HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION

IN THE UNITED STATESWhat International Education

Professionals REALLY Need to Know

Presenters: Ann M. Koenig, AACRAO, USARolf Lofstad, NOKUT, Norway

Chair: Eric Staab, Grinnell College, USA

1.1. What is “accreditation”?

Process to ensure quality, accountability, improvement

Voluntary

Non-governmental

Peer review by HE community

Continuous

It is not “ranking” or quality comparison.

1.2. There is no national body that oversees education or accreditation.

Accreditation is NOT governmental.

“The Higher Education Act” is a federal law that can affect accreditation.

The States can and do make laws about education. The laws vary widely from State to State.

1.3. Accreditation is governed by standards of good practice.

Standards of quality assurance are set by the HE community itself, through accrediting associations.

Accreditation is a sign thatminimum standards have been met and the institution is committed to continuous

improvement.

2.1. Scope of Accreditation

INSTITUTIONALThe institution as a whole entity

PROGRAM or PROFESSIONALSpecific programs of study or curricula

2.2. Approval of accreditation bodies

Two organizations review accrediting associations for “approval”

1. U.S. Department of Education – government agency

2. Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) – private, non-governmental association of HEI’s

U.S. Department of Education

Implements government education policies - supervises federal programs in education

Awards federal money to eligible students and institutions

Supports institutions of all types – academic, technical, vocational, career, computer schools, job training, etc.

U.S. Department of Education

does not “accredit” institutions directly.

approval is not a sign of quality assurance. It only means that the institution is approved to participate in government education programs.

Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

Membership organization for HEI’s – over 3000 members

Develops quality assurance standards for accrediting bodies

Approves accreditors that meet its criteria

CHEA – http://www.chea.org

Criteria for approval of an accrediting association – it must be committed to:Support and advance academic qualityAccountabilityPurposeful change and improvementAppropriate, fair decision-makingContinuous re-assessment

2.3. BOGUS or FAKE Accreditation Services

They do exist!

“Accreditation” for a fee – no quality standards or review

Some tied to “diploma mills” – fake “universities” create their own fake “accreditors” to look legitimate

See “Resources” – CHEA Web site

New Book Announcement!

DEGREE MILLS by Allen Ezell and John Bear, Prometheus Books, January 2005

www.prometheusbooks.com

Includes info on bogus accreditation agencies

REGIONAL ACCREDITATION

Institutional accreditation

Mutual recognitionRegionally-accredited institutions

recognize degrees and credits from other regionally-accredited institutions.

REGIONAL ACCREDITATION

Private, non-governmental, non-profit

Six accrediting associations organized by geographic regions of the U.S.

May also accredit institutions outside of the U.S.

All levels of education – elementary through postsecondary

REGIONAL ACCREDITATION

The Six Regional Accreditors:Middle StatesNew EnglandNorth CentralNorthwestSouthernWestern

The Regional Accrediting Associations

3.1. Common Standards for REGIONAL ACCREDITATION

The institution must haveA stated, appropriate mission and purposeStated goals based on the missionFunctioning systems and resources -

fiscal + organizational + academicSystem of continuous evaluation of

progress and planning for future

3.2. Steps in the Regional Accreditation Process

Step 1: Self-study report based on accreditation criteria

Step 2: Review of self-study by teamStep 3: Site visit by teamStep 4: Review of recommendations and

follow-upStep 5: Accreditor’s decisionStep 6: Ongoing process (5 to 10 years)

3.2.5. Accreditation Organization’sStatus Decision

Candidate – in the application stage; working toward initial accreditation

Approval or re-affirmation

Probation – a chance to fix or change problem areas, within a certain time limit

Denial or revocation

3.3. The Importance of Regional Accreditation

The most widely-recognized type of institutional accreditation for academic postsecondary educationRecognition of degree and creditsGovernment funding of institutions and

studentsPublic confidence in the authenticity of the

academic experience

3.3. The Importance of Regional Accreditation

Most regionally-accredited institutions will ONLY accept degrees and credits from other regionally-accredited institutions.

4. National Accreditation

InstitutionalFor specialized or special-interest institutions – examples:

Religious, denominationalDistance educationCareer training / technologyHealth occupationsCosmetology

National Accreditation

“National” does NOT mean “governmental”

It is NOT synonymous with “regional” accreditation.

National Accreditation

Regionally-accredited institutions generally will not accept degrees or credits from nationally-accredited institutions …. unless they are also regionally-accredited.

Few are.

5. PROGRAM or PROFESSIONAL Accreditation

“Program”

“Professional”

“Specialized”

All refer to accreditation of specific programs of study or curricula.

PROGRAM or PROFESSIONAL Accreditation

An institution that is accredited may also offer accredited programs.

Example 1: Alverno College

Example 2: Arizona State University

Arizona State University – www.asu.edu

6. Roles of Accreditation within the U.S.

Evaluation of an individual student’s background for:Admission to postsecondary educationAdmission to graduate study (master’s or

doctorate level)Transfer of creditAcademic eligibility (scholarships, athletic

activity, research grants, internships, etc.)

Roles of Accreditation within the U.S.

Eligibility for government financial assistance Individuals for student financial aidEducational institutions for government

programs and funding

Roles of Accreditationwithin the U.S.

Employment

For positions that require completion of an “accredited” program

For licensure or certification in certain professions

7. Role of Accreditation in Foreign Credential Evaluation

Perspective from the U.S. SideThere is no “official recognition” process of

foreign credentials in the U.S.There is no body that makes “official

recognition” or “exchange” agreements. “Recognition” is based on acceptance of

the credential by the party reviewing it.

Role of Accreditation in Foreign Credential Evaluation

Leadership in good practice in foreign credential evaluation comes from

Professional associations (AACRAO, NAFSA)Council on the Evaluation of Foreign Educational CredentialsReputable private credential evaluation organizationsLeaders in higher education institutions

Role of Accreditation in Foreign Credential Evaluation

“Officially recognized” in other countries

is comparable to

“accredited”in the U.S.

Resources

CHEA Web site – www.chea.org

Web sites of the Regional accrediting associations

Very EASY to verify an institution’s accreditation status with the regional accreditor

Online directoryPhone or fax

Additional Resources

Bears’ Guides – Ten Speed Press

Degree Mills by Allen Ezell and John Bear (expected in Jan. 2005)

The “accreditation officer” at each regionally-accredited institution