Do you really need to check for accreditation?? YES, YOU DO!
Greetings Everyone! When you are deciding on where to attend school for any higher education institution (this includes colleges, certificate programs, tech programs, and many more) the accreditation of the institution and the program must be considered to ensure that you remain on track for your career goals. If you choose a school that is not accredited, you may not be able to transfer your credits. If you need to attend a program with a specific type of accreditation and do not, you might not be able to get the license you need to pursue your career choice. I authored the article below, “Are You Accredited?,” during my Fellowship with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) after interviewing students and experts in the field of accreditation. I hope this sheds some light in assisting you with an understanding of accreditation, what it means, and how to find out more.
-Dani
Remember, Higher Education is for EVERYONE!
Are You Accredited?
By Danielle Kish
“Are you accredited?” As an enrollment representative at a university for almost 13 years I heard this question often. As I learned more about my job, I realized that students understood this was an important question to ask, but not necessarily why they needed to ask it. As a Fellow, at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), I have been exposed to the deep importance of accreditation, and where to find answers about accreditation. Whether you or someone you know is thinking about attending college, getting a job, changing careers, or seeking a promotion, understanding the importance of accreditation and what to ask is critical.
When asked, “What is accreditation?” Niki an MBA graduate stated, “Accredited schools are accepted by businesses.” Jennifer, a licensed teacher, and Sara, a licensed counselor (MT-BC, LCSW, ICGC-II), both understood that they needed to attend an accredited program to be eligible to take their licensure exams in their fields of study. These answers, provided by former students, offer a window into the importance of understanding accreditation to a student and why it is so important to have information about accreditation prior to attending an institution. As an alum of Arizona State University (ASU) and University of Phoenix (UOP) I am thankful that both institutions have institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. I say thankful because until I started working in education, I just assumed that the schools I attended would be acceptable in helping me get the job I wanted as they are well known institutions, but I did not ask or check that the institutions were accredited. My experience in education has shown me that I am not the only student to have made these assumptions.
CHEA (often referred to as “Accreditation Central”) defines accreditation as the “review of the quality of higher education institutions and programs,” and that accreditation is a primary indicator as to whether an institution or program provides a quality education. Finding a quality institution for a student to attend can be challenging and confusing, but CHEA is a reliable source of information. CHEA is not an accrediting body, but a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that recognizes accrediting organizations; in other words, CHEA “accredits the accreditor.” Accrediting bodies recognized by CHEA voluntarily participate in the recognition process. CHEA recognition demonstrates a commitment by an accrediting organization to its own continuous quality improvement process, academic quality, transparency, and accountability. CHEA is not just meant for accreditors and institutions, but students as well. CHEA is also dedicated to educating the public on degree and accreditation mills. Degree and accreditation mills mislead and harm the education system while providing students with degrees that may not be acknowledged by Higher Education Institutions (HEI) when looking to transfer credits, or be recognized by employers (CHEA, 2021). One more reason that attending an accredited institution is so critical and why asking about accreditation is so important.
When asking about accreditation it is important to know what type of accreditation you are asking about, institutional, or programmatic. “Institutional accreditation applies to an entire institution, indicating that each of an institution's parts is contributing to the achievement of the institution's objectives. Specialized or programmatic accreditation normally applies to programs, departments, or schools that are parts of an institution,” according to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE, 2021). In other words, programmatic accrediting organizations focus their accreditation activities on specific programs such as architecture, library sciences, teacher preparations, nursing, counseling, etc., while institutional accrediting organizations focus on the overall institution.
