[National Coordinating Center] The Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC), an accrediting agency for postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disability (ID), recently announced the full accreditation of the ACE-IT in College program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) for the next seven years.
ACE-IT becomes the third postsecondary program for students with intellectual disability in the United States to be accredited by the new council. “The Council is delighted to award accreditation to the ACE-IT program,” said Stephanie Smith Lee, IHEAC Board President. “The employment outcomes of this outstanding program are commendable. Graduates are obtaining jobs in local businesses and federal agencies.”
In a letter to ACE-IT notifying them of the accreditation decision, IHEAC Board Members highlighted several outstanding features of the program and the highly qualified staff:
- The program is a national model for competitive integrated employment outcomes and partnerships with employers in the greater Richmond region.
- Program staff exemplify deep expertise and commitment to supporting students with intellectual disability in achieving college, career, and employment goals.
- VCU faculty are involved with using the Faculty Evaluation Rubric to assess ACE-IT in College students.
“We greatly appreciate the program accreditation process and are excited to be the third program in the nation to achieve this milestone,” said Jaclyn Camden, Director of ACE-IT in College. “The ACE-IT in College program is fully inclusive, with students actively engaged with the VCU community through courses, internships, and employment opportunities. We are proud of our students and their achievements and are delighted to have our program recognized by the IHEAC. Additionally, we are thankful to be situated at a university that champions inclusion and innovation.”
Students enrolled at ACE-IT work toward a VCU School of Education certificate by completing two to three VCU courses each semester, working on campus, and completing an internship aligned with their career goals.
Learn more about the ACE-IT in College program at Virginia Commonwealth University.
About the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council
The Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC) is an independent, non-profit accreditation agency that accredits college programs serving students with intellectual disability. The IHEAC was launched in 2023 with pioneers in inclusive postsecondary education Madeleine Will, Stephanie Smith Lee, Elise McMillan, and Tom Sannicandro, all parents of people with intellectual disability, as the founding board members. Read more about the establishment of the Council in this Inside Higher Education article.