National Accreditors’ Perspective on Accountability

1. National Accreditors’ Perspective on Accountability Tom Wickenden Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)

2. Outline • Who are the national accreditors? • How do they view accountability? • How do they promote accountability?

3. Who are the national accreditors? • 6 postsecondary accreditors recognized by USDOE; 2 also recognized by CHEA • Accredit institutions across the country • Scope varies. For example, ACICS accredits: • Less than 2 year certificates through masters • On-site and on-line delivery • Professional, technical & occupational programs • Institutions whose sizes range from hundreds of students to hundreds of campuses • Private postsecondary institutions • With a career education mission

4. How do national accreditors view accountability? • Private institutions are accountable to the market • Privately held for-profit institutions are accountable through their owners • Publicly traded for-profit institutions are accountable through their boards and shareholders • Not-for-profit institutions are accountable through their boards • Limited partnerships and limited liability companies are accountable through their general partner or members • As with the rest of our economy, regulation must assist to protect the consumer from abuse • Availability and validity of consumer information • Adequacy of resources and the educational process • Quality of educational outcomes

5. Examples of Consumer Information • Information that must be provided in the catalog is specified and audited • Information that must be provided to prospective students is specified and audited • Information that must be provided on a course syllabus is specified and audited • Information that cannot be provided in ads and promotions is specified and audited.

6. Example of Resources • Faculty must have appropriate credentials for their level and field of education • Faculty must develop and maintain knowledge of relevant industry and pedagogy • All faculty credentials and development plans are audited • Missing/unofficial/unevaluated credentials and inappropriate or undocumented development will result in a citation

7. Examples of Outcomes • Institutions must inform prospective students about retention and placement rates, by program • Institutions must report retention and placement rates annually • This information is audited at the time of the accreditation visit – at each campus • Institutions must meet specific quantitative standards for retention and placement or face consequences

8. How do national accreditors promote accountability? • In 1997 Congress & the USDOE required national accreditors to develop quantitative standards for retention/completion and job placement rates • To assist institutions, the nationals shifted from a compliance model to an effectiveness model based on continuous improvement • Institutional Effectiveness Planning includes retention, placement, student and employer satisfaction, and student learning outcomes