Academic accreditation

Academic accreditation is a quality assurance system for universities, colleges, and occasionally secondary schools. It certifies that an organisation has the credentials to give people credentials.

Accreditation is a third-party process that costs tens of thousands of dollars and takes many years. Accreditation regulations vary from country to country but involves on-site visits and faculty evaluations. In the United States education system, in order to certify accreditation, an accrediting body must be recognized by the U.S Department of Education.

Types of accreditation

Educational institutions may be accredited on an national or a regional basis. In regional accreditation the standards are rigorous and expensive.Typically, regionally-accredited schools are quality institutions. National accreditation has lower standards and the process is generally less expensive, given that nationally-accredited degree programs rarely transfer to regionally-accredited schools. There is also professional accreditation which accredits professional programs such as- medical programs (Medical doctors/osteopathic doctors, Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Dentistry, Veterinary and Optometry), Law schools, engineering schools, teacher education programs and ministerial programs (Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, Church Music, Religious Education, Pastoral Counseling and Chaplaincy).

In the United States, museums can also be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.[1] Accreditation is rarer among museums (only about 10% nationwide[2]) than among other colleges and universities because the benefits to the museum are not as great. Colleges and universities need to attract students, student loans from the Department of Education, professors and grant money for research; being accredited is an important way to show that the institute as a whole meets a basic level of worthiness. Museums often do need to attract grant money, but they are not overseen by the Department of Education.

Accrediting groups

National accreditation groups
  • Accrediting Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET), accredits engineering programs
  • Association of Theological Schools, accredits Christian colleges and seminaries such as Starr King School for the Ministry and Berkeley Divinity School
  • Distance Education Accrediting Commission, provides accreditation for online colleges such as Penn Foster College and Ashworth College

Dubious but recognized

Regional accrediting groups
  • Council of Higher Education Accreditation
  • Higher Learning Commission
  • Mid-Atlantic Region Commission on Higher Education, a.k.a. the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (mid-Atlantic United States)
  • North-Central Association of Colleges and Schools, midwestern United States
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, northwestern United States
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, southern United States
  • Western Association of Colleges and Schools, western United States

Professional accrediting groups

Professional accreditation is a type of national accreditation that accredits degrees of a professional nature, such as medical and law degrees.

  • American Bar Association, accredits law schools (Harvard Law School)
  • Association of Medical Colleges, accredits medical schools (Yale Medical School, University of Michigan Medical School)
  • Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, accredits Osteopathic medical schools (Michigan State University Osteopathic Medical College)
  • Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, accredits Naturopathic medical colleges (Bastyr University)

Accreditation mills

Accreditation mills are accreditation authorities that are not themselves accredited. Often, such organizations have little or no standards and will issue accreditation to any applicant for a one time fee. In some cases diploma mills attempt to add an air of legitimacy by operating their own accreditation organization and obtaining self-accreditation.[3] Examples include:

  • Accrediting Commission International, also known as the International Accrediting Organization, an accreditation mill associated with Patriot Bible University.[4]
  • American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions (AAATI)[5]
  • American Association for Higher Education and Accreditation[6]
  • Association of Accredited Bible Schools[7]
  • Association of Independent Christian Colleges and Seminaries (AICCS)[8]
  • Distance and Online Universities Accreditation Council (DOUAC)[7]
  • International Higher Learning Commission[7]
  • National Association of Private Theological Institutions[9]
  • National Bible College Association[10]
  • National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance (NPSAA),[11] claimed by known diploma mills, e.g. Hindu University of America, as an accreditation authority

Like diploma mills, accreditation mills damage the reputation of distance learning and facilitate con artistry.

