HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION IN THE UNITED STATES

1. HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION IN THE UNITED STATES What International Education Professionals REALLY Need to Know Presenters: Ann M. Koenig, AACRAO, USA Rolf Lofstad, NOKUT, Norway Chair: Eric Staab, Grinnell College, USA

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 that • minimum standards have been met and • the institution is committed to continuous improvement.

5. 2.1. Scope of Accreditation • INSTITUTIONAL • The institution as a whole entity • PROGRAM or PROFESSIONAL • Specific programs of study or curricula

6. 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

7. 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.

8. U.S. Department of Education • does not “accredit” institutions directly. • approval is nota sign of quality assurance. It only means that the institution is approved to participate in government education programs.

9. 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

10. CHEA – http://www.chea.org • Criteria for approval of an accrediting association – it must be committed to: • Support and advance academic quality • Accountability • Purposeful change and improvement • Appropriate, fair decision-making • Continuous re-assessment

11. 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

14. New Book Announcement! • DEGREE MILLS by Allen Ezell and John Bear, Prometheus Books, January 2005 • www.prometheusbooks.com • Includes info on bogus accreditation agencies

15. REGIONAL ACCREDITATION • Institutional accreditation • Mutual recognition • Regionally-accredited institutions recognize degrees and credits from other regionally-accredited institutions.

16. 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

17. REGIONAL ACCREDITATION The Six Regional Accreditors: • Middle States • New England • North Central • Northwest • Southern • Western

18. The Regional Accrediting Associations

19. 3.1. Common Standards for REGIONAL ACCREDITATION • The institution must have • A stated, appropriate mission and purpose • Stated goals based on the mission • Functioning systems and resources - fiscal + organizational + academic • System of continuous evaluation of progress and planning for future

20. 3.2. Steps in the Regional Accreditation Process Step 1: Self-study report based on accreditation criteria Step 2: Review of self-study by team Step 3: Site visit by team Step 4: Review of recommendations and follow-up Step 5: Accreditor’s decision Step 6: Ongoing process (5 to 10 years)

21. 3.2.5. Accreditation Organization’s Status 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

22. 3.3. The Importance of Regional Accreditation • The most widely-recognized type of institutional accreditation for academic postsecondary education • Recognition of degree and credits • Government funding of institutions and students • Public confidence in the authenticity of the academic experience

23. 3.3. The Importance of Regional Accreditation • Most regionally-accredited institutions will ONLY accept degrees and credits from other regionally-accredited institutions.

24. 4. National Accreditation • Institutional • For specialized or special-interest institutions – examples: • Religious, denominational • Distance education • Career training / technology • Health occupations • Cosmetology

25. National Accreditation • “National” does NOT mean “governmental” • It is NOT synonymous with “regional” accreditation.

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

27. 5. PROGRAM or PROFESSIONAL Accreditation • “Program” • “Professional” • “Specialized” • All refer to accreditation of specific programs of study or curricula.

28. PROGRAM or PROFESSIONAL Accreditation • An institution that is accredited may also offer accredited programs. • Example 1: Alverno College • Example 2: Arizona State University

30. Arizona State University – www.asu.edu

31. 6. Roles of Accreditation within the U.S. • Evaluation of an individual student’s background for: • Admission to postsecondary education • Admission to graduate study (master’s or doctorate level) • Transfer of credit • Academic eligibility (scholarships, athletic activity, research grants, internships, etc.)

32. Roles of Accreditation within the U.S. • Eligibility for government financial assistance • Individuals for student financial aid • Educational institutions for government programs and funding

33. Roles of Accreditationwithin the U.S. Employment • For positions that require completion of an “accredited” program • For licensure or certification in certain professions

34. 7. Role of Accreditation in Foreign Credential Evaluation Perspective from the U.S. Side • Thereis 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.

35. 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 Credentials • Reputable private credential evaluation organizations • Leaders in higher education institutions

36. Role of Accreditation in Foreign Credential Evaluation “Officially recognized” in other countries is comparable to “accredited” in the U.S.

37. 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 directory • Phone or fax

41. 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