Accreditation

34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) and 34 CFR 668.43(c) requires disclosures by institutions regarding educational requirements for programs leading to professional licensure or certification regardless of modality. 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) requires an institution to make readily available to enrolled and prospective students whether programs leading to professional licensure or certification meet educational requirements. 

Some professions (e.g. Nursing, Aviation, EMS, Surg Tech, etc.) require that you obtain licensure or certification beyond your degree in order to hold a position in that field.  Review specific licensure requirements for each state.

Professional Licensure regulations and requirements vary from field to field, and from state to state. Each state and U.S. territory has an authority, be it public or private, that is responsible for overseeing the licensure requirements of the various professions in that state.  

For students considering enrolling in a program that leads to professional licensure, Aims Community College strongly recommends you contact the appropriate department or program to determine the educational requirements and whether or not the education provided at Aims Community College will allow you to sit for the applicable licensing exam. 

To maintain accreditation, Aims participates in the Open Pathway, one of two accreditation options with the Higher Learning Commission. Aims previously was accredited on an eight-year cycle through the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Pathway and made the transition to the Open Pathway in 2018.

The Open Pathway option focuses on quality assurance and institutional improvement on a 10-year cycle. During this time, Aims must submit institutional reviews so HLC can monitor the organization’s health and ensure compliance with federal requirements. 

Aims must fulfill the following in order to receive accreditation once again in 2027-2028:

• Annual Institutional Updates
• Year Four Assurance Review: This will be reviewed virtually by HLC to determine that Aims continues to meet the Criteria for Accreditation.
• Quality Initiative between years five and nine: Aims will choose one major improvement to focus on, and designate as its Quality Initiative.
• A Comprehensive Evaluation for reaffirmation in year 10

Additionally, because Aims has four separate campuses and many concurrent enrollment locations, the college is required to undergo a multi-location visit every five years. 

Fulfillment of the Criteria for Accreditation

To become accredited, an institution must meet expectations for several core components. 

Meeting the following criteria as part of the Comprehensive Quality Review culminated in 2018 when Aims received re-accreditation.

1.  Mission: The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly. It guides the institution’s operations. The mission of Aims can be found here.
    
2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct The institution acts with integrity. Its conduct is ethical and responsible.
    
3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support  The institution provides high-quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
    
4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement  The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.
    
5. Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

Program Accreditation at Aims

Many academic programs at Aims are accredited by state or professional agencies.  The chart below lists the accreditation status of specific programs.

Accreditation Status of Aims Academic Programs

Navigating the complex landscape of higher education regulations is essential for institutions committed to maintaining academic integrity, financial accountability, and student success. This page summarizes the most frequently discussed compliance requirements, offering a quick reference to key federal, state, and accreditor regulations that impact higher education institutions. While not exhaustive, these overviews highlight the essential areas that colleges and universities need to monitor and address to ensure ongoing compliance and operational excellence.

1. 2021 Colorado Votes Act (SB21-250) 
   Aims sends notifications twice per year about voter registration, etc. In the fall, emails are sent the first full week of the semester. During the spring, emails are sent the last full week of the semester. 
2. Academic Accreditation 
   Academic Accreditors ensure that higher education institutions maintain acceptable quality standards. The Department of Education provides details on accreditation and accrediting bodies.
3. Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act 
   The CSCPA modified FERPA, to require educational institutions to disclose information about sex offenders obtained through state registration and notification programs. ** See FERPA
4. Constitution Day 
   The State of Colorado requires state agencies to celebrate Constitution Day.
5. Department of Justice Regulation Implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
   This regulation introduces specific mandates, including the adoption of technical standards, to ensure that state and local government entities make their web and mobile services, programs, and activities accessible.
6. Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Regulations (Education Department General Administrative Regulations [EDGAR]) 
   This law mandates that institutions receiving federal funds or financial aid must certify the adoption and implementation of a program to prevent unlawful drug and alcohol use by students and employees.
7. Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 
   This law requires institutions receiving federal financial assistance to establish drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs for students and employees.
8. Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 [41 USC §701] 
   Institutions receiving federal aid are required to implement drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs for students and employees.
9. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
   FERPA safeguards the privacy of student education records, generally requiring written consent from students or their parents before releasing records. It also grants students and their authorized parents the right to inspect their records.
10. General Disclosure Statement (34 CFR §668.43)
    Wherever licensure is required for employment, if an institution offers programs designed to meet or advertised as meeting educational requirements for licensure for such an occupation, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) requires (34 CFR § 668.43) institutions to publish the following information, regardless of course or program modality:
    1. States where it’s been determined the curriculum meets educational requirements
    2. States where it’s been determined the curriculum does not meet these requirements
    3. If the institution has either (i) determined that the curriculum does not satisfy licensure requirements where a prospective student is located, or (ii) not made a licensure determination where a prospective student is located, the institution would need to separately notify the prospective student in writing (e.g., via email) prior to their enrollment. 
11. HB21-1110 
    Under the Colorado Anti-discrimination Act (CADA), it is unlawful for any person to discriminate against an individual with a disability. House Bill 21-1110 expands this prohibition by defining discrimination to include two standards:
    1. It is discrimination to exclude an individual with a disability from participation in or being denied the benefits of services, programs, or activities provided by any Colorado government entity. 
    2. It is discrimination for any Colorado government entity to fail to develop an accessibility plan, and to fail to fully comply with accessibility standards developed by OIT by July 1, 2025. 
       The new language specifically applies to accessibility of government information technology and expands the state's accessibility standards to include all individuals with disabilities, as defined by the ADA, instead of just people with vision problems.
12. Higher Education Act
    Title 34 outlines rules for institutions participating in student financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. It includes reporting requirements for institutions, campus safety provisions, and regulations on college--student lender relationships. Additionally, institutions must have policies for fire safety, disclosure of student transfer policies and textbook costs. More Resources:

