Powers is excited to announce the expansion of the Education Practice to include an Accreditation Specialist, Dr. Ellyn McLaughlin. Ellyn supports the group’s accreditation work, including by assisting clients who are seeking initial accreditation, preparing for an accreditation review, or applying for a substantive change. Ellyn has experience with both institutional and specialized programmatic accrediting agencies.
The Powers education team routinely advises clients regarding institutional and programmatic accreditation compliance, including adverse actions, sanctions, substantive changes, and accreditation maintenance. In conjunction with the Powers team, Ellyn also provides proactive accreditation-related services that encompass the accreditation life cycle, including:
- Preparation of self-study reports
- Mock visits (onsite or virtual)
- Preparation of substantive change applications/proposals
- Review of evidentiary materials, such as strategic plans, governance documentation, and assessment plans
- Accreditation-related training and workshops
Ellyn most recently worked as an independent higher education consultant serving a variety of postsecondary institutions. Prior to her consulting work, she held administrative roles with, among others, The Art Institutes International System, Laureate Education, University of Maryland University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus), and Anne Arundel Community College. She also previously held faculty positions in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia and began her career in K-12 education.
Ellyn possesses a wealth of expertise in higher education accreditation. Having supported over 50 institutions through successful self-study and preparation for onsite reviews, she has significant experience with developing strong standard-driven narratives, aligning outcomes and processes with accreditation standards, and helping ensure planning and assessment practices are grounded in clear frameworks driven by accreditation expectations. She also has a deep understanding of institutional effectiveness processes and the use of data to improve programs, policies, services, practices, and operations.
Ellyn’s expertise adds further depth to the Powers team’s capabilities in providing comprehensive support in higher education accreditation and compliance matters. Powers has expertise with a wide range of institutional-level and programmatic accrediting bodies, including, but not limited to, the following accreditors.
- Institutional Accreditors:
– Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
– Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
– Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
– Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
– Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS)
– Council on Occupational Education (COE)
– Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
– Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
– Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
– New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
– Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
– Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
– WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) - Programmatic Accreditors:
– Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM)
– Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
– Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
– Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
– Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
– Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
– American Culinary Federation (ACF)
– Association to Advance College Schools of Business (AACSB)
– Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
– Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management (CAHME)
– Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
– Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
– Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)
– Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP)
– Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
– Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)
– Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME)
– International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
– Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
– Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
– National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
– National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
– National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)