Accreditation Described

Accreditation is the process used in U.S. education to ensure that schools, postsecondary institutions, and other education providers meet, and maintain, minimum standards of quality and integrity regarding academics, administration, and related services. It is a voluntary process based on the principle of academic self-governance. Both institutions and programs (faculties) within institutions participate in accreditation. The entities which conduct accreditation are associations comprised of institutions and academic specialists in specific subjects, who establish and enforce standards of membership and procedures for conducting the accreditation process.

Both the federal and state governments recognize accreditation as the mechanism by which institutional and programmatic legitimacy and capacity are measured. In international terms, accreditation by a recognized accrediting authority is accepted as the U.S. equivalent of other countries' ministerial recognition of institutions belonging to the national education system.

About CHEA provides a brief explanation of accreditation from the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Accreditation in the U.S. is an overview of accreditation provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation includes the following steps that must be followed in order for it to be a legitimate process:

1. The accrediting association establishes, and periodically refines, its standards and policies to be followed by all successful candidates for accreditation or re-accreditation;

2. An institution or program faculty petitions the association for membership as an accredited entity, or is notified, if it is already a member, that the time for re-accreditation has come;

3. The institution or program begins a process of preparing and conducting an intensive and thorough self-study led by a designated committee of faculty and staff and following guidelines set forth by the accrediting association;

4. The accrediting association selects a team of external academic and administrative experts from other similar institutions or programs, and this team reviews the self-study report and then visits the institution or program for an on-site inspection, following the associations inspection and evaluation guidelines;

5. The evaluation team issues a report recommending for or against accreditation or re-accreditation, and enumerating any conditions that need to be met before full positive approval may be given; and

6. The accrediting association's members vote on the status of the candidate or member based on the evaluation team report, and the association places the name and information about successful candidates and re-accredited members in the next annual edition of its official approved list.

Each accrediting association publishes its standards, policies, and guidelines as well as official lists of candidates, members, and re-accredited members. Information is also published on candidates denied accreditation and on members whose accreditation is made probationary or revoked.

Types of Accreditation

Regional Accrediting Associations accredit institutions that are located within defined groups of states and territories, as well as foreign institutions located in specified countries and world regions which apply for U.S. accreditation. While regional associations inspect and approve all types of institutions, they particularly serve traditional institutions that offer degree programs in a comprehensive range of academic subjects, such as universities and colleges. There are 6 regional accrediting associations.

National Accrediting Associations accredit institutions located anywhere within the United States or overseas. They concentrate on providing accreditation to institutions offering degree programs in a narrow range of related specialized subjects, or using nontraditional modes of delivery, rather than to comprehensive liberal arts institutions.

Professional or Specialized Accrediting Associations accredit specific programs of study offered within, and by, institutions that are regionally or nationally accredited. Professional/specialized associations do not accredit entire institutions except in a few cases where an institution offers only one degree program in a single subject, and thus accreditation of the program is equivalent to accreditation of the institution.

Definitions:

Specialized and Professional provides the definition of specialized and professional accrediting used by the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).

Accrediting associations of the types listed above accredit all levels of education. Most primary and secondary schools are accredited by regional or national associations because U.S. education at these levels tends to be unspecialized.

Recognition of Accreditors

The recognition of accrediting associations as legitimate is based on both governmental approval and reciprocity among associations and their member institutions. Accrediting associations are considered legitimate in the U.S. education system if their standards, and thus their member institutions' credits and diplomas, are accepted by the member institutions in other associations. The reputations of associations are established over time and are a powerful incentive to maintain and increase standards. Government approval is important, but U.S. laws limit the scope of such approval and thus not all legitimate accrediting associations appear on state or federal government lists.

National Recognition by the Secretary of Education

The Secretary of Education is empowered by law to recognize accrediting associations for the purpose of approving institutions that are permitted to participate in federal student financial assistance programs (see Federal Assistance Programs). Federal law, however, only allows approval of associations that accredit free-standing institutions. Associations that only accredit programs located within free-standing institutions are not eligible for federal recognition. The reason for this limitation is that the sole purpose of federal recognition is to ensure that only accredited institutions receive public funds, and individual programs and faculties do not handle student assistance money - the parent institution does. As a consequence, a number of nationally recognized accrediting associations are not listed by the Secretary of Education as federally recognized accreditors.

The federal government does not itself accredit any institutions. It only recognizes certain accrediting activities conducted by private accrediting associations.

National Recognition of Accrediting Associations by the U.S. Secretary of Education sets forth the policy followed by the Secretary of Education in recognizing accrediting associations.

Regulations Governing Recognition presents Part 602 of Title 34, Code of Federal Regulations (cited 34 CFR 602), which is the regulation governing federal recognition of accrediting associations.

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies provides a list of the accrediting associations that have received federal recognition under the terms of 34 CFR 602 and the law governing student financial assistance eligibility.

National Recognition by Other Bodies

Accreditation is conducted by private membership associations of institutions and program faculty. Legitimacy as a nationally recognized regional, national, or professional/specialized accrediting association for postsecondary education is accomplished by meeting the standards for membership in the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA). The quality assurance standards required of member associations of CHEA and ASPA are similar to those required of associations eligible for federal recognition, and most CHEA and ASPA members that meet the free-standing institution requirement of federal law have also sought recognition by the Secretary of Education. A key principle in regard to private sector national recognition is whether a non-federally recognized accreditor only approves programs that are offered by free-standing institutions that are themselves accredited by an association having both federal and private sector recognition.

While CHEA and/or ASPA membership is important in establishing national recognition and legitimacy, it does not permit institutions accredited by these associations to participate in federal student assistance programs unless their accrediting association is also recognized by the Secretary of Education.

CHEA Recognition Policy and Procedures presents the eligibility requirements and standards for recognition by CHEA.

ASPA Membership Eligibility Criteria presents the eligibility requirements and standards for recognition by ASPA.

Primary and Secondary Recognition