Accreditation is a meaningful affirmation to the general public that your college or university meets high standards. By understanding the full process, institutions can increase their chances of reaching this notable status.
In this article, we’re breaking down the meaning of accreditation and exploring the various agencies that extend it to higher education institutions. Read on to learn more about the higher ed accreditation journey.
Accreditation is the primary means of signifying that a higher education institution provides students with a quality education. Its main purpose is to help prospective students and their families, as well as government officials, determine if a program is credible and well established.
The importance of accreditation extends beyond student decision-making. Proper accreditation is a prerequisite for both state and federal entities to offer grants or loans.
Likewise, some states require an institution to have accreditation before allowing their students to participate in state licensure examinations for occupations such as:
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversees all accrediting organizations and ensures that their processes are consistent in terms of:
Accreditation is divided into two main types — national and institutional. These help higher education institutions demonstrate that they offer an exceptional learning experience and meet standards set by a certified agency. Let’s explore some of the major differences between national and institutional accreditation.
National accreditation agencies approve higher education institutions that offer certifications and degrees. Nationally accredited schools are typically vocational institutions, religious institutions, career programs, or industry-specific certifications.
This accreditation type focuses more on programs and departments within an institution rather than the entire institution. This may be a valuable option for institutions looking to allow students to transfer credits to another institution when needed. This is because nationally accredited institutions recognize credits from other nationally accredited institutions.
Institutional (formerly regional) accreditation extends approval to nonprofit and state-owned institutions and is a widely recognized and esteemed accreditation type. Accredited institutions have a more selective admissions process and stricter admission standards. Institutional accreditation agencies also award the entire institution, including off-campus and main instructional sites.
There are six institutional accrediting organizations recognized by CHEA:
There are numerous higher ed accrediting agencies that provide accreditation for different career fields. Here are seven common ones:
In most countries across the world, governments are responsible for extending quality assurance for their higher education institutions. In America, accreditors are private organizations that are not part of the U.S. government.
CHEA provides a complete directory for accrediting agencies recognized by CHEA and the Department of Education where you can learn more about each organization. The list includes the following categories:
You can also find the Department of Education’s accredited schools directory on its website.
Organizations that extend accreditation operate by first developing rigorous standards that higher education institutions must meet. The agency reviews prospective institutions or programs via a thorough vetting process before awarding accreditation.
Accrediting agencies establish their standards through ongoing consultation with the following groups:
The standards they set intend to address the following:
The university accreditation process typically lasts one-and-a-half to two years after submitting the application. The size and scale of the educational institution can impact how long it takes for approval.
While the process may vary slightly depending on the agency, the following includes the typical phases in the accreditation process:
The first step in gaining accreditation is reviewing the accrediting agency’s specific standards. The higher education institution must understand these prerequisites and use them to thoroughly assess their operations. They can then refine any areas that are not satisfactory and make the necessary operational changes.
The university should aim to meet all standards prior to submitting their application. Doing so will help ensure they are eligible and ready for the next step toward approval.
Once an institution feels it meets all standards set forth by the accrediting agency, its board can begin the application process. The institution’s accomplishments are often among the most important materials to include.
The application should demonstrate how and why the university is worthy of accreditation. Its format may vary depending on the agency, and most accrediting bodies will also require the payment of an application fee when submitting.
The accrediting organization will review the application to ensure the prospective institution meets all necessary criteria. If the agency approves the application for accreditation candidacy, the next step is a peer-review visit.
A professional from the accrediting team will come to the institution’s campus for further investigation into its quality. They will observe and validate the information shared in the application to affirm the university is eligible for accreditation.
After the accrediting body visits, they will evaluate the information they gathered and what they observed to determine whether or not the higher education institution meets all standards.
In some cases, the agency will follow up with suggestions for the university, or they may provide ongoing support to help the institution better comply with their criteria.
The agency will then reach its decision to either extend accreditation or deny it.
When an institution achieves accreditation status, the agency will conduct ongoing reviews. The review process helps ensure the institution continues to uphold all quality standards.
Each accrediting body has its own policies. There are a few key procedures that every agency outlines for its prospective and current higher education institutions.
Learn more about the following accreditation policies and how they often work:
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©️2024 Watermark Insights, LLC or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. Other trademarks, including Accreditation trademarks, may be trademarks of their respective owners. This article is for information purposes only. Watermark believes the information in this article is accurate as of its publication date, and the information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Watermark is not affiliated with the Accreditor and the Accreditor did not participate in the creation of this report. Watermark makes no warranties, express or implied, in this report.
