Special Committee Procedures and Team Report

1. Special Committees may be authorized by the President of The Commission, the Committees on Compliance and Reports, or the Executive Council. Special Committees may not be combined with reaffirmation or substantive change reviews.
2. For an institution placed or continued on Probation, or placed or continued on Probation for Good Cause, a Special Committee is automatically authorized to evaluate the institution prior to the next scheduled review of the institution if the institution has not been visited within six months.
3. The Special Committee is charged with conducting an on-site review to recommend an institution’s compliance with the Principles of Accreditation and to forward its findings to The Commission Board of Trustees to enable a decision regarding the institution’s accreditation status. To that end, it will review specific sections of the Principles cited in the notification letter from the President of The Commission. The Committee may extend its initial focus if any evidence of additional accreditation-related concerns comes to its attention.
4. A Special Committee should be of sufficient size to adequately review the issues and to make a recommendation regarding the institution’s compliance with the Principles of Accreditation.
5. A Commission staff member is required to accompany all Special Committees.
6. If an institution has filed bankruptcy and it is determined by The Commission that the institution may not have sufficient faculty, staff, or resources to host a visit or to respond adequately to a review authorized by The Commission Board of Trustees or its President, the Commission President may modify, reschedule, or discontinue the visit. In such cases, the institution is obligated to provide evidence of compliance with the Principles through other means specified by The Commission. See also the Commission policy Sanctions, Denial of Reaffirmation, and Removal from Membership regarding procedures and Board authority during bankruptcy proceedings.

It is the responsibility of the Commission staff member to decide what materials will be sent to the Special Committee prior to the visit (including committee member writing assignments) and what materials will be available to the Committee during the on-site evaluation. It is the responsibility of the institution to provide materials as requested by Commission staff and the Commission Board, and to provide any additional documentation appropriate to support the institution’s compliance with the Principles.

The Special Committee visit will occur no later than six weeks prior to the meeting when The Commission Board of Trustees is scheduled to take action on the institution’s case.

The Special Committee will offer the institution’s chief executive officer the opportunity to have an exit conference to hear the Committee’s findings.

1. The Committee will complete the “Report of the Special Committee.” A report form can be accessed on The Commission website.
2. Within one week of the conclusion of the visit, the Chair provides the draft report to Committee members and to Commission staff.
3. After the report is reviewed by members of the Special Committee and Commission staff, the Chair of the Committee provides the draft report to the institution for the identification of factual errors only.
4. Following any necessary revisions, the Chair provides the final report to Commission staff who will then provide access to the institution.
5. If the institution elects to submit a written response, a copy of that response will be provided to The Commission Board of Trustees if submitted by the date in the letter of transmittal from Commission staff — usually at least 10 working days in advance of the Board meeting.
6. The Report of the Special Committee and the response of the institution to the report will be provided to The Commission Board of Trustees for action.

The President of The Commission may grant an exception to the deadline for submitting documents only in unusual circumstances or for previously unavailable significant documents. In such cases, the institution must petition the President in writing and include copies of the previously unavailable documents. Any exception that may affect the Board’s consideration of an existing sanction or placement on a sanction shall be taken in consideration with the Commission Sanctions policy and communicated to the Board of Trustees.

Representatives of an institution may be invited for a meeting on the record only if the institution’s status is such that a meeting on the record is warranted in accordance with Commission policy or is requested by The Commission Board of Trustees.

As with all committee visits, it is the policy of The Commission that the institution being reviewed bear the travel, meals, and lodging expenses of the Special Committee and the accompanying Commission staff representative, incidental expenses for the chair and each committee member, and any clerical expenses. In addition, the institution will be assessed an administrative fee as part of The Commission’s cost recovery program for the administration of special reviews. The total cost is billed to the institution by The Commission following the visit. Additional information regarding incidental expenses and the administrative fee is provided in the Commission policy, Dues, Fees, and Expenses.

If an institution has filed bankruptcy and a Special Committee has been authorized to visit the institution, The Commission may opt to pre-bill the institution with the estimated cost of the visit to ensure payment. Pre-billing is a cost recovery measure and does not, by itself, constitute a basis for Board action to revoke accreditation for nonpayment during the pendency of bankruptcy.