Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 1.djvu/677

This page needs to be proofread.

PUBLIC LAW 102-325—JULY 23, 1992 106 STAT. 645 and involving the denial, withdrawal, or termination of accreditation of the institution of higher education, shall be brought in the appropriate United States district court. "(g) LIMITATION ON SCOPE OF STANDARDS. — Nothing in this Act shall be construed to permit the Secretary to establish standards for accrediting agencies or associations that are not required by this section. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit or limit any accrediting agency or association from adopting additional standards not provided for in this section. "(h) CHANGE OF ACCREDITING AGENCY. —The Secretary shall not recognize the accreditation of any otherwise eligible institution of higher education if the institution of higher education is in the process of changing its accrediting agency or association, unless the eligible institution submits to the Secretary all materials relating to the prior accreditation, including materials demonstrating reasonable cause for changing the accrecUting agency or association, "(i) DUAL ACCREDITATION RULE.—The Secretary shall not recognize the accreditation of any otherwise eligible institution of higher education if the institution of higher education is accredited, as an institution, by more than one accrediting agency or association, unless the institution submits to each such agency and association and to the Secretary the reasons for accreditation by more than one such agency or association and demonstrates to the Secretary reasonable cause for its accreditation by more than one agency or association. If the institution is accredited, as an institution, by more than one accrediting agency or association, the institution shall designate which agency^s accreditation shall be utilized in determining the institution's eligibility for programs under this Act. "(j) IMPACT OF Loss OF ACCREDITATION. —An institution may not be certified or recertified as an institution of higher education under section 481 and subpart 3 of this part or participate in any of the other programs authorized by this Act if such institution— "(1) is not currently accredited by any agency or association recognized by the Secretary; "(2) has had its accreditation withdrawn, revoked, or otherwise terminated for cause during the preceding 24 months, unless such withdrawal, revocation, or termination has been rescinded by the same accrediting agency; or "(3) has withdrawn from accrechtation volimtarily under a show cause or suspension order during the preceding 24 months, unless such order has been rescinded by the same accrediting agency, " (k) RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION RULE.— Notwithstanding subsection (j), the Secretary shall allow an institution that has had its accreditation withdrawn, revoked, or otherwise terminated, or has voluntarily withdrawn from an accreditation agency, to remain certified as an institution of higher education under section 481 and subpart 3 of this part for a period sufficient to allow such institution to obtain alternative accreditation, if the Secretary determines that the reason for the withdrawal, revocation, or termination— "(1) is related to the rehgious mission or afiiliation of the institution; and "(2) is not related to the accreditation standards provided for in this section.