Introduction

Auburn University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, as shown by its institutional details page on the SACSCOC website and the USDOE listing. This representation of Auburn University shows it to be a public university located in Auburn, Alabama and offering doctoral degrees.

Programmatic US Department of Education-Recognized Accreditation Agencies

Auburn University holds programmatic (specialized) accreditation from nine accrediting agencies currently recognized by the USDOE, as indicated on the federal agency’s website. The USDOE website lists both programmatic and institutional accrediting agencies. Three of Auburn’s nine accrediting agencies (National Association of Schools of Music, National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and National Association of Schools of Theatre) are categorized as institutional because they also accredit freestanding, single purpose institutions in addition to the accreditation of specialized programs at larger institutions. Auburn University’s Office for Institutional Research tracks the status of these program accreditations annually through update requests to deans of all 12 colleges on campus. Additionally, Auburn University holds accreditation from 18 discipline-specific accrediting agencies not recognized by the UDOE.

The following table includes a list of USDOE-recognized agencies that accredit Auburn University programs, the last year of accreditation, the most recent self-study with accreditation description, and the most recent letter of accreditation.

Table 14.4-1. Programmatic Accreditation Agencies Recognized by the USDOE 

A comprehensive listing of Auburn University’s programmatic accreditations, including agencies not recognized by the USDOE, may be found on the Office of Institutional Research website and in the Institutional Summary Form. 

Notification of Changes in Accreditation Status 

Auburn University informs all federally recognized agencies with which it holds accreditation of any change in the accreditation status of any of its programs accredited by one of those agencies or, if the case were to arise, in the SACSCOC accreditation status of the institution itself. Auburn University has had two occasions to send out such notifications since 2012, when it submitted its decennially reaffirmation Compliance Certification to SACSCOC.

Audiology

In July 2013, after reviewing all accreditation materials, the federally recognized American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, voted to continue the accreditation of Auburn University's clinical doctoral program in audiology (AuD) and to place the program on probation. The CAA found no areas of non-compliance but did find the program to be in only partial compliance with three of its standards. By subsequent letters, Auburn University notified SACSCOC and all of its other federally recognized accrediting agencies of this change in accreditation status for its Audiology program., Since this occurrence, Auburn’s AuD program has been in good standing as evidenced earlier in this narrative.

Veterinary Medicine

In March 2014, the American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education (AMVA) voted to place Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine on probationary accreditation because of major deficiencies with one of its standards. By subsequent letters, Auburn University notified SACSCOC and all of its other federally recognized accrediting agencies of this change in accreditation status for its College of Veterinary Medicine., In October 2014, the University also notified SACSCOC and all of its other federally recognized accrediting agencies when the AVMA removed Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine from probationary status., This program has been in good standing with ACMA since then, as evidenced earlier in this narrative.

All of the remaining accredited programs at Auburn University are in good standing with the relevant agency, and none has a status such as warning, probation, suspension, withdrawal, or termination. 

Summary

In summary, each of Auburn University’s USDOE-recognized accreditations represents the university accurately and all are in good standing. The Office of Institutional Research regularly monitors these accreditations for any changes.