OVERVIEW OF ACCREDITATION
The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accreditation in the United States involves non-governmental entities as well as governmental agencies.
Accrediting agencies, which are private educational associations of regional or national scope, develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those criteria are met. Institutions and/or programs that request an agencys evaluation and that meet an agencys criteria are then "accredited" by that agency.
The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit educational institutions and/or programs. However, the Secretary of Education is required by law to publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies that the Secretary determines to be reliable authorities as to the quality of education or training provided by the institutions of higher education and the higher education programs they accredit. An agency seeking national recognition by the Secretary must meet the Secretarys procedures and criteria for the recognition of accrediting agencies, as published in the Federal Register. Some of the criteria for recognition, such as the criterion requiring a link to Federal programs, have no bearing on the quality of an accrediting agency; however, they do have the effect of making some agencies ineligible for recognition for reasons other than quality. The recognition process involves not only filing an application with the U. S. Department of Education but also review by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, which makes a recommendation to the Secretary regarding recognition. The Secretary, after considering the Committees recommendation, makes the final determination regarding recognition.
The U.S. Secretary of Education also recognizes State agencies for the approval of public postsecondary vocational education and State agencies for the approval of nurse education. These agencies must meet the Secretarys criteria and procedures for such recognition and must undergo review by the National Advisory Committee.
The U. S. Department of Education does not accredit institutions in foreign countries. However, the Secretary of Education does appoint members to the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation. The law gives that Committee the responsibility for reviewing the standards that foreign countries use to accredit medical schools to determine whether those standards are comparable to the standards used to accredit medical schools in the United States. The comparability decisions made by the Committee affect whether U.S. students attending foreign medical schools can receive loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program.
The United States has no Federal Ministry of Education or other centralized authority exercising single national control over postsecondary educational institutions in this country. The States assume varying degrees of control over education, but, in general, institutions of higher education are permitted to operate with considerable independence and autonomy. As a consequence, American educational institutions can vary widely in the character and quality of their programs.
In order to ensure a basic level of quality, the practice of accreditation arose in the United States as a means of conducting non-governmental, peer evaluation of educational institutions and programs. Private educational associations of regional or national scope have adopted criteria reflecting the qualities of a sound educational program and have developed procedures for evaluating institutions or programs to determine whether or not they are operating at basic levels of quality.
Note: The U.S. Department of Education does not have the authority to accredit private or public elementary or secondary schools, and the Department does not recognize accrediting bodies for the accreditation of private or public elementary and secondary schools. However, the U.S. Department of Education does recognize accrediting bodies for the accreditation of institutions of higher (postsecondary) education. If an accrediting body which is recognized by the Department for highereducation also accredits elementary and secondary schools, the Departments recognition applies only to the agencys accreditation of postsecondary institutions.
- The dates specified for each entry are the date of initial listing as a recognized agency, the date of the Secretarys most recent grant of renewed recognition, and the date of the agencys next scheduled review for renewal of recognition by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. (Note: S = Spring meeting and F = Fall meeting)
- ARTS AND HUMANITIES
- COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES
- EDUCATION TRAINING
- HEALTHCARE
- LEGAL
- PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES
From the US Department of Education Website: http://www.ed.gov/print/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation.html#Recognition
SPECIALIZED ACCREDITING AGENCIES
Regional and National Institutional Accrediting Agencies
The dates specified for each entry are the date of initial listing as a recognized agency, the date of the Secretary's most recent grant of renewed recognition, and the date of the agency's next scheduled review for renewal of recognition by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. (Note: S = Spring meeting and F =Fall meeting.)
Note: The U.S. Department of Education does not have the authority to accredit private or public elementary or secondary schools, and the Department does not recognize accrediting bodies for the accreditation of private or public elementary and secondary schools. However, the U.S. Department of Education does recognize accrediting bodies for the accreditation of institutions of higher (postsecondary) education. If an accrediting body which is recognized by the Department for higher education also accredits elementary and secondary schools, the Department's recognition applies only to the agency's accreditation of postsecondary institutions.
- Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
1969/2005/F2009
Scope of recognition: the accreditation of private, postsecondary institutions in the United States offering predominantly allied health education programs and the programmatic accreditation of medical assistant, medical laboratory technician and surgical technology programs, leading to a certificate, diploma, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Occupational Science, or Academic Associate degree, including those offered via distance education.
Title IV Note: Only freestanding allied health education institutions and institutions that offer predominantly allied health programs may use accreditation by this agency to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs.
- Carol Moneymaker, Executive Director
- 7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314N
- Falls Church, Virginia 22043
- Tel. (703) 917-9503, Fax (703) 917-4109
- E-mail address: CMoneymaker@abhes.org
- Web address: www.abhes.org
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
1967/2005/F2009
Scope of recognition: the accreditation of private, postsecondary, nondegree-granting institutions and degree-granting institutions in the United States, including those granting associate, baccalaureate and master's degrees, that are predominantly organized to educate students for occupational, trade and technical careers, and including institutions that offer programs via distance education.
