Recent ACOE Accreditation Actions and Decisions
Recent ACOE Accreditation Actions and Decisions
Official information regarding the Council’s accrediting decisions, including its decision-making process and rationale, is posted solely on the ACOE’s website. Publications associated with the Council’s decisions by any other entity, including the ACOE’s affiliated professional association, are not endorsed by the ACOE.
Consistent with Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) policy, the ACOE publishes the following information about accreditation and preaccreditation decisions:
- the type of program (professional optometric degree, optometric residency or optometric technician);
- the program's sponsor, and in the case of an optometric residency not sponsored by a school or college of optometry, the name of the affiliated optometric institution;
- accreditation status or action;
- the year of the next currently scheduled site visit; and
- the Council's summary of compliance with the standards, which specifies the Council's basis for any final decision. Updates to the summary of compliance will be published in subsequent reports of ACOE meeting actions when the ACOE determines that the standards are met.
Accreditation Actions and Decisions of the ACOE's Annual Meeting June 17-19, 2026.
Definitions
Preaccreditation Classification: In the case of a program which is not fully operational, the Council may grant the preaccreditation status of Preliminary Approval following satisfaction by the program of the requirements for initial application as outlined in the ACOE’s Policy and Procedures Manual and the Council's review of an evaluation team report following a site visit.
Preliminary Approval: A preaccreditation classification granted to a professional optometric degree program that has clearly demonstrated it is developing in accordance with Council Standards. The program has approval to begin student recruitment, selection and admissions and to begin offering the program. The Council shall review the preliminary approval classification annually during each academic year of the program through written reports and/or evaluation visits as deemed necessary by the Council. The Council will conduct a final on-site evaluation visit to the program for the consideration of an accreditation status during the academic year in which the first class is expected to graduate. If the program is found to meet the Council’s Standards, then the Council will grant an appropriate accreditation status. As required by the USDE, the Council will not grant preaccreditation status to a program for longer than five years. When the Council awards Preliminary Approval to a program or at any time during the Council's monitoring of a program holding Preliminary Approval status, the ACOE may issue recommendations or specify conditions for monitoring, which must be attained in order to maintain the preaccreditation status.
Accreditation Status: The ACOE may decide to grant one of the two following accreditation statuses to a program following adoption of the evaluation team report and recommendations. Accreditation status may be lowered or revoked if the Council determines that the program is not making sufficient progress on recommendations from the Council.
Accredited:A classification granted to an educational program indicating that the program generally meets the standards for accreditation. This classification indicates that the program has no deficiencies or weaknesses that compromise the educational effectiveness of the total program. However, recommendations relating to marginal compliance with certain standards, and suggestions relating to program enhancement may be included in evaluation reports.
Accredited with Conditions: A classification granted to an educational program with major deficiencies or weaknesses with reference to the Standards of accreditation that compromise the educational effectiveness of the program. This classification indicates that the accreditation of the program is in jeopardy. Programs with this classification will be required to submit progress reports and may be required to undergo an evaluation visit.
Notice of programs with Accredited with Conditions status or withdrawal of accreditation.
ACOE notice of programs with Accredited with Conditions status
The classification of Accredited with Conditions is granted to an educational program with major deficiencies or weaknesses with reference to the Standards of accreditation. This classification indicates that the educational effectiveness of the program is in jeopardy.
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions College of Optometric Medicine Professional Optometric Degree Program*. At its June 17-19, 2026 meeting, the ACOE made the decion to grant the accreditation status of Accredited with Conditions to the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions College of Optometric Medicine Professional Optometric Degree Program. The classification Accredited with Conditions indicates that the program has major deficiencies or weaknesses with reference to the Standards of accreditation that compromise the educational effectiveness of the program. This classification indicates that the accreditation of the program is in jeopardy. *The decision will become final 30 days after program notification unless the program petitions for reconsideration. [This notice posted July 20, 2026.]
Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry, Professional Optometric Degree program
The June 19-21, 2024 decision of the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) to lower the accreditation status of the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry, Professional Optometric Degree program to "Accredited with Conditions" became final on August 10, 2024. No request for reconsideration or appeal was filed by the program. [This notice posted August 12, 2024.]
ACOE notice of withdrawal of accreditation
The ACOE publishes on this page programs from which it has withdrawn accreditation within the last eight years. The publication includes the date that the program withdrawal was final, a statement of the reason(s) for which the ACOE withdrew accreditation, and any statement the program may wish to make.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry, Professional Optometric Degree program*. At its June 17-19, 2026, Annual meeting, the ACOE made the decision to withdraw accreditation from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry professional optometric degree program. The program was notified of the decision on July 17, 2026, and the decision becomes final thirty (30) days after notification if no written petition for reconsideration or request for appeal is received. As specified in the “Adverse Actions and Program-Initiated Withdrawals” Policy, the Council may allow the program to remain in an accreditation status until the program has had reasonable time to teach-out the remainder of the program or to fulfill the obligations of any teach-out agreement to assist students in transferring or completing their programs; the Council has determined this period of time will extend no later than July 1, 2030. The reason for the withdrawal of accreditation is as follows - As specified in the ACOE Policy and Procedure, “Adverse Actions and Program-Initiated Withdrawals,” in the event a program holding an accreditation status or Preliminary Approval status does not bring itself into compliance with the applicable ACOE Standard(s) in alignment with the "Timeframe for Compliance with Standards” Policy and Procedure, the Council initiates adverse action against the program. An adverse action is defined as an official Council action resulting in the denial or withdrawal of initial accreditation status, continuing accreditation status, or Preliminary Approval status. The Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry remained out of compliance with 2025 Professional Optometric Degree Program Standard 2.7 as of the deadline for compliance of May 15, 2026. Accordingly, the Council initiated action to withdraw the program’s accreditation. *The decision will become final 30 days after program notification unless the program petitions for reconsideration and/or files an appeal. [This notice posted July 20, 2026.]
Lake City VAMC
At its October 30-31, 2025 Fall meeting, the ACOE made the decision to withdraw accreditation from the Residency in Primary Eye Care with emphasis in Low Vision at the Lake City VAMC, which is affiliated with Nova Southeastern University, College of Optometry. The program was notified of the decision on November 24, 2025 and the decision becomes final thirty (30) days after notification if no written petition for reconsideration or request for appeal is received. The reason for the withdrawal of accreditation is that the program has been without a resident during the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 residency years. Due to the program being without a resident for three years, the Council decided to withdraw accreditation. The decision to withdraw accreditation became final on December 24, 2025. No request for reconsideration or appeal was filed by the program. [This notice posted November 25, 2025, updated December 23, 2025.] The program did not provide any statement.
Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Springfield
At its October 30-31, 2025 Fall meeting, the ACOE made the decision to withdraw accreditation from the Residency in Ocular Disease at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Springfield, which is affiliated with Northeastern State University, Oklahoma College of Optometry. The program was notified of the decision on November 24, 2025 and the decision becomes final thirty (30) days after notification if no written petition for reconsideration or request for appeal is received. The reason for the withdrawal of accreditation is that the program has been without a resident during the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 residency years. Due to the program being without a resident for three years, the Council decided to withdraw accreditation. The decision to withdraw accreditation became final on December 24, 2025. No request for reconsideration or appeal was filed by the program. [This notice posted November 25, 2025, updated December 23, 2025.] The program did not provide any statement.
Amarillo VA Healthcare System
At its October 25-26, 2024 Fall meeting, the ACOE made the decision to withdraw accreditation from the Residency in Primary Eye Care and Ocular Disease at the Amarillo VA Healthcare System, which is affiliated with Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. The program was notified of the decision on November 22, 2024 and the decision becomes final thirty (30) days after notification if no written petition for reconsideration or request for appeal is received. The reason for the withdrawal of accreditation is that the program has been without a resident during the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 residency years. Due to the program being without a resident for three years, the Council decided to withdraw accreditation. The decision to withdraw accreditation became final on December 22, 2024. No request for reconsideration or appeal was filed by the program. [This notice posted November 25, 2024, updated December 23, 2024.] The program did not provide any statement.
