Resources 

• Community Advisory Council
• Community Report
• Maricopa Govering Board

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What is Accreditation?

“Accreditation is a process of external quality review used by higher education to scrutinize colleges, universities, and educational programs for quality assurance and quality improvement.”  (The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, 2002)

In the U.S., accreditation is carried out by private, nonprofit organizations designed for this purpose, with these accrediting organizations “recognized” by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).  The USDE recognition is governed by federal law and regulations; the private, nonprofit CHEA recognition is governed by its board of directors. Recognition means that the accrediting organizations go through a review of their qualifications and activities to see if they meet the standards of the USDE and/or the CHEA; if they meet these standards, they are “recognized” as accrediting agencies.  The USDE focuses on whether federal student aid dollars are purchasing quality courses and programs, thus only institutions that are accredited by a USDE-recognized are eligible to receive federal financial assistance for their students.  The CHEA focuses on academic quality and improvement in programs and degrees, and that more than 50% of the institutions or programs reviewed by an accrediting agency must be degree-granting.

Background

Accreditation began in the U.S. to insure a basic level of quality, through non-governmental, peer evaluation of educational institutions and programs. Private educational associations (regional or national in scope) have developed criteria on the qualities of a sound educational program and procedures for evaluating institutions or programs to determine whether or not they are operating at basic levels of quality.

The U.S. Department of Education site lists the functions of accreditation:

1. “Verifying that an institution or program meets established standards;

2. Assisting prospective students in identifying acceptable institutions;

3. Assisting institutions in determining the acceptability of transfer credits;

4. Helping to identify institutions and programs for the investment of public and private funds;

5. Protecting an institution against harmful internal and external pressure;

6. Creating goals for self-improvement of weaker programs and stimulating a general raising of standards among educational institutions;

7. Involving the faculty and staff comprehensively in institutional evaluation and planning;

8. Establishing criteria for professional certification and licensure and for upgrading courses offering such preparation; and

9. Providing one of several considerations used as a basis for determining eligibility for Federal assistance.”

The U.S. Department of Education Site also lists Accreditation Procedures:

1. “Standards: The accrediting agency, in collaboration with educational institutions, establishes standards.
   
   
2. Self-study: The institution or program seeking accreditation prepares an in-depth self-evaluation study that measures its performance against the standards established by the accrediting agency.
   
3. On-site Evaluation: A team selected by the accrediting agency visits the institution or program to determine first-hand if the applicant meets the established standards.
   
   
4. Publication: Upon being satisfied that the applicant meets its standards, the accrediting agency grants accreditation or preaccreditation status and lists the institution or program in an official publication with other similarly accredited or preaccredited institutions or programs.
   
   
5. Monitoring: The accrediting agency monitors each accredited institution or program throughout the period of accreditation granted to verify that it continues to meet the agency's standards.
   
   
6. Reevaluation: The accrediting agency periodically reevaluates each institution or program that it lists to ascertain whether continuation of its accredited or preaccredited status is warranted.”

In turn, the accrediting agencies affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education are reviewed.  The agencies submit petitions and reports for review by the Secretary's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI).  Since 2005, agencies have been able to submit their documents through the Department’s on-line submission system.