Accreditations and State Approvals

art galleryAccreditations

  • Lesley University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. [N.E.A.S.C.: 209 Burlington Road Bedford, MA 01730-1433 Tel. 781.271.0022].
  • Many individual programs are also accredited or endorsed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Interstate Certification Compact (I.C.C.) and other learned organizations.
  • Lesley University's Professional Development Masters Degree program, which is designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills and professional capacities of educators already in the classroom through integration of theory and reflective practice, is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) for a period of five years from September 2008 to September 2013.
  • The School of Education is affiliated with the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), and the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement.
  • Within the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, the Division of Counseling and Psychology is accredited by the Council of Applied Masters Programs in Psychology (C.A.M.P.P.) and offers Massachusetts certification in school guidance counseling. In addition, the Counseling and Psychology programs conform to standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (C.A.C.R.E.P.) The Division of Expressive Therapies is accredited by the American Art Therapy Association (A.A.T.A.), the American Music Therapy Association (A.M.T.A.), and the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA). Joint programs between the Division of Creative Arts and Learning and the School of Education are accredited through the School of Education.
  • Lesley College is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (N.C.A.A.), Division III.
  • The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (N.A.S.A.D.).
  • Visit the Massachusetts state page for details on programs offered in Massachusetts.
  • Each state's educator licensure regulations are subject to change. Educators seeking an endorsement or addition to their current certification/license should verify with the appropriate state educator licensure authority that a program meets state requirements. Lesley University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, handicap or disability in its education programs, employment or in admissions to, access to or treatment in its programs or activities.

Student Complaint Process

If you are enrolled in a Lesley program or course, and have a comment or complaint about your experience, please read through Lesley University's Consumer Complaint Policy.  This policy will guide you through the steps on handling your comment or complaint prior to addressing your concern with an external entity.

Lesley's regional accreditor is the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).  The process for making comments or complaints to NEASC in regards to your Lesley experience, may be found by clicking here.

If you are residing outside of Massachusetts while attending Lesley University, in many cases you can file a complaint in the state where you are residing.  As required by federal regulations, we direct you to a list of resources for each state and major US territories:  Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Florida, Georgia, Hawai`i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Marianna Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,  Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

 

State Approvals

Lesley University has received authorization to offer postsecondary programs in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

If your state is not listed above, please visit the National Center website to learn more about your state's authorization.


Alabama

Art studentThe Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and the State of Alabama Department of Post-secondary Education have licensed Lesley University pursuant to the Alabama Private School License Law, Code of Alabama, Title 16-46-1 through 10 to offer instruction in the following programs:

Alabama Students: Contact the Teacher Education and Certification Division of the Alabama State Department of Education at 334-242-0035 or www.alsde.edu to verify whether these programs qualify for teacher certification, endorsement, or salary benefits.

[Go to the Alabama state page for program details.]

Alaska*

Lesley University meets the criteria of regulation 20 AAC 17.015 (a) (5), and is administratively approved to offer these programs as identified in an exempt status. 

[Go to the Alaska state page for program details.]

California*

Lesley University is exempt pursuant to California Education Code (CEC) section 94874.1, which exempts Lesley University due to its accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

[Go to the California state page for program details.]
Colorado

Lesley University is recognized by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education under state statutes (23-1-101 et seq., C.R.S. 1973, amended 1981) to award degrees and degree credit in Colorado based on Lesley's ongoing accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

[Go to the Colorado state page for program details.]

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission has authorized Lesley University to offer the following programs:

[ back to top ]
Georgia

main campusLesley University's Professional Development Masters Degree programs, which are designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills and professional capacities of educators already in the classroom through integration of theory and reflective practice, is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) for a period of five years from September 2008 to September 2013.  Lesley University is authorized under the Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act of 1990 to offer instruction in the following programs:

[Go to the Georgia state page for program details.]

Idaho

Lesley University holds a Certificate of Registration certifying that it is registered, as required by law, with the Idaho State Board of Education as an accredited post-secondary institution to offer the following programs:

[Go to the Idaho state page for program details.]

Maine

quadThe Maine State Board of Education has approved authorization to Lesley University to offer the following programs:

[Go to the Maine state page for program details.]

Minnesota

Lesley University is registered as a private institution with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Registration does not mean that credits earned at the institution can be transferred to other institutions or that the quality of the educational programs would meet the standards of every student, educational institution, or employer. Lesley University offers the following programs:

[Go to the Minnesota state page for program details.]

Missouri

The following information is provided in compliance with Missouri state approval regulations.

The physical locations of Lesley University's Missouri sites include:

  • 3930 S R D Mize Road, Blue Springs, MO
  • 1208 Locust Street, Columbia, MO

Lesley University is authorized to offer the following programs:

[Go to the Missouri state page for program details.]

Montana*

The Montana Board of Regents grants Lesley University exemption due to accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

[Go to the Montana state page for program details.]
Nebraska

Lesley University is approved by the Coordinating Commission for Post-secondary Education to offer the following programs:

[Go to the Nebraska state page for program details.]

Nevada

The Private Post-secondary Educational Institution in the State of Nevada has authorized Lesley University to offer the following programs:

The Nevada Department of Education has approved the following programs to lead to endorsements for educators holding a valid Nevada educator license.

[Go to the Nevada state page for program details.]

Please note: The Nevada Private Postsecondary Educational Institution does not authorize fully online programs, offered outside the state of Nevada.  For a list of all of Lesley program offerings to residents of Nevada, please visit the National Center website.

