/ Modified jun 24, 2016 4:17 p.m.

Issues with Accreditor May Put Tucson Schools in Limbo

Students face loss of financial aid if they aren't overseen by approved agency.

Classroom

An advisory panel to the U.S. Department of Education has recommended that it sever ties with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, one of the nation's largest and oldest college accreditors.

That move could have an impact on students at several campuses in Tucson.

The council oversees five local campuses: Brookline College, Tucson College, Brown Mackie, ITT Technical Institute and the Art Institute of Tucson.

If the accreditor loses federal recognition, the colleges and more than 250 institutions nationally would have 18 months to find a new accreditor or students would lose access to federal financial aid.

The council has been under fire for lax oversight of now bankrupt colleges.

A senior official at the education department will decide within 90 days whether to follow the panel’s recommendation.

Calls to the accreditor, Brown Mackie, Tucson College and ITT went unanswered. Representatives from Brookline College, the Art Institute and the Department of Education said they could not comment.

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