At present, Reagan National University apparently has no students or faculty. Yet it was accredited -- by a group saved by the Education Department.
In some ways, South Dakota was the ideal place for Reagan. The state has among the laxest rules for colleges in the country. State officials merely ask colleges whether an accrediting group has approved them — they don't independently hold universities accountable.
“We accept people’s answers on good faith," said Emily Kerr, who runs the division of business services in the Secretary of State's Office.