Institutional Accreditation
University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, education specialist, and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of University of the Cumberlands may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Institutional Authorization Kentucky
University of the Cumberlands is licensed by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) as a postsecondary institution. This license is subject to annual maintenance and authorizes University of the Cumberlands to offer specific degree programs.
Program Accreditations
The Hutton School of Business
The Hutton School of Business was awarded IACBE (International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education) accreditation in April 2017.
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, Addiction Counseling program, and the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) that accredits counselor preparation master’s degree and doctoral degree granting programs. University of the Cumberlands was one of the first higher education institutions to offer synchronous, CACREP-accredited programs online. CACREP accreditation ensures that our programs meet professional standards. More information about UC’s CACREP accreditation history, please visit the CACREP website at www.cacrep.org.
School of Education
National Accreditation
University of the Cumberlands’ School of Education is accredited through CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation), located at 1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036.
State Accreditation
University of the Cumberlands’ School of Education is further accredited through Kentucky’s Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB), 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-4606. Fax: (502) 564-7080.
Nursing
The online nursing master’s program at University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. 2015.
Physical Therapy
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
University of the Cumberlands is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. On June 1, 2022, the program submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Physician Assistant Program
Main Campus
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to University of the Cumberlands Physician Assistant Program sponsored by University of the Cumberlands. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be 2029 March. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
NKY Campus
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to University of the Cumberlands Northern Kentucky Campus Physician Assistant Program sponsored by University of the Cumberlands.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-university-of-the-cumberlands-northern-ky/.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for offering postsecondary distance education courses and programs in other member states. SARA is overseen by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA); Kentucky’s participation is through the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).
University of the Cumberlands has been approved to participate in SARA and thus is authorized and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions within the 49 members states under that SARA agreement. (This excludes only California.)
Washington State
University of the Cumberlands is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act. This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes University of the Cumberlands to offer specific degree programs. The Council may be contacted for a list of currently authorized programs. Authorization by the Council does not carry with it an endorsement by the Council of the institution or its programs. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the Council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430 or by email at degreeauthorization@wsac.wa.gov.
The transferability of credits earned at University of the Cumberlands is at the discretion of the receiving college, university, or other educational institution. Students considering transferring to any institution should not assume that credits earned in any program of study at University of the Cumberlands will be accepted by the receiving institution. Similarly, the ability of a degree, certificate, diploma or other academic credential earned at University of the Cumberlands to satisfy an admission requirement of another institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Accreditation does not guarantee credentials or credits earned at University of the Cumberlands will be accepted by or transferred to another institution. To minimize the risk of having to repeat coursework, students should contact the receiving institution in advance for evaluation and determination of transferability of credits and/or acceptability of degrees, diplomas, or certificates earned.
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has the authority to investigate student complaints against specific schools. WSAC may not be able to investigate every student complaint. Visit https://www.wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints for information regarding the WSAC complaint process. Association
Affiliations
American Council on Education
College Entrance Examination Board
Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities
Kentucky Independent College Fund
International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities
Council of Independent Colleges
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University does not unlawfully discriminate in its programs, activities, or the admission of students on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law. As a non-profit Christian institute of higher learning, the University exercises its rights under state and federal law to use religion as a factor in making employment decisions. The University is required not to discriminate unlawfully on the basis of sex by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106.
The University has grievance procedures to provide students, employees, or applicants an opportunity to file a complaint of illegal discrimination of any kind. In order to file a grievance, contact the appropriate person below or see the grievance procedures published in this handbook.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries or complaints regarding the disability nondiscrimination policy, including compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:
Mrs. Shirley Stephens
Academic Affairs and Student Accommodations Coordinator
Gatliff Administrative Building, Office 116
(606) 539-4214;
shirley.stephens@ucumberlands.edu
The following person has been designated to handle employee inquiries or complaints regarding the sex non-discrimination policy, including compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972:
Dr. Quentin Young
Chief Financial Officer and Title IX Coordinator
Gatliff Administrative Building, Office 224
(606) 539-4597; quentin.young@ucumberlands.edu
The following person has been designated to handle employee inquiries or complaints with all other portions of the non-discrimination policy:
Mr. Steve Allen
Vice President for Human Resources
Gatliff Administrative Building, Office 003
(606) 539-4219; steve.allen@ucumberlands.edu
The following person has been designated to handle student inquiries or complaints regarding the sex non-discrimination policy including compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as well as all other portions of the nondiscrimination policy:
Dr. Jamirae Holbrook
Vice President for Student Services and Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Boswell Campus Center
(606) 539-4120;
jamirae.holbrook@ucumberlands.edu
Complaints may also be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights:
1-800-421-3481
Student Definition
The word “student” in any official University of the Cumberlands publication is defined to be all persons enrolled full or part- time in any course or program.
Academic Catalog Notice
Failure to read this Catalog, the Student Handbook, or any other related program materials does not excuse students from the requirements and regulations described herein. The University reserves the right to make necessary changes without further notice.
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