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Maintaining Educational
Standards in the United States
In most countries, the central government is responsible
for maintaining the quality standards of institutions of higher
education. In the United States, however, the federal government
does not regulate colleges and universities in any direct
way. Each of the 50 U.S. states has a system of licensing
institutions of higher education, which allows them to conduct
business and issue degrees legally in that state. You might
think that if a school is licensed, it means that it has met
certain minimum educational standards. However, licensing
requirements vary greatly from one state to another, and you
cannot use licensing by a state education department as an
indication that an institution meets minimum standards.
So how can you know if an institution or programs does meet
an acceptable level of quality? In the United States, institutions
and programs that meet and maintain certain educational standards
are said to be "accredited," or to hold "accreditation."
Accreditation is carried out by organizations called accrediting
bodies or accrediting associations, which determine and regulate
these standards. Being licensed in a particular state is not
the same as being accredited.
The U.S. Department of Education defines accreditation as
"a status granted to an institution which indicates that
it is meeting its mission and the standards of the association
and seems likely to continue to meet that mission for the
foreseeable future." To be an accredited institution
of higher education in the United States, an institution has
to meet and adhere to the standards of a particular body or
association.
Why Accreditation Is
Important
In the United States, one of the major indicators of the quality
of an institution is its accreditation status. If the school
you attend is not properly accredited, you may find that your
degree is not recognized in the United States or in many other
countries around the world, or by other universities, professional
associations, employers, and government ministries and departments.
Before you apply to study in the United States, it is very
important to check with your home country's department or
ministry of education about whether there are any restrictions
on recognition of U.S. degrees or U.S. universities. In particular,
ask if there are specific requirements concerning the accreditation
of U.S. institutions or programs.
Recognized Accrediting
Bodies
There is no legal restriction on the use of the words "accredited,"
"accrediting body," or "accrediting association"
in the United States. As a result, it is important that you
check whether an institution and its programs hold accreditation
from a "recognized" accrediting body or bodies.
To be considered recognized, an accrediting body should meet
one or both of the following criteria:
- It is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
(CHEA) or the Association of Specialized and Professional
Accreditors (ASPA). To find out if it is, consult the organizations'
Web sites (http://www.chea.org
or http://www.aspa-usa.org),
or look it up in the directory Accredited Institutions of
Postsecondary Education (see the bibliography).
Copies of the directory are available at U.S.
educational information and advising centers worldwide.
- It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
While the department does not get involved in the process
of accrediting institutions, it publishes a list of accrediting
agencies that it recognizes as reliable authorities on the
quality of education or training provided by institutions
of higher education. For a full list, see http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/closedschool/accred.html.
Recognition by the U.S. Department of Education or membership
in CHEA or ASPA is an indicator of the reliability of an accrediting
association.
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