Student Handbook:

Accreditation, State Authorization and International Approval Statements

Walden University’s programs are exempt from authorization under AS 14.48 as Walden’s programs are offered online only and Walden University does not have a physical presence in the state.

Walden University has been granted Institutional Recognition status by The National Accreditation & Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB). The Institutional Recognition status does not suggest that Walden University now has accreditation with NAECOB.

Institutional Recognition status indicates that the institution currently holds full accreditation status from international or regional accreditation bodies recognized by The Bahamas. NAECOB’s Institutional Recognition permits the institution to recruit for and offer educational programs in The Bahamas.

Please direct all inquiries regarding the status of Walden University Institutional Recognition to a representative of NAECOB.  Their contact information is outlined below:

The National Accreditation and Equivalency
Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB)
RND PLAZA WEST
JOHN F. KENNEDY DRIVE
P.O. BOX N-3913
NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS
TELEPHONE: 328-8872/3
Email: info@naecob.org

Note to California Residents

The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled, or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss.

Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the Fund STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment if you are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program.

It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 1747 North Market Blvd., Suite 225, Sacramento, California, 95834, (916) 574-8900 or (888) 370-7589.

To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1. The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed or discontinued, and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete a chosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau.
2. You were enrolled at an institution or location of the institution within the 120 day period before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, or were enrolled in an educational program within the 120 day period before the program was discontinued.
3. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution more than 120 days before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, in an educational program offered by the institution as to which the Bureau determined there was a significant decline in the quality or value of the program more than 120 days before closure.
4. The institution has been ordered to pay a refund by the Bureau but has failed to do so.
5. The institution has failed to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federal student loan program as required by law, or has failed to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the institution in excess of tuition and other costs.
6. You have been awarded restitution, or a refund, or other monetary award by and arbitrator or court, based on a violation of this chapter by an institution or representative of an institution, but have been unable to collect the award from the institution.
7. You sought legal counsel that resulted in the cancellation of one or more of your student loans and have an invoice for services rendered and evidence of the cancellation of the student loan or loans.

To qualify for STRF reimbursement, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from the STRF.

A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of noncollection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from the STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law.

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.

Prospective students from Florida may obtain additional information regarding Walden University by contacting the Commission on Independent Education, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400; 1-888-224-6684. Credits and degrees earned from this college do not automatically qualify the holder to participate in professional licensing examinations to practice certain professions in Florida. Persons interested in practicing a regulated profession in Florida should contact the appropriate state regulatory agency in the field of their interest.

Walden University is authorized by The Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, 2082 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA 30084, 770-414-3300. Students may submit a complaint online to the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.

The institution is approved by the Indiana Board for Proprietary Education at 402 West Washington Street, Room W462, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204; 1-317-232-1324 or 1-317-232-6716.

Walden University is a registered institution with the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. Students may contact the commission with questions or complaints at the following address: Iowa College Student Aid Commission, 475 SW 5th St., Suite D., Des Moines, IA 50309-4608. Students may also call (877) 272-4456, or submit a complaint online to the Iowa College Aid website.

Walden University is authorized to operate in Kansas with a Certificate of Approval from the Kansas Board of Regents, 1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 520, Topeka, KS  66612, 785-430-4240.

Not all of the online programs offered by Walden University have been approved in Kentucky. Please check the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education’s website to view a listing of approved programs.  For more information, please contact the Council on Postsecondary Education, 1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 320, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. 

Please be advised that Walden’s educator preparation programs are NOT accredited in Kentucky by the Education Professional Standards Board and are NOT recognized for initial, additional, or renewal of certification or salary enhancement (rank change) for K–12 educators in Kentucky. For more information, please visit the Education Professional Standards Board website.

Walden University is a registered institution in the State of Maryland. Any complaints can be directed to the Maryland Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, 200 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-528-8662 or 888-743-0823 (toll free).

Walden University is registered with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108-5227

Phone: (651) 642-0567
Toll Free: (800) 657-3866

Walden University is authorized by the State of Oregon to offer and confer the academic degrees described herein, following a determination that state academic standards will be satisfied under OAR 583-030. Inquiries concerning the standards or school compliance may be directed to the Office of Degree Authorization, 1500 Valley River Drive, Suite 100, Eugene, OR 97401.

Walden University’s teacher preparation programs are approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board as leading to a Minnesota licensure. Walden is not enrolling Pennsylvania residents into the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in Special Education, but Pennsylvania residents are eligible to enroll into Walden’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program. The BS in Elementary Education program has not been reviewed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, so candidates are instructed to apply for Pennsylvania certification as out-of-state graduates of a teacher preparation program.

Licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, 1333 Main Street, Suite 200, Columbia, SC 29201; 1-803-737-2260. Licensure indicates only that minimum standards have been met; and it is not equal to or synonymous with accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

While Walden University is not regulated in Texas per Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code, Walden University is registered with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions. To report concerns and/or complaints students may contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education at 651-642-0567.

Note to Texas Residents

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) requires all institutions to have a published grievance procedure that describes the process for filing a complaint. Walden University’s student complaint procedures can be found in the Student Handbook on the Student Appeals and Grievances.

Students who have exhausted the institution’s grievance procedures may file a complaint by completing the forms found on the THECB website. Or, students can contact the THECB Office of General Counsel, PO Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711, (512) 427-6101.

The rules governing student complaints in Texas can be found in Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code, Sections 1.110-1.120.

Walden University has been granted a license by the District of Columbia Higher Education Licensure Commission, 1050 First Street, NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002, (202) 481-3951.

Walden University 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 Walden University to offer field placement components for 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 Walden University 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 Walden University will be accepted by the receiving institution. Similarly, the ability of a degree, certificate, diploma, or other academic credential earned at Walden University 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 Walden University 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 authority to investigate student complaints against specific schools. WSAC may not be able to investigate every student complaint. Visit the WSAC website for information regarding the complaint process.