Accreditation Accrediting Education Quality Institutions Higher Program Process

In the United States, most "credible" (trustworthy) "institutions of higher education" (universities and colleges; institutions that offer education after high school) seek "accreditation" (recognition of the quality of an educational program by a professional organization). Currently there are 52 "recognized" (on a list published by the U.S. Secretary of Education) national accrediting "bodies" (organizations), and many more regional accrediting bodies. Other accrediting bodies are for particular specialties or professions, or are related to religious organizations.

Accreditation is a "voluntary" (not required) review process; it is not required by law or performed by the government. During the accreditation process, a university or academic program "submits" (gives to organization) information about the quality of its programs, "faculty" (the people who teach), and "facilities" (the buildings and equipment that are used). Some people argue that accreditation places too much "emphasis" (focus and importance) on "inputs" (things that are used to produce something) rather than "outputs" (results), or the students and what they know upon graduation.

Through a "peer review" process, faculty members and administrators from other universities are involved in reviewing the quality of the program. The accrediting team visits the university, usually multiple times, to gather additional information and "obtain" (get) and make "first-hand" (related to what one sees and hears directly, not through another person) observations.

The team "affirms" (says yes to) or "denies" (rejects; says no to) the institution's accreditation status, but the institution must "maintain" (keep) that status. It must "undergo" (participate in) a reaccreditation process every few years, but the "frequency" (how often something happens) depends on the rules of the particular accrediting body.