (< 1 year) Included within the scope
Associate's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
Doctor's Degree- Research/Scholarship Included within the scope

Main Campus
University of the Potomac
1401 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
Branch Campus
University of the Potomac Virginia
7799 Leesburg Pike, Suite 200
Falls Church, VA 22043
Opened: 05/01/2019

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