13. Higher Education Act – Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS) – Surveys
    IPEDS is an online data collection tool used by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) to gather and publish institutional data. Colleges are required to complete IPEDS surveys for federal reporting.

14. Human Subjects Research
    Regulations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ensure ethical research practices involving human subjects. Compliance is critical, as violations can lead to severe penalties, including loss of funding or federal grant eligibility.

15. State Authorization Regulation 
    States require institutions to obtain approval before conducting activities within their jurisdiction. Compliance with federal state authorization regulations is necessary for participation in Title IV, HEA programs. Connected to this are:
    1. 34 CFR 600.2 - Definitions (State authorization reciprocity agreement)
    2. 34 CFR 600.9(c) - State Authorization (for distance education)
    3. 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) - Institutional Information (public notifications for programs leading to professional licensure or certification for all modalities)
    4. 34 CFR 668.43(c) - Institutional Information (individualized notifications for programs leading to professional licensure or certification for all modalities)
16. Statement on Mental Wellness and Success in Compliance with HB23-1007
    The act requires public and private higher education institutions to print Colorado and national crisis and suicide prevention contact information on student identification cards. If an institution does not use student identification cards, the act requires the school to distribute Colorado and national crisis and suicide prevention contact information to the student body each semester or trimester.
17. Student Right to Know
    The Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act requires universities to disclose data on retention and graduation rates, available financial aid, campus crime statistics, athletic participation, and various institutional details such as accreditation, facilities and services for disabled students, and refund and withdrawal policies.
18. The Clery Act
    The Clery Act mandates that colleges and universities receiving federal funding disclose campus crime statistics and security policies, ensuring transparency for students, parents, and employees.
19. Title IV Federal Aid – Pell Grants
    The Federal Pell Grant Program provides financial aid to low-income undergraduate and some post-baccalaureate students to enhance access to higher education. Colleges must accurately manage these funds and provide refunds as necessary.
    (https://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PellGrants.jsp?tab=funding)
20. Title IV
    Title IV encompasses federal financial aid programs for postsecondary students, governed by the Higher Education Act of 1965 and managed by the U.S. Department of Education.
21. Title VI
    Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. This includes discrimination based on shared ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, or association with a dominant religion.
22. Title VII
    Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It covers various employment practices, including hiring, promotion, and training, and protects employees from retaliation for reporting discrimination.
23. Title IX
    Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. It requires educational institutions to ensure non-discrimination in all areas, including admissions, financial aid, and academic programs.

Past Accreditation Information (Formerly on the AQIP Pathway)

Before transitioning to the Open Pathway Accreditation option, Aims was accredited by the HLC under the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP). The following include information about the AQIP accreditation process as well as past documents regarding accreditation under that framework.

• Systems Portfolio (submitted every four years) This 100-page public document describes and analyzes fundamental institutional systems centered around six AQIP categories. See the 2008 and 2012 portfolios.
• Systems Appraisal (submitted every four years) Submission of the systems portfolio initiates an appraisal conducted by a panel of trained reviewers. Through both independent and consensus review processes, feedback represents shared views of institutional strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• Strategy Forum A few months after receipt of the Systems Appraisal, AQIP institutions send teams to participate in a strategy forum, at which the team receives guidance on developing new action projects and participates in peer review of initiatives for continuous improvement.
• Comprehensive Quality Review (CQR) (every eight years) The purpose of this visit is to assure accreditation issues have been addressed, to spot-check the accuracy of the systems portfolio and to affirm the institution's commitment to quality improvement. See the most recent report from 2009.
• Reaffirmation of Accreditation - Following the comprehensive quality review, an AQIP Pathway Review Panel of Reaffirmation will review the college’s record of activity and determine whether the institution meets HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation and complies with Federal Regulations. See the 2011 Reaffirmation of Accreditation.