A national police accrediting agency awarded the University Police Department a stamp of approval for the fourth straight time.

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies has reviewed UPD every three years, and grades departments on standards like level of training and use of force. The accreditation also comes several months after the former head of the department, Kevin Hay, retired.

UPD was last accredited in 2012. Gregory Solomon, a special services manager for CALEA, did not immediately return requests for comment.

The department could have a new chief as early as May, several students who have participated in selection panels said.

The new chief will lead a department that has faced at least five lawsuits since 2010 alleging race, age and gender discrimination among officers. Experts said those lawsuits could have affected UPD’s accreditation if CALEA viewed them as examples of larger structural issues within the department.