Regarding Misinformation about ACPE’s Withdrawal from USDE Recognition

Dear ACPE Members:

ACPE is aware of the distribution of misleading information to our members and partner institutions by other groups and associations concerning our decision to withdraw from the renewal process for USDE recognition.

Recent communications have stated or asserted the following:

- ACPE is no longer “accredited” by USDE.

- CPE programs and units accredited by ACPE are no longer valid.

Both statements are FALSE.

1. Per its website, “The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit educational institutions and/or programs.” (See the Role of the USDE in Postsecondary Accreditation section, https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home).

2. ACPE is a programmatic accreditor . This means ACPE accredits clinical pastoral education (CPE) programs. The USDE recognized ACPE as a programmatic accreditor of CPE Level I/Level II and Certified Educator CPE programs. USDE recognition does not enable or disable ACPE’s work as a programmatic accreditor, nor the work of ACPE-accredited programs outright.

3. Less than 50 programmatic accreditors in the United States have recently received USDE recognition. ACPE is the only organization within the field of spiritual care and education to obtain and maintain it. Today, over 400 CPE programs nationwide - with more than 500 exceptionally trained ACPE Certified Educators - are focused on providing the outstanding spiritual care education for which ACPE is well-regarded.

Other misleading assertions include:

- ACPE’s recent decision indicates the quality of education its accredited programs provide.

- Partners have lowered their standards by maintaining ACPE-accredited programs.

Again, these claims are FALSE.

ACPE-accredited programs have been highly sought after for 57 years due to their superior training and instruction. Our unique educational experience continues to elevate and deepen the impact of spiritual care in the fields of chaplaincy, health and well-being, and beyond.

Our partners continue to uphold the highest standards, requiring accreditation from a programmatic accreditor.  ACPE's status as a programmatic accreditor remains unchanged despite the decision to withdraw from USDE recognition. We deeply value our partner institutions and will continue collaborating with them to provide their staff and associates with excellent educational opportunities.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the resources provided related to our recent decision. Once you log in, you can access the following on our SharePoint site:

  • ACPE News: Withdrawal from USDE Recognition Renewal Process
  • ACPE Town Hall Recording (11/12/2024)
  • 2022 USDE Report Summary

As stated during the town hall, additional FAQs, communication tools, and administrative updates will be available this week. If you have any questions or concerns prior to their dissemination, please contact Executive Director Lynnett Glass at lynnett.glass@acpe.edu.

With regard to ACPE-accredited VA programs, should you have any questions, please contact the National VA Chaplain Service directly at VHAChaplainActions@va.gov.

Thank you for your continued collegiality and professionalism as we navigate our way to broader horizons in spiritual care and experiential education.

 

Yours in service,

Lynnett R. Glass, MDiv, EMBA

Executive Director/CEO