Accreditation is a system or process
for providing public confidence and a tool for improvement
used by educational institutions.
It promises a
basic level of quality in an educational institution thru a
process that examines a school's faculty, course content,
recruiting practices, admissions procedures, and more.
The purpose of accreditation is similar world
wide:
- to ensure quality education programs thru the use of
standards and rigorous evaluation criteria
- to stimulate institutions toward higher levels of
quality and efficiency
- to provide a system for public trust and accountability
You can learn much about the
reputation of an institution and the general quality of its
academic programs from its accreditation status.
Each of the schools listed on our site are accredited by
recognized associations where applicable, an important
consideration when selecting an e-learning course or program.
In most countries education providers are nationally
controlled and regulated, usually by a single government
agency such as a Ministry of Education. In the U.S. and
Canada, however, there is no centralized authority but
regional accreditation bodies ensure high standards in
academic programs and institutions.
The associations or
governing bodies that grant accreditation have responsibility
for establishing criteria, visiting and evaluating
institutions, and awarding accreditation to those programs and
institutions that meet their criteria.
The
Importance of Accreditation
Perhaps the best
evidence that any online education program is worth our time
and money comes from the school's accreditation. The
accreditation process ensures the school has been reviewed in
terms of its academics, recruiting, admissions, faculty, and
more. It signals to us that the institution will provide
quality education and continuously work to improve its overall
effectiveness and student outcomes.
CHEA, the Council for
Higher Education Accreditation, reminds us that accreditation
also serves other purposes beyond assuring academic quality to
students and the public.
- Accreditation is required for students to gain access to
federal funds for grants and loans in the U.S.
- Accreditation makes credit transfer among colleges and
universities easier.
- Employers look for accreditation status when evaluating
credentials of job applicants and offering financial support
to employees
When you see that an institution is
accredited by a recognized authority, you can be sure of its
integrity and commitment to students.
Types of
Accreditation
Institutions and individual programs
(faculties) within an institution participate in the
accreditation process. The two types of accreditation commonly
used thruout the world are:
- Institutional accreditation
- Specialized, professional, or programmatic accreditation
Institutional
accreditation
Institutional accreditation is
awarded when a college or university meets the prescribed
standards of the accrediting agency. The effectiveness of the
entire school operation - including academics, administration,
and related services -- is reviewed and certified. This
affirmation ensures a high degree of quality for the public
and is recognized thruout the education world.
Specialized, professional, or programmatic
accreditation
Departments, programs, or
schools within a college or university that is institutionally
accredited often seek specialized accreditation. Specialized
accreditation focuses on a narrower set of standards
particular to that field of study - engineering, law,
teaching, and nursing are examples.
The licensing boards
that regulate some professions may require a student to attend
programs that hold special accreditation, so it is important
for the prospective student to know what is required to be a
licensed practitioner in their field.
Superior State
University Accreditation
SSU is proud to be fully accredited by The
International Education Accreditation Authority (IEAA).
Since Superior State University is an
international higher educational institution, our programs are
not designed to meet any particular local, state or country's
licensing regulations. Our programs are tailored to meet the
needs of our students not any particular accrediting
organization or government agency. Altho SSU does meet and in
most cases exceed most of these accrediting authorities
requirements there are literally tens of thousands in over 200
countries all over the world from specific fields such as
electricians unions to types of study programslike distance
learning organizations. |
