ACAOM Renewed as Accrediting Agency

 

THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
WASHINGTON, DC 20202

May 1, 2006

Mr. Dort S. Bigg, JD
Executive Director
Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Maryland Trade Center 3
7501 Greenway Center Drive, Suite 820
Greenbelt, Maryland 20770

Dear Mr. Bigg:

At its December 7-8, 2005, meeting, the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (Committee) recommended that I renew for a period of five years the recognition of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and grant an expansion of its scope of recognition to include preaccreditation ("Candidacy" status). This recommendation was made under Sections 114 and 496 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, and pursuant to relevant statutory and regulatory provisions.

I concur with the recommendation of the Committee. I am satisfied that accreditation by ACAOM is a required element in enabling freestanding institutions and colleges of acupuncture and Oriental medicine to establish eligibility to participate in programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Accordingly, for a period of five years from the date of this letter, I shall list ACAOM as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy" status) throughout the United States of first-professional master's degree and professional master's level certificate and diploma programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, as well as freestanding institutions and colleges of acupuncture or Oriental medicine that offer such programs.

Please convey my best wishes to the members of the ACAOM. I appreciate their continuing efforts to improve the quality of postsecondary education in the United States.

Sincerely,

<signed>
Margaret Spellings

Original Letter (PDF)