“Accreditation lets you know it is a quality institution, but that is where you start,” said Dr. Stephanie Droker, President of the Accrediting Commission for Community College, and Junior Colleges. Programmatic accreditation is essential for a number of professions as articulated by Joseph Vibert, Executive Director of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors who stated that, for example, students who wish to work as physical therapists must graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) to be eligible to sit for the licensing exam. Dr. Sylvia Fernandez, President, and Jenny Gunderman, Chief Operating Officer of the Counsel for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) expressed that programmatic accreditation does not mean that you are automatically licensed but provides the opportunity for an individual to be eligible to sit for licensure. Gunderman stated that programmatic accreditation provides consistency on expectations in the preparation of individuals who plan to work in the field of counseling, and Dr. Fernandez added that employers in the field of counseling look for students who have graduated from CACREP accredited programs because of this consistency in preparation. During the interview’s conducted emphasis was also placed on students researching where graduates of an institution gained employment and what assistance an institution provides to assist with a student’s job search, which ties back to an institution’s accreditation being recognized by an employer.
It is also important for a student to understand how accreditation works. Applying for accreditation is not a guarantee that an institution or program will receive accreditation and accreditation is time limited. Accredited institutions and programs have regular reporting requirements and must host a periodic comprehensive review to maintain accreditation once accreditation has been achieved. Institutions and programs must demonstrate on an ongoing basis that they remain in compliance with required standards. Accreditation is a peer review process conducted by individuals with experience in higher education and, as appropriate, with program specific expertise. The standards that are applied to institutions and programs are nationally recognized and have been subject to public comment and input from all community stakeholders, including higher education officials, administrators, faculty, professionals, and the public. As part of the accreditation process, institutions and programs engage in self-study process and complete a written self-study document that provides evidence that the institution or program is meeting the expected standards. Additionally, the institution or program hosts an on-site evaluation where a team of peers appointed by the accrediting organization confirm the information provided in the self-study document. The accreditation process from beginning (time of application) to end (the granting of accreditation) may take as long as two years (and in some instances longer). It is important to note, that for an HEI to be eligible to offer students federal financial aid (Title IV funding), such as federal student loans and Pell grants, the institution must hold institutional accreditation from a USDE recognized accrediting body.
In researching this article, I had the privilege of interviewing experts in the field of accreditation providing me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of institutional and programmatic accreditation, much more than what I learned and understood after 13 years working in higher education. I wish I had this knowledge and an understanding of the available resources, such as CHEA, when I was entering the world of academia as a student. Gaining a better understanding of what accreditation is and its relationship to higher education and the student experience, directly correlates to the quality of an institution and students’ success in seeking a career direction. Understanding the importance of an accredited institution or program is a first step that demands the attention of anyone thinking about attending college and enhancing their professional and personal life. Whether you are the one thinking about attending or returning to college, or helping someone else, I hope you have gained a better understanding of what accreditation is and why it is vital to the search for the right college or university, and program for you.
Special Thanks to All My Interviewees: Former Graduate Students: Sara Devine MT-BC, LCSW, ICGC-II, Founder of Expressive Therapies, LLC.; Niki Heckler, MBA Graduate; Jennifer Kutch, MS Biology, Licensed Teacher Accreditation Experts: Dr. Stephanie Droker, President, Accrediting Commissions for Community College and Junior Colleges; Dr. Sylvia Fernandez, President Counsel for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Jenny Gunerman, Chief Operating Officer Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Dr. Philip Reckers, Emeritus Faculty Arizona State University; Lori Schroeder, Vice President for Recognition Services Council for Higher Education Accreditation; Joseph Vibert, Executive Director, Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors ASPA
References
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). (2021). Accreditation and Recognition. http://www.chea.org
U. S. Department of Education. (2021). Accreditation in the United States. https://www2.ed.gov
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Dr. Danielle Kish struggled with her college journey, costing her time and money. Danielle’s hard work and research paid off, and she completed her doctorate in education. She is dedicated to helping students and families overcome obstacles, identifying the right questions to ask, and assisting in where to find the answers. Dr. Dani continues to focus on improving student success in the classroom through research, conference engagements, and publications. To read ‘The Full Story,’ visit the ABOUT page at College Questions, www.qar101.com.
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