Erdey Searcy Eye Group
At its June 19-21, 2024 Annual meeting, the ACOE made the decision to withdraw accreditation from the Residency in Ocular Disease at the Erdey Searcy Eye Group, which is affiliated with The Ohio State University, College of Optometry. The program was notified of the decision on July 11, 2024 and the decision becomes final thirty (30) days after notification if no written petition for reconsideration or request for appeal is received. The reason for the withdrawal of accreditation is that the program has been without a resident during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 residency years. Due to the program being without a resident for two consecutive years, the Council decided to withdraw accreditation. The decision to withdraw accreditation became final on August 10, 2024. No request for reconsideration or appeal was filed by the program. [This notice posted July 11, 2024, updated August 12, 2024.] The program did not provide any statement.
William Chappell VA Outpatient Clinic
At its October 27-29, 2023 Fall meeting, the ACOE made the decision to withdraw accreditation from the Residency in Primary Care with emphasis in Ocular Disease at the William Chappell VA Outpatient Clinic, which is affiliated with the Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. The program was notified of the decision on November 16, 2023 and the decision becomes final thirty (30) days after notification if no written petition for reconsideration or request for appeal is received. The reason for withdrawal of accreditation is that the program was dormant for its third year, with no resident enrolled since 2020-2021. The decision to withdraw accreditation became final on December 16, 2023. No request for reconsideration or appeal was filed by the program. [This notice posted November 17, 2023, updated December 18, 2023.] The program did not provide any statement.
Marion VAMC Residency in Primary Care/Ocular Disease
At its October 22-24, 2021 Fall meeting, the ACOE made the decision to withdraw accreditation from the Residency in Primary Care/Ocular Disease at the Marion VAMC, which is affiliated with the University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Optometry. The program was notified of the decision on November 18, 2021 and the decision becomes final thirty (30) days after notification if no written petition for reconsideration or request for appeal is received. The reason for withdrawal of accreditation is that the program was dormant for its third year, with no resident enrolled since 2018-2019. The decision to withdraw accreditation became final on December 18, 2021. No request for reconsideration or appeal was filed by the program. [This notice posted Nov. 19, 2021; updated Dec. 20, 2021.] The program did not provide any statement.
Albuquerque VA Residency in Ocular Disease
The decision to withdraw the accreditation of the Residency in Ocular Disease at the Albuquerque VA, which is affiliated with University of Houston College of Optometry, became final on August 23, 2020. The program lost all faculty members in June 2019. In the progress report provided to the ACOE in May 2020, the program reported that the majority of the faculty, including a residency coordinator, have not been replaced. The program also reported a hiring freeze, preventing timely replacement of the program faculty. The Council considers the loss of faculty and coordinator, without rapid replacement, a major loss of resources. In accordance with requirements from the U.S. Department of Education, the ACOE must take adverse action and withdraw accreditation due to the program’s major loss of resources. The Council, therefore, withdraws accreditation from the Albuquerque VA Residency in Ocular Disease effective on August 23, 2020. [This notice posted Sept. 2, 2020.] The statement provided to ACOE on October 2, 2020 by the Albuquerque VA is available here.
Oklahoma Eye Institute Residency in Ocular Disease
The decision to withdraw the accreditation of the Residency in Ocular Disease at the Oklahoma Eye Institute, which is affiliated with the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, became final on Dec. 11, 2019. The reason for withdrawal of accreditation is that the program was dormant for its third year, with no resident enrolled since 2016-2017. [This notice posted Jan. 9, 2020.] The program did not provide any statement.
The ACOE Policy and Procedures manual and the Standards of accreditation for professional optometric degree, optometric residency, and optometric technician programs may be found in the Resources section.