Accreditation: The Whys and Wherefores
by Wendy Lalli
We've all heard stories of students who wasted thousands of dollars getting meaningless degrees from schools that weren't properly accredited. But avoiding this mistake may not be as simple as it seems.
Why the Issue of Accreditation Is So
Confusing
Unlike many other countries where institutions of learning must meet
a national standard, in the United States public schools are under
state jurisdiction, and the quality of education can differ widely
from region to region. These regional differences in primary and secondary
education standards may be reflected in institutions of higher learning
as well. Furthermore, anyone can open a school in this country and
solicit students without ever being accredited. In the United States,
accreditation is not only entirely voluntary; it is also self-regulated
by the educational institutions themselves. So, as a recent www.degree.net
article on this topic warns, "when a school says, 'we are accredited,'
that statement alone means nothing. You must always ask, 'Accredited
by whom?'"
Check Out the Agency as Well as the School
This advice cannot be emphasized enough. Just as educational institutions don't have to be accredited to operate, any agency can grant "accreditation" to whatever school they choose. (In fact, many fake schools who claim to be "accredited" got their credentials from accrediting agencies that were themselves bogus!) Clearly, investigating the source of a school's accreditation is as important as checking out the institution itself.
Two Forms of Accreditation; Two National
Authorities
Although there is no federal government organization overseeing the quality of education directly, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) does play a significant role in setting standards for accreditation. According to the DOE website, "the Secretary of Education is required.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 institutions of higher education and the higher education programs they accredit."
As this statement suggests, there are actually two forms of accreditation: "institutional" and "programmatic." The first applies to a review and evaluation of an entire institution; the second refers to the accreditation standards set for a particular program, department or school within an institution.
The Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) also sets national standards for accrediting agencies and is the DOE equivalent for the private sector. Currently, CHEA has recognized 19 organizations capable of accrediting institutions of higher education in compliance with its standards and another 60 agencies that may accredit educational programs.
For its part, the DOE recognizes the authority of 11 regional commissions to accredit technical and career institutions as well as universities and colleges within certain geographical boundaries. In addition, the DOE lists dozens of other organizations that can accredit educational programs in various professions and disciplines.
The Purpose of Accreditation
According to the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)-one of the regional accreditation groups recognized by the DOE-"accreditation enhances educational quality.by improving the effectiveness of institutions and.serves as common denominator of shared values and practices among diverse institutions." In other words, accreditation sets a shared standard of quality that the educational institutions must achieve to properly serve the academic goals of their students. Earning accreditation also indicates that the institution is committed to uphold these standards and to constantly strive to improve itself.
The Accreditation Process
Although each of the accrediting agencies recognized by the DOE has its own policy, each agency is still expected to follow certain procedures, starting with establishing a set of standards in collaboration with the educational institutions in its region. The agency must then require all candidates for accreditation-programs as well as institutions-to prepare an in-depth self-evaluation study. These studies will be confirmed and augmented by on-site evaluations conducted by agency teams. Once accreditation is granted, the agency must publish official notice of this fact. The agency must also continue to monitor the performances of institutions or programs in order to ensure that accreditation standards are maintained. Finally, the group must periodically reevaluate the institutions and programs it has accredited.
The Value of Accreditation
Obviously, accreditation is highly valuable to educational institutions that wish to maintain and enhance their quality. But CHEA postulates that it's vital to four other entities as well, including: students who want to qualify for Federal and (sometimes state) grants and loans to attend a college, university or program; employers trying to decide whether they want to cover employee tuition; the federal government in order to judge eligibility for grants, loans and other funds, and state governments to determine which students should be permitted to sit for state professional licensure examinations.
What You Should Look For
Whether you're pursing an academic degree, undertaking a new profession
or you just want to enhance your skills by taking a few classes, verifying
the quality of the institution you plan to attend is simply common
sense. A good rule of thumb is to consider schools that have been
accredited by an organization recognized by the DOE or CHEA. Most
accredited schools proudly display notice of their accreditation on
their website and in their literature. To confirm the accreditation,
go to the website of the accrediting agency and then check the standing
of the accrediting agency with the DOE at www.ed.gov
or CHEA at www.CHEA.org.
Once you know who has accredited the school or program you're considering, you can confirm your eligibility for financial aid. If you're taking the course at the behest of your employer, make sure that they approve of the school's accreditation as well.
Remember, a school's accreditation is an assurance that you'll get the level of education you deserve and pay for. Why should you ever consider settling for less?
Wendy Lalli is a career counselor who writes frequently for the
Chicago Tribune and business publications. Her advice column, "Dear
Lalli" is a regular feature in the Daily Southtown and Star newspapers
in Chicago. Before making a transition to a career coach three years
ago, Wendy was a business-to-business copywriter for more than 15
years.
Bibliography
(2000). Accreditation, Accreditation Lite. Retrieved on Feb. 27, 2005.
Available: www.degree.net/guides.html
(2003, October). How to Evaluate Distance Learning Programs. Retrieved
on Feb. 18, 2005. Available:
www.degreeinfo.com.
Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
(2004, August). General Information on the Accreditation Process.
Retrieved on Feb. 21, 2005. Available: www.sacscoc.org
The Council of Higher Education Accreditation. (2005). Accreditation.
Retrieved February 27, 2005. Available www.CHEA.org.
U.S. Department of Education. (2004). Accreditation in the United
States. Retrieved on February 27, 2004. Available: www.ed.gov/print/admins/finad/accred/accreditation.html.
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