Accreditations, Approvals and Memberships
Accreditation
Johnson & Wales University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (the "Commission"; formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Inc.). This accreditation encompasses the university’s campuses in Providence, Rhode Island; and Charlotte, North Carolina, and its online programs.
Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied though a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to:
Johnson & Wales University
Office of the Provost — Yena Center, 3rd floor
111 Dorrance Street
Providence RI 02903
Phone: 401-598-2087
Individuals may also contact NECHE with inquiries regarding accreditation status:
New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100
Burlington, MA 01803-4531
Phone: 781-425-7785
Email: info@neche.org
Legal control is vested in the Johnson & Wales University Board of Trustees.
The university is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.
JWU is listed in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP ID: 141893) issued by the U.S. Department of Education.
State Licensing & Authorizations
Providence Campus: The State of Rhode Island has chartered Johnson & Wales University as a nonprofit degree-granting institution of higher learning.
Charlotte Campus: The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina has licensed Johnson & Wales University under G.S. § 116-15 to conduct degree activity in North Carolina.
Distance Education/State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Johnson & Wales University offers online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs through its College of Professional Studies and is approved as a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). SARA is a national initiative to provide more access to online courses while maintaining compliance standards with state regulatory agencies. SARA allows institutions to provide online courses outside of their own state borders by seeking and maintaining state approvals via a streamlined process. Visit the SARA website for more information.
SARA Approval of JWU: On May 3, 2016, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) approved institutional participation for Johnson & Wales University. The State of Rhode Island, through the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, approved Johnson & Wales University to participate in NC-SARA on April 14, 2016. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. As a SARA member in the State of Rhode Island, Johnson & Wales University is authorized to provide distance education to students in all of the other SARA states (detailed below).
Current SARA Member Jurisdictions: Current authorized jurisdictions subject to the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and the National Council for SARA (NC-SARA) standards include 49 states (all but California) and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Information on Student Complaint Processes for students enrolled in the College of Professional Studies is available online. California has its own process for the filing of complaints by online students living in that state that is discussed under Student Complaint Process for Online Students in Non-SARA Jurisdictions.
Programmatic Accreditation
Providence Campus — B.S. Dietetics and Applied Nutrition Program
The Providence Campus Dietetics and Applied Nutrition program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), located at 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995; phone: 800-877-1600, ext. 5400; email. The Providence Campus Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) meets the standards of education set by ACEND.
Accreditation is granted through June 30, 2030. The next site visit by ACEND is expected in 2029.
Providence Campus — M.S. Physician Assistant Studies (M.S.P.A.S.)
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Johnson & Wales University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Johnson & Wales University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2027. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program's accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
Providence Campus — Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
The Johnson & Wales University Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929; phone: 301-652-AOTA; additional information regarding ACOTE can be found on the ACOTE website.
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Institutional Memberships
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
American College Health Association (ACHA)
American Council on Education (ACE)
American Culinary Federation (ACF)
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)
Association of Governing Boards (AGB)
Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Rhode Island (AICU-RI)
Association of International Educators (NAFSA)
Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
Charlotte Regional Business Alliance
Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD)
College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR)
College Board
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS)
DECA Inc.
Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
Institute for Experiential Learning
International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE)
NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
National Association for Campus Activities (NACA)
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS)
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)
National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS)
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)
National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC)
National Retail Federation (NRF)
National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE)
New England Occupational Therapy Education Council (NEOTEC)
North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA)
Northeast Regional Computing Program (NERCOMP)
Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA)
Physician Assistant Honor Society
Rhode Island Association of Financial Aid Administrators (RIASFAA)
Rhode Island Business Group on Health
Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council
Society of Wine Educators
Tuition Exchange, Inc.
United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)
University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA)