Accreditations and State Approvals

Lesley University was founded in 1909 and is recognized as a nonprofit organization under Massachusetts law and as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Lesley University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) www.neche.org. Many individual programs are also accredited or approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other organizations. The university is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) nasad.arts-accredit.org. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (www.mass.edu/home.asp) has granted Lesley University degree-granting authority for: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor (including Bachelor of Social Work), Master degrees (including Master of Education and Master of Social Work), Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, Master of Fine Arts in Photography, and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study in the fields of professional education and related educational services, general education, human services, mental health, and management and organizational behavior, certificates, and education leading to the degree of Associate in education and human services, and Doctors of Philosophy in Expressive Therapies, Educational Studies, and Counseling and Psychology. Program -specific accreditation and approval information is available on the university website at this link: lesley.edu/about/accreditations-state-approvals.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements

Lesley University is an approved SARA institution. As described by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the SARA portal entity for Massachusetts, SARA is an acronym for the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, which is an interstate agreement that allows colleges and universities located in a SARA member state to offer online classes in other SARA member states without needing to obtain authorization to do so from each state individually. SARA consists of a national network of member states, districts, and territories that agree to comply with the rules, policies, and procedures set forth by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). According to NC-SARA, membership in SARA includes 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and California is the only state that has not joined SARA.

California

Lesley University’s online education programs are offered to residents of California.

Lesley University is approved to operate pursuant to California Education Code (CEC) section 94890(a)(1), which approves Lesley University due to its accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Lesley is not subject to approval or exemption by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

Programs Leading to Professional Licensure

Lesley offers programs approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that meet current educational requirements for Initial, Professional, Specialist and Educator Licensure and Endorsements in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts is a member state of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) and a signatory of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which facilitates but does not guarantee the transfer educator licensure between member states (not necessarily immediate reciprocity). Therefore, a Massachusetts educator license [should be] transferable.

Depending on your professional goals, where you reside or plan to teach, and the licensure structures that exist within that state, there are diverse pathways to licensure that may be relevant and some may require additional coursework, required tests, assessments, and/or classroom experiences.  State licensing boards complete their own review of licensure applications and determine eligibility.

Many graduates join professions in education and mental health and wellbeing that require state licensure or benefit from national credentialing. More detailed information is available on the university website at Licensure and Credentialing Information. Please note that licensure requirements vary from state to state, are a matter of individual state legislation, and are outside the control of educational institutions. State licensing boards make determinations as to whether an applicant’s program of study meets the educational requirements for a license at the time of licensure application.

We strongly encourage prospective applicants who intend to pursue licensure or credentialing to review these Licensure and Credentialing Information documents for their respective programs of interest prior to applying to the program. This is in accordance with Lesley University’s participation in SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) and with federal regulations. 

Complaint Process for Online and Low-Residency Students

At Lesley, we strive to resolve student complaints within our academic and administrative departments. Online and low-residency students who have a complaint about a University process or procedure may submit a written complaint at feedback@lesley.edu. We will forward the complaint to the appropriate academic or administrative department and email you to let know that the complaint been received and is being reviewed. We'll attempt to resolve the complaint as quickly as possible. Please note that this type of complaint is not confidential.

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) reviews and evaluates student complaints regarding online and distance learning programs offered by Massachusetts-based institutions that are members of SARA. Students must first attempt to resolve their complaints using Lesley’s internal complaint process. After exhausting this process, students may submit a complaint to the Massachusetts DHE.

For Online or Low-Residency Students located in SARA Member States and Territories

If you are located in a SARA member state or territory (other than Massachusetts) and your complaint is not resolved at the institutional level, you may proceed to the DHE’s SARA complaint form. Complaints about student grades and student conduct violations are expressly excluded from SARA review.

For Online or Low-Residency Students in Massachusetts or Non-SARA Member States and Territories

If you are located in Massachusetts or in a non-SARA member state or territory (like California or Guam), and your complaint is not resolved using the complaint procedures available through Lesley University, you may proceed to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Consumer Complaint Form .

