Watchdog Barks — and Gets Slapped Down.

Inside Higher Ed reports.

Controversial accreditor ACICS tried to shut down a for-profit but was blocked by judge

A chorus of powerful critics wants to shut down the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, a national accreditor, for allegedly being too lax with Corinthian Colleges and other controversial for-profit institutions.

In December, however, ACICS tried to slap the most severe sanction available to accreditors on a small for-profit, Bristol University, by denying Bristol’s bid to renew its accreditation. ACICS’s final decision in March, which resulted in the university shutting down immediately, was based on 24 identified deficiencies, touching on all of Bristol’s academic programs and administration.

Yet a federal judge last week blocked the accreditor’s move, citing “irreparable harm” to the university if it permanently lost accreditation. The judge said Bristol now may operate as it did before the sanction and can enroll new students.