A description of the steps in the accreditation
process that are common to most agencies.
Questions to ask about your accreditation agency:
What is the maximum length of an accreditation term?
These are the basic steps for accrediting a university or academic
program:
1-Evaluation Request
The university or program makes a request to
be evaluated by the accreditation agency.
2-Internal Review
The university or program formally assesses its strengths
and challenges based on the agency's standards and describes
its plans for improvement in a one-time or continuously-updated
document, commonly called a "self-study."
3-External Review
The accreditation agency recruits peer reviewers to analyze
the self-study documents and conduct an on-site evaluation of
the university or program. On-site, evaluation-team
members are often the same individuals who review the self-study;
however, some agencies assemble a separate team to review the
self-study.
4-Report
The evaluation team or accreditation agency present the findings.
Some agencies may also make recommendations based on standards.
In addition, at some agencies, the team may also determine the
terms of accreditation.
5-Public Comment
Accreditation agencies often receive input from the general
public during accreditation activities through public-interest
panels or by having public members on accreditation boards and
review teams. Agencies also consider
public comments and formal complaints about programs as part
of the evaluation process.
6-Agency Review
The accreditation agency's decision-making body (e.g., Board
of Directors) reviews the team reports and may choose to meet
with university or program representatives for clarification.
7-Recommendation
The accreditation agency's decision making body accepts or
modifies the recommendations and affirms or determines the terms
of accreditation.
8-Implementation
The university or program is expected to implement the recommendations
and report to the accreditation agency as specified by the terms
of the accreditation.