New Hampshire

San Fran AlumniThe New Hampshire Post-secondary Education Commission has authorized Lesley University to offer the following programs:

The State of New Hampshire Post-secondary Education Commission authorizes Lesley University continuing approval to offer the above programs to any educator at any school site in the State of New Hampshire. All site locations must be approved by the Executive Director based on compliance with all regulations and requirements of the Commission.

[Go to the New Hampshire state page for program details.]

New Mexico*

Lesley University qualifies for exemption, due to Lesley's accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Please note that an exemption status in no way constitutes state approval.

[Go to the New Mexico state page for program details.]
North Carolina

GradsLesley University has been evaluated by the University of North Carolina and is licensed to conduct higher education degree activity. Lesley University is authorized to offer the following for programs at a site (or sites) in North Carolina to be determined:

Completion of the degree program does not guarantee advanced teacher licensure in North Carolina public schools. Candidates should contact their local school administrative offices and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction regarding specific advanced licensure requirements in their program areas.  Completion of the Master of Education degree program in Technology in Education may not qualify the graduates of this program for initial licensure in Instructional Technology Specialist-Computers (077) in North Carolina.  Students should contact their local school administrative offices and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction regarding specific North Carolina licensure requirements.  NORTH CAROLINA FACT SHEET [pdf]

The University's guaranty bond for unearned prepaid tuition is on file with the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina and may be viewed by contacting the Lesley University Office of the Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, 815 Somerville Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, at 617.349.8685

[Go to the new North Carolina state page for program details.]

Oregon

Lesley University is authorized by the Oregon Office of Degree Authorization to offer postsecondary degrees to Oregon residents. Inquiries concerning the standards or school compliance may be directed to the Office of Degree Authorization, 1500 Valley River Drive, Suite 100, Eugene, Oregon 97401.

[Go to the Oregon state page for program details.]

South Carolina

Licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, 1333 Main St., Suite 200, Columbia, SC 29201, Tel. 803.737.2260.  Licensure indicates only that minimum standards have been met; it is not an endorsement or guarantee of quality to offer the following programs by location:

[Go to the South Carolina state page for program details.]

Please note: The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education does not authorize fully online programs if an institution is already authorized to operate in the state.

South Dakota*

There are no licensing requirements in South Dakota for post-secondary institutions.

[Go to the South Dakota state page for program details.]
Utah*

Section 53B-5-105 of the Utah Postsecondary Proprietary School Act provides Lesley University exemption due to its accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

[Go to the Utah state page for program details.]
Washington

teacher teachingLesley University is authorized by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) 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 Lesley University to offer the following degree programs: Bachelor or Arts in Liberal Studies leading to residency certification in Elementary Education: American Studies major with Elementary Education minor; Bachelor or Arts in Liberal Studies leading to residency certification in Special Education: Human Development major with Special Education minor; MEd in C&I with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education; MEd in C&I with a Specialization in Integrated Teaching through the Arts; MEd in C&I with a Specialization in Literacy: Language, Reading, & Writing; MEd in Early Childhood: Teacher of Students with and without Disabilities (PreK-2); MEd in Educational Technology; MEd in Elementary Education (1-6): Profession & Practice; MEd in Mathematics Education; MEd in Special Education; MEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); MS in Ecological Teaching and Learning; PhD in Educational Studies: Adult Learning Specialization.  Lesley University is also authorized to advertise and recruit for the following programs offered exclusively via distance learning: BS in Business Management; MEd Science in Education; MEd: Individually Designed Program for Educators.  Authorization by the HECB does not carry with it an endorsement by the board 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 HECB at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430.

Eligibility for initial educator certification in Washington is based on completion of a state approved educator preparation program. 

The programs listed below are approved in Massachusetts.  Even though you may be residing in Washington while in one of these programs, your application for educator certification in Washington will be processed as an out-of-state application.  Go to http://pathway.pesb.wa.gov/outofstate for more information.  Teachers are advised to contact their individual school districts as to whether the programs listed in this subset may qualify for teacher advancement.

The programs listed below are not intended to lead to teacher certification.  Teachers are advised to contact their individual school districts as to whether the programs listed in this subset may qualify for salary advancement.

The following programs have been approved for teacher certification or endorsements by the Washington State Professional Educators Standards Board (PESB):


[Go to the Washington state page for program details.]

Wisconsin

The State of Wisconsin Educational Approval Board approves Lesley University to do business in Wisconsin as a private institution subject to the provisions of Wisconsin Statutes 45.54, and to offer the following degree programs:

*The Instructional Technology Coordinator License is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).  This program enables educators to meet the Instructional Technology Coordinator license competencies. Eligibility includes a Wisconsin license to teach and three years of successful teaching experience at the K-12 level. Prerequisites: experience or course work equivalent to ECOMP 5100 Computers, Technology, and Education and ECOMP 7007 Telecommunications: Curriculum in a Global Context (27 credits).  With additional coursework (12 credits), students can receive a Master's degree in Educational Technology.  Though the Wisconsin program does not align with the above Master of Education in Educational Technology, electives for the Wisconsin M.Ed. should be chosen from that program’s elective list.

[Go to the Wisconsin state page for program details.]

Wyoming*

InstructorThe State of Wyoming grants Lesley University exemption due to accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

[Go to the Wyoming state page for program details.]

*State Exemptions:

Exemption based on NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation.

 
updated 05/14/12 | 02:39 PM