Accreditation Information

HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACT CONSUMER INFORMATION

UNDER 34 CFR 643.43B

New England College of Optometry (the College) is accredited by both the American Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association and by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) of the New England Association of School and Colleges (NEASC). The ACOE focuses its review on the College’s professional optometric degree and residency programs whereas CIHE on the College’s financial health, board governance and public disclosure policies. The College has been continuously accredited by ACOE since 1941 and by NEASC since 1976.

Both NEASC and ACOE are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as reliable authorities on the quality of education and adhere to the standards of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Periodically the College undergoes a peer review process. It last underwent a joint accreditation visit in 2003 and is scheduled for its next visit in November 2012.  Each of its residency programs are separately reviewed by just ACOE on a different timetable. Since the last joint accreditation visit, the College has annually prepared interim submissions for ASCO and NEASC that met their respective guidelines.

Inquiries and requests for written documentation regarding the College’s accreditation may be directed in writing to the Office of the President, 424 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02115.

If you have any further issues with the College’s accreditation, you may contact, subject to each site’s specific instructions:

ACOE: http://www.aoa.org/x5153.xml

CIHE:   http://cihe.neasc.org/information_for_the_public/comments_amp_complaints

Massachusetts Board of Higher Education:  http://www.mass.edu/forstudents/complaints/complaints.asp