Accreditation 101 Rosemarie Arens, REAC South America Nancy Keteku, REAC Africa

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education

Accreditation 101

Rosemarie Arens, REAC South AmericaNancy Keteku, REAC Africa

EducationUSA.state.gov

http://www.harrisburgpa.gov/econProfile/images/dixonUniversity_583x512.jpg


What is Accreditation?• A system of checks and balances in quality

assurance and quality improvement• Based on a philosophy of:

– Institutional responsibility– Institutional autonomy– Academic freedom

• A voluntary, self & peer-review process– Evaluations of new institutions seeking initial

accreditation– Accredited institutions seeking renewal

EducationUSA.state.govwww.EducationUSA.info


Why is Accreditation Important?

Verifies that institutions meet established standards

Helps students identify acceptable institutions

Determines acceptability of credit transfer

Determines eligibility to receive Federal Government funding

Stimulates a general raising of standards among educational institutions



Essential Conditionsfor Effective Universities

(American Philosophy of Higher Education)• Autonomy• Competition• Choice• Commitment to Excellence

Sen. Lamar Alexander,From David Gardner, U of California

How does your country’s philosophy differ from this?



Who Does the Accrediting?NOT the Government

• U.S. accreditation structure is decentralized and complex, mirroring the American higher education system.

Autonomous, private (nongovernmental),

nonprofit organizations• Institutional Accreditors:

regional and national organizations that review entire institutions

• Programmatic Accreditors: specialized and professional organizations that review specific programs or subject areas



Accreditation Classifications



Regional Accreditors


Northwest Western North Central

Southern MiddleStates

NewEngland

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher EducationEducationUSA.state.govwww.EducationUSA.info


Programmatic/Professional Accreditation

62 recognized programmatic accrediting organizations accredit programs or free-standing institutions that enrolled more than 3.4

million students in 2010-2011More than half in health fields



Programmatic/Professional Accreditation

Professional accreditation =

licensing credential

Professional accreditation =

recognition (“insurance

policy”)



Who Accredits the Accreditors?

• CHEA: Council on Higher Education Accreditation

– Private, NGO, 17-member Board of Directors– Assuring that accrediting organizations contribute

to maintaining and improving academic quality• USDE: U.S. Department of Education

– Governed by federal law and regulations– Eligibility for Federal funds (Title IV)



Who Accredits the Accreditors?



For Further Reference“Accreditation and Recognition in the United States” • http://

chea.org/pdf/AccredRecogUS_2012.pdfASPA: Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors – not authorization, but useful reference for advisors• http://www.aspa-usa.org/member-detailed-l

ist


http://chea.org/pdf/AccredRecogUS_2012.pdf





http://www.aspa-usa.org/member-detailed-list

http://www.aspa-usa.org/member-detailed-list


Accreditation Tips• EducationUSA deals only with accredited institutions. We

don’t advise on unaccredited institutions.• If a school is not listed on CHEA’s or USDE’s database,

explain the risks to your students.• Watch out for Diploma Mills and their Accreditation Mills!• Online courses/programs are equally subject to

accreditation.• SEVP certification to issue I-20s is NOT the same as

accreditation. SEVP certifies more than 13,850 institutions http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/assets/pdfs/Certified_School_List_1-15-14.pdf EducationUSA.state.gov

www.EducationUSA.info

http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/assets/pdfs/Certified_School_List_1-15-14.pdf




What Should You Say When….• An unaccredited institution wants to attend your fair –

and they’re working through FCS?• A student (or parent or employer) has spent

thousands of dollars on a “degree” from an unaccredited institution?

• You are asked about the difference between a regionally and a nationally accredited institution?

• Someone wants to know what is meant by “licensed by the state of California” (or Virginia, or wherever)?

• You are asked about an accreditor not recognized by CHEA or DOE?


Accreditation 101 Rosemarie Arens, REAC South America Nancy Keteku, REAC Africa

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