| July
30, 2002
NACCAS - Accredited
Schools Excluded From .edu Domain Name
Call to Action - Deadline August 15, 2002
On October 29, 2001, the U.S. Department
of Commerce awarded a five-year cooperative agreement to EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit
higher education association, to be the sole registrar for the .edu domain
name for higher education institutions. The policies set forward in this
agreement included an eligibility provision which declared an institution
must not only be degree granting in nature, but be accredited by one of
the six regional accrediting bodies in order to utilize .edu.
Although two-year, regionally accredited degree-granting institutions,
including community colleges, are eligible, this policy has essentially
made all nationally accredited institutions, including NACCAS-accredited
schools, ineligible to receive the .edu domain name.
The Council of Recognized National Accredited Agencies (CRNAA), an organization
that consists of the executive directors from each of the national accrediting
agencies, including NACCAS, sent a delegation to meet with representatives
from EDUCAUSE. CRNAA recommended that the criteria for eligibility be
expanded to include the reliance on recognition by any agency nationally
recognized by the Department of Education.
The current policy undertaken and enforced by EDUCAUSE can be changed
by mutual agreement between EDUCAUSE and the Department of Commerce. EDUCAUSE
has instituted a policy board, to review discussions and to recommend
needed changes to the Department of Commerce. EDUCAUSE has also provided
a policy forum to provide an opportunity for individuals to request and
to discuss policy changes.
Use of the .edu domain name would allow access to professional development
programs, information resources, professional communities and networks,
and policy initiatives. NACCAS is recommending that you respond today
so you can be a part of this initiative to have your post-secondary institution
recognized in the higher education marketplace.
The deadline for comments and recommendations to support the CRNAA's
request for eligibility expansion to include the reliance on recognition
by any agency nationally recognized by the Department of Education is
August 15, 2002
NACCAS has provided a direct link to the EDUCAUSE policy forum to provide
an opportunity for individuals to request and to discuss policy changes.
Also, provided is a letter sent to EDUCAUSE from the CRNAA with signatures
from all seven executive directors.
Click here: To read letter from CRNAA to EDUCAUSE
Click here : To submit suggestions
to EDUCAUSE policy forum
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