Slide 1 1 Louise Zak, Associate Director Commission on Institutions of Higher Education New England Association of Schools and Colleges http //cihe neasc org U S ACCREDITATION CHARACTERISTICS TYPES OF[.]
U.S ACCREDITATION: CHARACTERISTICS TYPES OF AGENCIES BENEFITS Louise Zak, Associate Director Commission on Institutions of Higher Education New England Association of Schools and Colleges http://cihe.neasc.org U.S Accreditation is System of Self-Regulation Setting the Standards Agreeing to abide by Standards and policies Peer review Educational value of the process for those who participate U.S Features that Help Define Accreditation Historical: Private institutions first 1885 NEASC Political: U.S federal system and the Constitution Strong tradition of voluntary associations • really Decentralized Not a system • • • • Large: 7,000 institutions, 19.5 million students Diverse, all age students Serves a mobile society Porous – and forgiving REFLECTION OF AMERICAN CULTURE Optimism about change Freedom of choice, individual autonomy Competition, “marketplace of ideas” Pragmatism Ongoing self-improvement “Who accredits the accreditors?” Recognition by U.S Secretary of Education Council for Higher Education Accreditation “The Triad” U.S higher education is overseen by bodies Federal government – financial aid State – license to operate, consumer protection Accreditors – educational quality Regular peer review Evaluation, not ranking Inputs, processes, outcomes What is accreditation? A voluntary system of selfregulation carried out by peer review in which an institution or program is found to meet or exceed a set of standards Characteristics of American • Private, nongovernmental Accreditation • • • organizations Self-regulatory system Voluntary • Federal financial aid Benefits • • • • De-centralized system Evolved, not designed Volunteer, peer evaluators *The most important and Relies on candor and integrity • • • • Tuition reimbursement College guides Research funding Public confidence* most fragile 18,000 Accredited Programs 62 Specialized Accreditors 7,000 Accredited Institutions 19 Institutional Accreditors* Recognition by CHEA & USDOE Size of the U.S Accreditation Enterprise Types of Accreditation in the US I Specialized (Professional, Programmatic) • Specialized institutions (e.g., seminaries, conservatories) • Programs (e.g., nursing, engineering) II Institutional • Regional – 2-yr, 4-yr, graduate institutions • National – faith-based institutions • National – private career 10 American Regional Accreditation A word about: American • Certainly not the only way to be excellent • Not necessarily the best overall • Not the best for every circumstance • What we know how to •Reflects American higher education and society •Not ISO 9000 15 The Regions of Regional Accreditation 16 Why the regions? Historical evolution, not design Reflects regional differences Commonalities and 17 The New England Association accredits • 244 institutions in the New England states and institutions abroad • High proportion of independent institutions • Diverse set of institutions New England is a geographic region 18 Variety in Institutional Mission A Sample of Public and Independent Institutions Harvard University Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Dartmouth College Berklee College of Music Hartford Seminary University of New Hampshire New England Institute of Art Community College of Vermont Goodwin College Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Boston Architectural College School for International Training 19 Some New England institutions with professional missions U.S Coast Guard Academy U.S Naval War College Bangor Theological Seminary New England Conservatory Massachusetts College of Art and Design Hult International Business School Conway School of Landscape Design Boston Architectural College 20 ... Higher Education 18 95 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges 18 95 North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission 19 17 Northwest Commission... National – private career 10 U.S Regional Accreditors 18 85 New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC) 18 87 Middles States... and society •Not ISO 9000 15 The Regions of Regional Accreditation 16 Why the regions? Historical evolution, not design Reflects regional differences Commonalities and 17 The New England Association