Roger L. Swartzwelder

Roger Swartzwelder is a Shareholder and member of the Firm’s Education Practice Group. He represents institutions of higher education in a wide array of regulatory, accreditation, and operational issues.

Prior to joining the Firm, Roger served nearly 14 years as general counsel and chief compliance officer for a multi-state system of colleges. Roger previously was in private practice at Dow, Lohnes in Washington specializing in higher education matters. He also worked at a nationally recognized accrediting agency for more than 13 years, including more than eight years as Associate Executive Director and Associate Executive Director/In-House Counsel.

Roger received his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from George Washington University and his Bachelor of Arts in History from Dickinson College.

Affiliations

• Member, Board of Directors, Arcadia Beverage, LLC, Arden, N.C., June 2017 – February 2019
• Member, Board of Trustees, New England College of Business and Finance, Boston, Mass., June 2012 – December 2018
• Commissioner, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, 2007 – 2012, 2015 – 2018
• Member, Annual Conference Planning Committee, National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools, 2010 – 2011
• Member, Nominating Committee, Career College Association, 2009
• Private School Licensure Advisory Board, Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education, 2008
• Chairman, Board of Directors, Region IV Private Career Colleges and Schools, 2006 – 2008
• Board of Directors, Alabama Association of Private Colleges and Schools, 2005 – 2018
• Doctoral Program Task Force, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, June 2003
• Recognition Task Force, Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, 2002 – 2003

• “Cybersecurity and Data Privacy – The Path Forward,” Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, New Orleans, La. (March 2022)
• “Title IX Framework: What You Need to Know,” Distance Education Accrediting Commission, Denver, Colo. (October 2021)
• “Accreditor Perspectives: Where Are We Going?” Panel Discussion, California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools, La Jolla, Calif. (October 2021)
• “Current Legal Issues – Where We Are and Where We Are Headed,” Career Schools Private Education Network, Chicago, Ill. (August 2021)
• “Cybersecurity and Data Protection Issues,” Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges, Aventura, Fla. (August 2021)
• “Current Legal Issues – Where We Are and Where We Are Headed,” Mid-Atlantic Association of Career Schools, Lancaster, Pa. (July 2021)
• “Current Legal Issues – Where We Are and Where We Are Headed,” Career Education Colleges and Universities Annual Conference, Grapevine, Tex. (June 2021)
• “Institutional HEERF Grant Usage and Reporting,” Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators, Webinar (October 2020)
• “General Legal Updates for Career Schools,” Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators Annual Conference, Nemacolin, Pa. (August 2020)
• “Key Regulatory Changes Effective July 1,” Career Schools Private Education Network, Webinar (June 2020)
• “Federal Regulatory Update and Review,” California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools Annual Conference, Long Beach, Ca. (October 2019)
• “Arbitration and Class Action Waivers: What’s All the Fuss About,” Career Schools Private Education Network Annual Conference, Chicago, Ill. (August 2019)
• “The Future of Accreditation (and Why Your Institution Should Care),” Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nev. (June 2012)
• “Regulatory and Compliance Update,” Louisiana Association of Private Schools and Colleges Executive Committee, New Orleans, La. (January 2012)
• Oral Testimony, Public Hearings on Proposed Gainful Employment Regulations, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. (November 2010)
• “Financial Stability – What Can Regulators Do When the Numbers Don’t Add Up?” National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools, Charleston, S.C. (April 2009)
• “Update on Accreditation Issues,” Career College Association Spring Senior Executive Management Seminar, Lucaya, Grand Bahama Island (March 2007)
• “Entering the Ether: State and Accreditation Expectations for Online Education,” Career College Association Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nev. (June 2006)
• “Herding Cats – The Regulation of Marketing and Delivery of Online Programs,” Career College Association Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nev. (June 2005)
• “Common Title IV Compliance Issues,” Region VII Private Career Colleges and Schools Conference, Kansas City, Mo. (January 2005)
• “Incentive Compensation and Other Title IV Issues,” Coalition of New York State Career Schools Annual Conference, Uncasville, Conn. (November 2004)
• “The Changing Climate of Today’s School Market,” Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training Annual Conference, New Orleans, La. (October 2004)
• “Creating a Culture of Compliance,” Florida Association of Private Colleges and Schools Annual Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (July 2004)
• “Common Title IV Compliance Issues,” Region V Private Career Colleges and Schools Conference, Bloomingdale, Ill. (June 2004)
• Panel Discussion Regarding Issues Facing Corporations that Operate Across State Lines and in Multiple Jurisdictions, National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools (NASASPS), Orlando, Fla. (April 2004)
• “Common Title IV Compliance Issues,” Regions II/III Private Career Colleges and Schools Conference, Philadelphia, Pa. (April 2004)
• “Common Title IV Compliance Issues,” Region VII Private Career Colleges and Schools Conference, Kansas City, Mo. (January 2004)
• “The Changing Face of Accreditation,” The 2003 Education Industry Finance & Investment Summit, Washington, D.C. (December 2003)
• “Accreditation and Compliance: An Overview,” Coalition of New York State Career Schools Annual Conference, West Point, N.Y. (November 2003)
• “Becoming a Title IV School,” California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools Annual Conference, San Diego, Ca. (November 2003)
• “Creating a Culture of Compliance,” California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools Annual Conference, San Diego, Ca. (November 2003)
• “How to Make Accreditation Decisions without Landing in Court,” Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors, Scottsdale, Ariz. (September 2003)
• “Becoming a Title IV School,” Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges Annual Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (July 2003)
• “Becoming a Title IV School,” Washington Federal of Private Career Schools and Colleges Annual Conference, Tacoma, Wash. (June 2003)
• “Creating a Culture of Compliance,” Washington Federation of Private Career Schools and Colleges Annual Conference, Tacoma, Wash. (June 2003)
• “Common Title IV Compliance Issues,” Region V Private Career Colleges and Schools Conference, Bloomingdale, Ill. (May 2003)
• “Becoming a Title IV School,” Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges Winter Mini-Conference, Orlando, Fla. (January 2003)
• “Surveying the Accreditation Landscape,” Coalition of New York State Career Schools Annual Conference, West Point, N.Y. (November 2002)
• “Creating a Culture of Compliance,” Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training Annual Conference, Los Angeles, Ca. (October 2002)
• “Creating a Culture of Compliance,” Career Colleges and Schools of Texas Annual Conference, El Paso, Tex. (October 2002)
• Commencement Address, University of Advancing Computer Technology, Tempe, Ariz. (April 2002)