- Michale McComis, Executive Director
- 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 302
- Arlington, Virginia 22201
- Tel. (703) 247-4212, Fax (703) 247-4533
- E-mail address: mccomis@accsc.org
- Web address: www.accsc.org
- Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
1978/2008/F2012
Scope of recognition: Scope of recognition: the accreditation throughout the United States of institutions of higher education that offer continuing education and vocational programs that confer certificates or occupational associate degrees, including those programs offered via distance education.
Title IV Note: Only those institutions classified by this agency as "vocational " may use accreditation by the agency to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs.
- Roger J. Williams, Executive Director
- 1722 N Street, NW
- Washington, DC 20036
- Tel. (202) 955-1113, Fax (202) 955-1118
- E-mail address: rjwilliams@accet.org
- Web address: www.accet.org
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
1956/2006/S2011
Scope of recognition: the accreditation of private postsecondary institutions offering certificates or diplomas, and postsecondary institutions offering associate, bachelor's, or master's degrees in programs designed to educate students for professional, technical, or occupational careers, including those that offer those programs via distance education.
- Albert C. Gray
- Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
- 750 First Street, NE, Suite 980
- Washington , DC 20002-4242
- Tel. (202) 336-6780, Fax (202) 842-2593
- E-mail address: agray@acics.org
- Web address: www.acics.org
- Council on Occupational Education
1969/2007/S2011
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy Status") throughout the United States of postsecondary occupational education institutions offering non-degree and applied associate degree programs in specific career and technical education fields, including institutions that offer programs via distance education.
- Gary Puckett, Executive Director
- 41 Perimeter Center East, NE, Suite 640
- Atlanta, Georgia 30346
- Tel. (770) 396-3898, (800) 917-2081, Fax (770) 396-3790
- E-mail address: puckettg@council.org
- Web address: www.council.org
- Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission
1959/2007/F2011
Scope of recognition: the accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer degree programs primarily by the distance education method up to and including the professional doctoral degree, and are specifically certified by the agency as accredited for Title IV purposes; and for the accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the United States not participating in Title IV that offer programs primarily by the distance education method up through the professional doctoral degrees.
Title IV Note: Only accredited institutions that are certified by the agency as accredited for Title IV purposes may use accreditation by this agency to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs.
- Michael P. Lambert, Executive Director
- 1601 18th Street, NW
- Washington , DC 20009
- Tel. (202) 234-5100, Fax (202) 332-1386
- E-mail address: Detc@detc.org
- Web address: www.detc.org
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
1952/2007/S2012
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy status") of institutions of higher education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including distance education programs offered at those institutions.
- Elizabeth H. Sibolski, Acting President
- 3624 Market Street
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
- Tel. (267) 284-5000, Fax (215) 662-5950
- E-mail address: info@msche.org
- Web address: www.msche.org
- Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools
2004/2007/F2011
Scope of recognition: the accreditation of institutions with postsecondary, non-degree granting career and technology programs in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands including those that offer all or part of their educational programs via distance education modalities.
Title IV Note: Only those vocational/technical schools accredited by this agency that offer non-degree, postsecondary education may use that accreditation to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs.
- Henry Cram, Executive Director
- 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor Annex
- Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104-2680
- Tel. (215) 662-5603, Fax (215) 662-0957
- E-mail address: kkastle@css-msa.org
- Web address: www.css-msa.org
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
1952/2008/F2012
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and pre-accreditation ("Candidacy status") of institutions of higher education in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont that award associate's, bachelor's, master's, and/or doctoral degrees, including the accreditation of programs offered via distance education within these institutions. This recognition extends to the Board of Trustees of the Association jointly with the Commission for decisions involving pre-accreditation, initial accreditation, and adverse actions.
- Barbara E. Brittingham, Director
- 209 Burlington Road
- Bedford, Massachusetts 01730-1433
- Tel. (781) 271-0022, Fax (781) 271-0950
- E-mail address: bbrittingham@neasc.org
- Web address: www.neasc.org
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Technical and Career Institutions
1952/2006/F2008
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate status") of secondary institutions with vocational-technical programs at the 13th and 14th grade level, postsecondary institutions, and institutions of higher education that provide primarily vocational/technical education at the certificate, associate, and baccalaureate degree levels in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This recognition extends to the Board of Trustees of the Association jointly with the Commission for decisions involving preaccreditation, initial accreditation, and adverse actions.
Title IV Note: Any vocational/technical schools accredited by this agency that offer non-degree, postsecondary education and that wish to use that accreditation to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs must be accredited by the agency as offering education through the 13th or 14th grade level.
