Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions Announces Name Change to Council of Recognized Accrediting Commissions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC) today announced that it has formally changed its name to the Council of Recognized Accrediting Commissions, effective immediately.

The name change reflects significant shifts in federal regulation and practice that have reshaped the accreditation landscape over the past several years. In 2020, federal regulations eliminated regional boundaries for accrediting commissions, recognizing that institutional accreditation now operates on a national and international scale. The new name more accurately captures both the regulatory status and the scope of C-RAC’s member commissions.

“This name change reflects both who we are and how we have been functioning,” Heather F. Perfetti, C-RAC Chair, noted. “C-RAC members are no longer defined by geographic boundaries, but by our shared responsibility to ensure quality, integrity, and continuous improvement in higher education wherever our institutions operate.”

C-RAC is comprised of seven federally recognized accrediting commissions responsible for accrediting approximately 3,000 postsecondary, degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. Together, these commissions serve millions of students across a wide range of public, private, nonprofit, and faith-based institutions.

Accrediting commissions are private, nonprofit organizations that carry out their responsibilities through peer review. The commissions and visiting teams at the heart of the accrediting enterprise are made up of volunteers drawn from higher education and the public. In accordance with federal requirements, at least one of every seven commissioners serving on a recognized accrediting commission is a representative of the public, reinforcing transparency, accountability, and public trust.

The Council of Recognized Accrediting Commissions will continue its mission of supporting collaboration among recognized accreditors, advancing quality assurance, and engaging policymakers and the public on issues central to student success, institutional integrity, and the value of higher education.

For more information about the Council of Recognized Accrediting Commissions and its member organizations, please visit c-rac.org.