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Accreditation FAQ
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a voluntary process an institution enters into, ensuring that it meets certain standards. For example, an accrediting agency will examine the university’s academic programs, financial condition, governance and administration, admissions and student personnel services, resources, student academic achievement, and organizational effectiveness, among other factors. An accrediting organization is an independent body that objectively judges an institution against these standards.
How important is being accredited?
Accreditation communicates to the public that an institution has met accepted standards. It is a way of assuring prospective students that the courses and programs offered at the institution are of high quality and value. Accreditation also allows for access to federal student aid and greater ease in transferring credit.
Who performs the accreditation?
Accreditation is performed by a recognized organization that has the sole purpose of accrediting institutions or programs. These organizations are not government agencies, but are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
What types of accreditations are there?
There are three types of accreditation: national, regional, and programmatic. To award federal financial aid, the institution must be accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Programmatic accreditation is appropriate for professional programs that lead to certification or licensure. Since all accreditation is voluntary, institutions select the kinds of accreditation they want to pursue, based on their own strategic plan and the types of programs they offer.
What steps must an institution go through to become accredited?
Typically, an institution will need to submit a self-study at the beginning of the process based on the criteria of the accrediting body. The institution will be subjected to a review and site visit by a group of peers, who will evaluate how the institution or program meets the criteria. Afterward, the accrediting body will issue a decision.
How often does an institution need to be accredited?
Once an institution becomes accredited, it must maintain that status through an ongoing review process. This will include periodic reports to, and on-site visits by, the accrediting agency.
What regional accreditation does Walden currently have?
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. The North Central Association is one of the six officially recognized regional bodies in the United States authorized to accredit colleges and universities.
- The North Central Association accredits institutions in the states of Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
- The Middle States Association accredits institutions in the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- The New England Association of Schools and Colleges accredits institutions in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accredits institutions in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits institutions in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
- The Western Association of Schools and Colleges accredits institutions in the states of California and Hawaii, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Northern Marianas Islands.
Can an institution achieve more than one regional accreditation?
The U.S. Department of Education does not usually allow institutions to pursue more than one regional accreditation. However, the six regional accrediting bodies recognize each other’s accreditation.
Does Walden have program-specific accreditations/affiliations?
Program-specific accreditations/affiliations are discussed in each degree program’s Web page. Please see each program’s description for a more in-depth discussion of the accreditations/affiliations it may have.
Where can I find more information on accreditation?
You can find more information on the accreditation process, as well as a particular school’s status, at the following Web sites:
- The Higher Learning Commission
www.ncahlc.org - U.S. Department of Education
www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation - Council for Higher Education Accreditation
www.chea.org
