Argosy University Transfer and Teach-out Information

The APA Commission on Accreditation accredited 10 programs at Argosy University, all of which are no longer operational. In concert with regional accrediting bodies, state higher education authorizers and the U.S. Department of Education (among others), the APA is working to ensure that students impacted by Argosy's closure are able to receive quality education and training in health service psychology. A variety of potential receiving groups have been in contact with APA, and the following guidance is offered to facilitate mobility of Argosy students and faculty into receiving institutions and programs. 

Programs that are currently APA-accredited and wish to accept Argosy transfer students

Several programs that are currently APA-accredited have expressed willingness and/or intent to accept transfer students and in some cases faculty and resources from Argosy programs. Currently accredited programs are encouraged to accept Argosy transfer students as their resources, training aims and ongoing ability to comply with the Standards of Accreditation (SoA) allow. The CoA understands and supports that accredited programs may modify their transfer policies and procedures in order to accommodate Argosy transfer students. 

Accredited programs wishing to accept Argosy transfer students are encouraged to begin doing so as soon as they determine it appropriate. These programs are asked to identify themselves by contacting the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation to be added to a public list of receiving programs. Receiving programs will be required to submit responses to a series of items outlining transfer details and ongoing compliance with the SoA. These responses will be reviewed by the CoA and additional information requested on an as-needed basis. Receiving programs do not have to submit responses before beginning to accept transfer students. Responses must be submitted as soon as possible but no later than three (3) months after admitting former Argosy students.

Institutions that do not currently have APA-accredited programs offering teach-out/transfer/acquisition opportunities for Argosy programs

Some institutions without existing APA-accredited programs have offered to receive and teach out Argosy programs either in-part or in their entirety. Such institutions are asked to identify themselves by contacting the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation. These institutions will be asked to submit proposals along with responses to a series of items outlining teach-out details and the institutional ability to provide an education and training experience that is consistent with the SoA. These materials will be reviewed by the CoA and additional information requested on an as-needed basis. The CoA plans to complete this review so that institutions facilitating teach-out will be able to do so beginning in the Summer 2019 semester. Materials should be submitted no more than three (3) months after the institution adopts the former Argosy program but can be submitted as soon as they are available. 

Review and approval by the CoA of these proposals for temporary teach-out accreditation (in concert with all other appropriate authorities) will seek to create a pathway for Argosy students to complete education and training and will not apply to other students or programs. Temporary teach-out accreditation will not confer accreditation from the Argosy program onto the receiving program beyond the point at which Argosy students complete their education. Should the teach-out institution wish to accept new students into a program created as a function of the teach-out, it must separately apply for accreditation following the typical policies and procedures. Any new students who do not come from former Argosy programs would be matriculating into non-accredited programs.


The CoA will review and provide feedback on the notices and responses it receives in accordance with its scope and authority as a programmatic accreditor. All materials will be reviewed and evaluated based on their consistency with the SoA. The CoA does not manage or control programs, their resources, financial status or ability to function. The CoA does not have authority over the decisions of programs, institutions or any other regulatory or governmental agency. Neither the CoA nor the APA has the authority to approve exclusive transfer or teach-out arrangements. The CoA cannot set up transfers or approve the movement of a student or program from one institution to another. 

The Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation is available to assist as programs prepare materials for submission and review. Due to a high volume of consultation requests related to teach out and transfer, we encourage all parties to email the office to schedule a return phone call. The office may be reached directly by phone at (202) 336-5979. Argosy students and others with questions not pertaining to accreditation status of a program should email or call (202) 336-6014.

Argosy University FAQ

APA is deeply concerned about Argosy's closure on students, faculty, staff and alumni. We developed this page in response to the most frequent questions we are receiving and in an earnest attempt to support members of our community within our powers.

We will update this page as frequently as new information emerges.

This page was last updated on June 5, 2019, at 12 p.m. ET. The latest update includes information under questions about accredited transfer programs and APA advocacy for international students. Other recent updates included information about transcripts, federal loan discharge, applicants to Argosy programs and licensure implications for future psychologists.
  • Given Argosy's recent closure, what actions is APA taking?

    APA is taking this matter very seriously. It is affecting the well-being of students, faculty and staff across Argosy's campuses, many of whom are our peers, colleagues, APA members and governance leaders within APA. Argosy also trained a significant portion of the next generation of psychology's providers, educators and others in the workforce, which has impact on the nation's access to healthcare. A team of experts across the organization is meeting regularly, devoting significant resources to supporting our members and stakeholders, and mobilizing our Advocacy team.


    Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, ABPP, APA's president, and Beth Rom-Rhymer, PhD, chair of the Council Leadership Team, said in part on March 7: “Our principal charge is to protect students and the public by promoting consistent quality in the teaching of psychology … We are developing a nimble advocacy strategy … Moreover, we are in constant contact with relevant agencies and other affected accreditors, so that we stay apprised of the rapidly changing terrain … APA does not have authority over the decisions of the psychology programs, the institution, the Department of Education, and the Argosy receiver. We must be careful to maintain our role as an evaluator and policy guide - APA is committed to continuing to do all within its scope as an accreditor to facilitate these transitions."