Religious exemption

Religious colleges sometimes operate under a "religious exemption" whereby they are not required to obtain accreditation. 28 states, including Florida, California, and Maine have some form of religious exemption. The religious exemption is often used by schools and seminaries that focus on more obscure religions. Examples of institutions operating under a religious exemption include:

  • Anderson Theological Seminary, a Georgia seminary[12]
  • Cherry Hill Seminary, a Pagan seminary[13]
  • College of Metaphysical Studies, a New Thought institution that teaches homeopathy
  • International Institute for Holistic Arts and Sciences (IIHAS), "a pioneer in Metaphysical, Spiritual, New Age, Holistic and Neo-Pagan education"[14]
  • University of Sedona, self described as "the world's largest metaphysical university system[15]
  • Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary, a Wiccan seminary[16]

The religious exemption is often abused by diploma mills such as Patriot Bible University.

gollark: Visit Chorus City, because *its* street signs are *not* down.
gollark: You had a stupid amount of carts within an hour?
gollark: Doubleplusunbrain.
gollark: Deleting all entities every 15 minutes is dumdum.
gollark: Answer: not really.

References
  1. American Alliance of Museums
  2. Sharayah Cochran, Best Practices & Bursars: The (Ac)credible University Art Museum.
  3. Many will use names that sound similar to actual accrediting agencies. For example, Christian Bible College operates its own unaccredited accreditation authority, the American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions Inc. (AAATI). Retrieved on 24 October 2015.
  4. Accreditation, accreditnow.com.
    Accrediting Commission International is an international accrediting commission which holds as its primary objective the encouragement and maintenance of sound scholarship and the highest academic achievement in the areas of private education. Quality education is the goal at all times. Its purpose is the preparation of quality education in private schools, colleges, and theological seminaries. It is a non-governmental body and makes no claim to be connected with the government.
  5. American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions dismisses proper certification as unimportant:
    For an institution to be accredited by a US Department Of Education recognized agency, there are extremely expensive conditions which have to met and complied with, including premium licensing fees, extensive regulations, and large brick and mortar facilities. Not to mention seeking said accreditation can open the door to ungodly values being forced upon the institution in order to retain their accreditation. Our Member Institutions have found the proper balance between high standards and accountability and proper perspective on less important things.
  6. American Association for Higher Education.
    Membership and accreditation are two totally different recognitions. Membership levels are for any type organization or institution, as Accreditation is a lengthy and detailed process that can take from a few months to two years or longer. Our accreditation process has been used by traditional schools as a preparation for traditional type accreditation. It is quite similar in content and rigor, and has been patterned to that of CHEA / DOE type guidelines.
  7. List of Accreditation Agencies Used By Fake Colleges, geteducated.com.
  8. Association of Independent Christian Colleges & Seminaries – Disclaimer.
    Because of the AICCS Board of Directors’ convictions in support of religious freedom, Christian liberty, and the separation of church and state, AICCS has never applied for affiliation with any federal government agency. AICCS, therefore, is not recognized by the United States Department of Education. Credits earned at any AICCS-accredited institution are accepted by all other AICCS schools, but these credits are not automatically transferable to other colleges or seminaries.
  9. NAPTI Accreditation. napti.us. "This type of 'accreditation' is based upon peer evaluation...." At least they were honest enough to put the word in quotes. Retrieved on 27 December 2015.
  10. National Bible College Association guidelines. n-b-c-a.com. Retrieved on 13 October 2015.
    The National Bible College Association is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation is "a review by your peers" that ensures that you are offering a quality program. The U.S. Department of Education is not a peer of Christian Leadership University.
  11. NPSAG Accreditation. npsag.com.
    NPSAG accreditation is a voluntary peer-review process which allows schools and colleges to demonstrate the integrity and quality of their education programs.
  12. Educational Affiliations. andersonvilleseminary.com. Retrieved on 24 October 2015.
  13. Cherry Hill Seminary, About Accreditation. cherryhillseminary.org. Retrieved on 24 October 2015.
  14. Notice to Educators and Concerned Citizens. Retrieved on 24 October 2015.
    Because Metaphysical Sciences is considered a "new emerging field of study" by federal and educational agencies, it does not qualify for traditional accreditation that universities like private and state universities, community colleges, and other secular institutions qualify for.
  15. Paul Leon Masters. Accreditation: Realities and Deceptions. universityofsedona.com. Retrieved on 24 October 2015.
  16. Wiccan Seminary, About us. wiccanseminary.edu, retrieved on 24 October 2015.
    At this time Wicca does not have enough legal degree granting institutions to create an accrediting board. We hope that this will change in the future as more groups create Wiccan Institutions of Higher Education.
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