More information about DHE’s complaint processes can be found here.

Information about complaint procedures is available in the “Additional State Approvals” section for enrolled students from California and other specifically stated programs that are operating beyond the scope of SARA. If your complaint is based on an incident involving discrimination or harassment, including sexual misconduct and sexual violence, we encourage you to complete the  Equal Opportunity Reporting Form, which can be found online at lesley.edu/eoandtitleix, or to contact the Office of Equal Opportunity directly by emailing equalopportunity@lesley.edu.

Students residing in California may also file a complaint about distance education as follows:

California Department of Consumer Affairs

Consumer Information Center

1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112

Sacramento, CA 95834

Telephone: 833-942-1120

dca@dca.ca.gov

www.dca.ca.gov/consumers/complaints/oos_students.shtml

www.dca.ca.gov/consumers/complaints/compl-ccru.pdf

If you are located in a SARA member state (other than Massachusetts) or territory and your complaint is not resolved at the institutional level, you may proceed to the DHE’s SARA complaint form. Complaints about student grades and student conduct violations are expressly excluded from SARA review.

Additional State Approvals

The most up to date information on additional state approvals can be found on the university website at Accreditations, Licensure and Degree-Granting Authority.

Maine

Maine participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. 

The Maine State Board of Education has approved authorization to Lesley University to offer the following programs: Curriculum and Instruction with a Specialization in Integrated Teaching through the Arts M.Ed. and Curriculum and Instruction: Individually Designed M.Ed.

Maine consumer complaint information: http://www.maine.gov/doe/

Maine Department of Education

Attention: Complaint Investigator

23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0023

207.624.6846

Massachusetts

Lesley University is recognized as a nonprofit organization under Massachusetts law and as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education has granted Lesley University degree-granting authority for: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor, Master, Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, education leading to the degree of Associate in education and human services, and Doctor of Philosophy in: Expressive Therapies, Educational Studies, and Counseling and Psychology.

Massachusetts consumer complaint process: http://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaints.asp

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place, Room 1401, Boston, MA 02108
617.994.6950

Program-Specific Accreditation and Approval Information

Education: All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

Mental Health and Well-being: All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

• The Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Art Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE).
• The Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Drama Therapy Program is accredited by the North American Drama Therapy Association.
• The Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Dance Therapy Program is approved by the American Dance Therapy Association.
• The Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Music Therapy Program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association.

• The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

• The Master of Social Work (MSW) is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education's Commission on Accreditation.  

Liberal Arts and Business: All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

• The baccalaureate Business program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP).

College of Art and Design: All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design

• Member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design

In addition to accrediting the university, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) has approved the programs listed below and granted “Plan Approval” to the programs listed below in italics:

• Advanced Professional Certificate-2 years: Design; Illustration.
• Bachelor of Science-4 years: Pre-Art Therapy.
• Bachelor of Fine Arts-4 years: Animation and Motion Media; Fine Arts; Graphic Design; Illustration; Photography.
• Bachelor of Fine Arts-5 years: Design/Fine Arts; Design/Illustration; Illustration/Fine Arts.
• Bachelor of Fine Arts/Master of Education-5 1/2 years: Visual Art Education (K-8, 5-12).
• Master of Arts-2 years: Art Therapy.
• Master of Education-2 years: Art Education (Initial Licensure [PK-8, 5-12], PK-8, 5-12).
• Master of Fine Arts-2 years: Photography and Integrated Media; Visual Arts.
• Advanced Professional Certificate-2 years: Animation.
• Bachelor of Arts-4 years: Art.
• Bachelor of Science (Distance Learning)-4 years: Design of User Experience.
• Bachelor of Fine Arts-4 years: Digital Filmmaking; Game Design and Immersive Technologies (Game Art, Game Audio, Game Design, Virtual Production); Interactive Design; Self-Designed Major in Interdisciplinary Studies; Visual Effects; Visual Narrative.
• Bachelor of Fine Arts-5 years: Animation/Design; Illustration/Animation; Photography/Design.

Email: state.approvals@lesley.edu with questions about Lesley University accreditations and state approvals.