- Paul Bento, Director
- 209 Burlington Road, Suite 201
- Bedford, Massachusetts 01730-1433
- Tel. (781) 541-5416, Fax (781) 271-0950
- E-mail address: pbento@neasc.org
- Web address: www.neasc.org
- New York State Board of Regents, and the Commissioner of Education
1952/2007/S2012
Scope of recognition: the accreditation of those degree-granting institutions of higher education in New York , including distance education offered by those institutions, that designate the agency as their sole or primary nationally recognized accrediting agency for purposes of establishing eligibility to participate in HEA programs.
- David M. Steiner, Commissioner of Education
- State Education Department
- The University of the State of New York
- 80 Washington Avenue
- Albany, New York 12234
- Tel. (518) 474-5844 Fax (518) 473-4909
- E-Mail address: dsteiner@mail.nysed.gov
- Web address: www.nysed.gov
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
1952/2008/F2012
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and pre-accreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of degree-granting institutions of higher education in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, including tribal institutions, and the accreditation of programs offered via distance education within these institutions. This recognition extends to the Institutional Actions Committee jointly with the Board of Trustees of the Commission for decisions on cases for continued accreditation or reaffirmation and continued candidacy. This recognition also extends to the Review Committee of the Accreditation Review Council, jointly with the Board of Trustees of the Commission, for decisions on cases for continued accreditation or candidacy and for initial candidacy or initial accreditation when there is a consensus decision by the Review Committee.
- Sylvia Manning, President
- 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
- Chicago , Illinois 60602
- Tel. (312) 263-0456, (800) 621-7440, Fax (312) 263-7462
- E-mail address: smanning@hlcommission.org
- Web address: www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org
- North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, Board of Trustees
1974/2007/F2011
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy status") of schools offering non-degree, postsecondary education in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and in the Navajo Nation.
Title IV Note: Only those vocational/technical schools accredited by this agency that offer non-degree, postsecondary education may use that accreditation to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs.
- Mark Elgart, Executive Director
- Arizona State University
- 7665 S. Research Drive
- P.O. Box 871008
- Tempe , Arizona 85287-1008
- Tel. (800) 525-9517, (480) 773-6900, Fax (480) 965-8658
- E-mail address: nca@ncacasi.org
- Web address: www.ncacasi.org
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
1952/2008/F2012
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and pre-accreditation ("Candidacy status") of postsecondary degree-granting educational institutions in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, including the accreditation of programs offered via distance education within these institutions.
- Sandra E. Elman, President
- 8060 165th Avenue, NE, Suite 100
- Redmond , Washington 98052
- Tel. (425) 558-4224, Fax (425) 376-0596
- E-mail address: selman@nwccu.org
- Web address: www.nwccu.org
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
1952/2006/S2011
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of degree-granting institutions of higher education in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, including distance education programs offered at those institutions.
- Belle S. Wheelan , President
- 1866 Southern Lane
- Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
- Tel. (404) 679-4512, Fax (404) 679-4528
- E-mail address: bwheelan@sacscoc.org
- Web address: www.sacscoc.org
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, Accreditation Commission
1991/2005/F2009
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate" status) of postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer certificates, diplomas, and associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees, including institutions that offer distance education.
- Russell Guy Fitzgerald, Jr., Executive Director
- P.O. Box 328
- Forest, Virginia 24551
- Tel. (434) 525-9539, Fax (434) 525-9538
- E-mail address: rfitzgerald@tracs.org
- Web address: www.tracs.org
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
1952/2008/F2012
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and pre-accreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of two-year, associate degree-granting institutions located in California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, including the accreditation of such programs offered via distance education at these colleges.
- Barbara A. Beno, President
- 10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204
- Novato, California 94949
- Tel. (415) 506-0234, Fax (415) 506-0238
- E-mail address: accjc@accjc.org
- Web address: www.wascweb.org
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Schools
1974/2006/F2008
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of adult and postsecondary schools that offer programs below the degree level in California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Title IV Note: Only adult and postsecondary schools accredited by this agency that offer postsecondary programs below the degree level may use accreditation by this agency to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs.
- David E. Brown, Executive Director
- 533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 200
- Burlingame, California 94010
- Tel. (650) 696-1060, Fax (650) 696-1867
- E-mail address: mail@acswasc.org
- Web address: www.wascweb.org
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
1952/2007/F2011
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of senior colleges and universities in California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, including distance education programs offered at those institutions.
- Ralph Wolff
- President and Executive Director
- 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100
- Alameda, California 94501
- Tel. (510) 748-9001, Fax (510) 748-9797
- E-mail address: wascsr@wascsenior.org
- Web address: www.wascweb.org
| |