    Here is some of what APA has been doing:

    • APA Advocacy staff contacted key congressional offices seeking to enlist their assistance. We sent a letter on March 1, 2019, to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos (PDF, 57KB), urging her to immediately establish a real-time response center to address concerns from affected Argosy students and to provide timely, helpful updates and guidance. Several senators also sent a letter on March 8 to Secretary DeVos (PDF, 573KB), and U.S. representatives sent another letter (PDF, 777KB) on March 13. Both letters referenced APA's original letter of March 1. We prepared hundreds of psychologists and students from around the country to address the Argosy issue as part of previously scheduled visits on Capitol Hill with their members of Congress on March 12. On May 16, we also sent a letter (PDF, 95KB) to the Departments of Homeland Security and Education requesting an extension of the deadline for international students to transfer and matriculate into other programs.
    • The APA Office on Program Consultation and Accreditation issued a statement on teach-out and transfer plans on March 8 and details about two Accreditation review pathways on March 15, began a list of APA-accredited programs willing to take Argosy students on March 19, and published in April a list of previously unaccredited programs granted ‘accredited, inactive status’ to teach-out Argosy University students.
    • APA issued a statement to the press March 10, 2019.
    • APA is facilitating members of the Argosy community to take their concerns directly to their elected officials via this online action alert.
    • APA is responding to calls and emails from affected students, faculty, and other concerned parties. We established the Psychology Student Action Center and (202) 336-6014 to listen to members of the Argosy community and direct them to appropriate resources. The Action Center held two webinars for students and alumni.
    • APA monitored the actions taken by the Western Senior College and University Commission (WASC) that Argosy/Dream Center submit detailed teach out plans in compliance with WASC policy and guidelines.
    • APA provided all faculty and current psychology students at the time Argosy closed with 90 days of access to PsycNET Gold. Interested individuals were asked to sign up by April 28.
    • APA is providing one complimentary fee waiver to applicants who applied to Argosy through PSYCAS within a certain time period.
    • Additional APA action steps are described in the responses below.
  • What happens when a program's accreditation is revoked?

    An accredited program cannot have its accreditation revoked without first being placed on “accredited, on probation” status. Revocation of accreditation occurs when the CoA, in its review of a program on “accredited, on probation” status, has evidence that the program continues to be inconsistent with the SoA.


    The effective date of the revocation is the date of the CoA meeting in which the decision was made. If the program appeals the CoA's decision to revoke, and that decision is upheld, the revocation will take effect 30 days after the appeal hearing is held. Individuals completing the program after that date are not considered to have completed an accredited program.

  • What happens when a decision has not been reached?

    The Commission on Accreditation (CoA) may defer a program on its agenda prior to making a decision. Deferral actions are confidential. The CoA may defer programs for the following reasons:


    Deferral for information

    The CoA may defer making a decision about a program in order to obtain more information. Further, when in the CoA's judgment, information is incomplete or a significant disparity exists between the site visit report and information provided in the program's response to that report, the CoA may defer making a decision and seek additional information to resolve the difference. When a decision is deferred, the CoA will notify the program in writing and specify what additional information is needed to determine the program's consistency with the SoA.


    Deferral for cause

    When the CoA has concerns which may result in a decision to deny a site visit upon application, deny accreditation, place an accredited program on probation or revoke accreditation, it will defer its final decision, give written notice to the program of its concerns and thereby provide opportunity to supplement the information provided by the program, before the final decision is made.


    When the CoA has deferred a program, either for information or for cause, the program continues to hold its current accreditation status until a final decision has been reached.  Deferral actions by the CoA are confidential and will not be shared with the public.

  • How do I submit the self-study and other materials?

    See the FAQs on self-study submission.

  • Why is the accreditation process confidential? What information can the office provide?

    The Commission on Accreditation conducts all of its final accreditation reviews and decision making sessions in a closed meeting. In the end, only the accreditation decision is released to the public. Accreditation is meant to be a process of peer review and a forum for honest, ongoing self-evaluation. Accrediting bodies must strike a balance between the public's right to information and the programs' need for honest self-evaluation. The purpose of this confidentiality throughout the accreditation process is for the programs' protection.


    Effective July 1, 2005, the Accreditation Operating Procedures changed to allow the office to provide the public with a list of programs that have applied for initial accreditation. If prospective students call to confirm a program’s application and progress in seeking accreditation, the staff can only confirm whether or not a program has submitted its initial application. Staff members do not have the ability to tell prospective students if or when a program might become accredited. In addition, staff will neither be able to confirm nor deny whether a program ever applied for initial accreditation prior to July 1, 2005.