Statement of Accreditation Status
Baltimore International College
- Phase: Formerly Accredited
- Status: Accreditation Withdrawn Final
- Accreditation Granted: June 26, 1996
- Accreditation Ceased: December 31, 2011
- December 16, 2011
To note receipt of documentation of necessary approvals by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and by the American Council of Independent Colleges and Schools, and to approve the teach-out plan and agreement submitted by the institution. To remind the institution that its accreditation will cease as of December 31, 2011, in accordance with the Commission's decision of June 23, 2011 as modified by court order entered by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on September 8, 2011. - October 18, 2011
To provisionally approve the teach-out plan and agreement submitted by the institution pending receipt of documentation of necessary approvals by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and by the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools. In the event that such documentation is not submitted by December 1, 2011, the institution must submit by that same date an alternative teach-out plan (a) that satisfies all federal and MSCHE teach-out requirements and (b) that provides for educational program completion, using locally available educational resources, by all BIC students enrolled in Fall 2011 who will not complete a degree or certificate by December 31, 2011. - September 1, 2011
On August 31, 2011, a court order was entered by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland temporarily restraining the removal of accreditation before September 12, 2011, unless the date is advanced or deferred by further order. (The Temporary Restraining Order can be viewed at https://www.msche.org/documents/BIC-TRO.pdf.) - August 18, 2011
To acknowledge receipt of the institution’s request for an extension of accreditation. To dismiss the request because it does not constitute a Request for Reconsideration of an Adverse Accrediting Action as detailed in the Commission’s policy, Procedures for Appeals from Adverse Accrediting Actions. As stipulated in that policy, to note that no further opportunity for reconsideration is available to the institution and the Commission’s decision to remove accreditation, effective August 31, 2011, remains effective. To remind the institution of the Commission’s decision to remove the accreditation of Baltimore International College effective August 31, 2011. This decision is based on the institution's March 1, 2009 monitoring report, the report of a subsequent visit by Commission representatives on April 6 – 7, 2009, and the institution's response to the representatives' report; the institution’s March 1, 2010 monitoring report, the report of a subsequent visit by Commission representatives on April 4 – 6, 2010, and the institution's response to the representatives' report; the institution’s September 1, 2010 monitoring report, the report of a subsequent visit by Commission representatives on September 21– 22, 2010, and the institution's response to the representatives' report; and the institution’s March 1, 2011 substantive report, the report of a subsequent visit by Commission representatives on April 26 – 27, 2011, and the institution's response to the representatives' report. These and prior institutional reports and responses have not adequately addressed the Commission's ongoing and longstanding concerns with the general quality of the institution, and they have failed to document that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with the Commission’s Requirement of Affiliation #5., and with Commission Standards 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal), 7 (Institutional Assessment), 8 (Student Admissions and Retention), 11 (Educational Offerings), 12 (General Education), and 14 (Assessment of Student Learning). To further remind Baltimore International College that the institution is required to submit a plan within 30 days of the date of the Commission’s June 24, 2011 letter that (a) facilitates the transfer of remaining students who are unable to continue their studies at Baltimore International College after August 31, 2011, (b) completes and issues transcripts for any students seeking to transfer or move to another institution, and (c) makes arrangements for the permanent disposition of student records so that students and alumni will be able to obtain accurate and complete transcripts in the future, in the event that Baltimore International College does not continue to operate after August 31, 2011. To further remind Baltimore International College that the institution is required to provide evidence of, within 30 days of the date of the Commission’s June 24 letter, (a) the dissemination of this action letter to the Baltimore International College community, including all governing board members, students, full-time faculty and staff, and other faculty and staff members with significant roles, (b) notification to current and prospective students of the termination of Middle States accreditation effective August 31, 2011, and (c) accurate information regarding the institution’s Middle States accreditation status provided wherever the institution’s web pages, publications, and announcements make reference to Middle States accreditation and in all other appropriate places and venues, such as wherever information is provided to prospective students. - June 23, 2011
To remove the accreditation of Baltimore International College effective August 31, 2011. This decision is based on the institution's March 1, 2009 monitoring report, the report of a subsequent visit by Commission representatives on April 6 – 7, 2009, and the institution's response to the representatives' report; the institution’s March 1, 2010 monitoring report, the report of a subsequent visit by Commission representatives on April 4 – 6, 2010, and the institution's response to the representatives' report; the institution’s September 1, 2010 monitoring report, the report of a subsequent visit by Commission representatives on September 21– 22, 2010, and the institution's response to the representatives' report; and the institution’s March 1, 2011 substantive report, the report of a subsequent visit by Commission representatives on April 26 – 27, 2011, and the institution's response to the representatives' report. These and prior institutional reports and responses have not adequately addressed the Commission's ongoing and longstanding concerns with the general quality of the institution, and they have failed to document that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with the Commission’s Requirement of Affiliation #5., and with Commission Standards 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal), 7 (Institutional Assessment), 8 (Student Admissions and Retention), 11 (Educational Offerings), 12 (General Education), and 14 (Assessment of Student Learning). To require Baltimore International College to submit a plan within 30 days of the date of this letter that (a) facilitates the transfer of remaining students who are unable to continue their studies at Baltimore International College after August 31, 2011, (b) completes and issues transcripts for any students seeking to transfer or move to another institution, and (c) makes arrangements for the permanent disposition of student records so that students and alumni will be able to obtain accurate and complete transcripts in the future, in the event that Baltimore International College does not continue to operate after August 31, 2011. To require Baltimore International College to provide evidence of, within 30 days of the date of this letter, (a) the dissemination of this action letter to the Baltimore International College community, including all governing board members, students, full-time faculty and staff, and other faculty and staff members with significant roles, (b) notification to current and prospective students of the termination of Middle States accreditation effective August 31, 2011, and (c) accurate information regarding the institution’s Middle States accreditation status provided wherever the institution’s web pages, publications, and announcements make reference to Middle States accreditation and in all other appropriate places and venues, such as wherever information is provided to prospective students. - March 3, 2011
To note the visit by the Commission’s representatives. To remind the institution that it was required to show cause as to why its accreditation should not be removed in a substantive report due March 1, 2011. The institution was to present its case for continued accreditation by documenting evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with two of the Commission's fourteen standards: Standard 7 (Institutional Assessment) and Standard 14 (Assessment of Student Learning). In addition the institution was required to provide evidence of compliance with five additional standards: Standard 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal), Standard 4 (Leadership and Governance), Standard 8 (Student Admissions and Retention), Standard 10 (Faculty), and Standard 11 (Educational Offerings). To note that the substantive report, due March 1, 2011, and the findings from the on-site evaluation that follows will be acted upon by the Commission at its June 2011 meeting. The institution remains accredited while on show cause. - November 18, 2010
To accept the monitoring report and to note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To require the institution to show cause, by March 1, 2011, as to why its accreditation should not be removed. The institution is required to present its case for continued accreditation by means of a substantive report documenting evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with two of the Commission's fourteen standards: Standard 7 (Institutional Assessment) and Standard 14 (Assessment of Student Learning). In addition the institution is required to provide evidence of compliance with five additional standards: Standard 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal), Standard 4 (Leadership and Governance), Standard 8 (Student Admissions and Retention), Standard 10 (Faculty), and Standard 11 (Educational Offerings). An on-site evaluation will follow submission of the report. The purpose of the on-site evaluation is to verify the information provided in the substantive report and the institution's ongoing and sustainable compliance with the Commission's accreditation standards. To request that the substantive report document evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Commission standards including, but not limited, to documented evidence of the following: (1) implementation of a comprehensive, organized, and sustained process for the assessment of institutional effectiveness with evidence that assessment information is used in budgeting, planning, decision-making, and the allocation of resources (Standard 7); and (2) the development and implementation of a documented, organized, and sustained process to assess the achievement of institutional, program, and core curriculum student learning goals, including (a) the use of direct methods of assessment, and (b) evidence that student learning assessment information is used to improve teaching and learning and to inform planning and resource allocation (Standard 14). In addition, to request that the substantive report provide (3) evidence of the implementation of a comprehensive institutional strategic plan and related plans, whose goals and objectives or strategies (a) are clearly stated, (b) have measurable outcomes, (c) are linked to decision-making, and (d) reflect conclusions drawn from assessment results (Standard 2); (4) evidence that the governing body is fulfilling its responsibilities to approve degree programs, to review institutional assessment results, to participate in strategic planning, to provide for the orientation of new members, to undertake periodic objective self-assessment in meeting its stated objectives, and to undertake periodic assessment of the effectiveness of institutional leadership and governance (Standard 4); (5) evidence that statements of expected student learning outcomes and information on institution-wide assessment results are available to prospective students (Standard 8); (6) evidence of published and implemented standards and procedures for all faculty and other professionals for actions including promotion and grievance, based on principles of fairness with due regard for the rights of all persons (Standard 10); and (7) evidence that the academic rigor of degrees and programs offered is appropriate to instructional level (Standard 11). To direct a prompt liaison guidance visit to discuss Commission expectations as set forth in this action. To note that the institution remains accredited while on show cause.