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The first accreditation
Before 1895, there were no consensus between the universities on the educational standards. This led to the establishment of a voluntary association of postsecondary institutions to set a central standard. They were working to develop guidelines to create a distinction between the high school and college level. Once these guidelines were set, the association would have peers review the application as a condition of membership. -
Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) was signed into law
In Title IV of the HEA, the process of accreditation gained legitimacy and importance, the HEA created new federal student aid programs that only accredited institutions could receive. If an institution was not accredited, they would lose access on billions of dollars in federal funds so it became paramount for institutions to achieve accredited status and maintain it to keep these funds available. This became a matter of life or death for institutions that need those federal funds to survive. -
Establishment of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI)
The NACIQI was established in the amendments to the HEA in 1992. This committee was created to advise the Secretary of Education on matters concerning the accreditation of higher education institutions. Their objective is to advise the Secretary on establishing and enforcing criteria for recognizing accrediting organizations. The committee meets at least twice a year to discuss recommendations for the Secretary on certification and improvements to the process for recognition. -
Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965
The Department of Education did not have much oversight over the accreditation process, which led to concerns of fraud and abuse of the process. When the HEA had to be reauthorized in 1992, section 496 was added to require accrediting agencies to have more oversight on the schools they accredited. The Department set out to describe the types of accrediting organizations that they would recognize and the standards these accrediting organizations should have when assessing for accreditation. -
1998 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Distance education comes into play
In 1998, the Department of Education decided they would recognize a growing trend in higher education, distance education programs. The HEA permitted the Secretary of Education to include in the recognition of accreditation agency a new factor, the agency will be required to take into consideration the distance education programs of a school they are going to give accreditation to. The Department hoped this would lead to more emphasis on quality distance education programs as the field expanded. -
Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008
This act is an extension of HEA and it allowed Congress to provide additional criteria for recognition by the Department of Education for accrediting agencies. A new requirement is for accrediting agencies to be transparent about their findings, whether they are positive or negative. Accreditors have to create standards that reflect the mission of the school, including religious missions. This act created a due process for schools that wished to appeal an adverse action by their accreditor. -
Accreditation comes under fire
In the past decade, politicians have been shouting for reform for accreditation. To the point that the Secretary of Education in 2015 referred to accrediting agencies as the watchdog who never barks, in reference to the fact that 11 regionally accredited colleges had a graduation rate of less than 10%.In response, the Department of Education has pushed for more transparency and accrediting agencies to focus more on student-outcomes accountability, such as graduation rates. -
The future of the Higher Education Act
After reviewing the act and the recent problems facing accreditation, when the HEA is up for renewal it could be facing major reforms. If the accrediting agencies do not start showing an improvement in the quality of schools that are being accredited and rigor in maintaining a standard then the reform will be punishing. There is a good chance it will turn into stricter oversight from the federal government and a potential backlash in terms of federal financial support for accredited schools. -
References Part 2
Gulliford, M. (2017, January 20). Re-authorization of the Higher Education Act: Accreditation overhaul? Or is it just a load of codswallop? (That's baloney to you). Retrieved September 17, 2017, from https://www1.taskstream.com/blog/re-authorization-of-the-higher-education-act-accreditation-overhaul-or-is-it-just-a-load-of-codswallop-thats-baloney-to-you/
Hernon, P., & Dugan, R. E. (2004). Outcomes assessment in higher education: views and perspectives. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. -
References
Eaton, J. S. (2010, October). Accreditation and the Federal Future of Higher Education. Retrieved September 17, 2017, from https://www.aaup.org/article/accreditation-and-federal-future-higher-education#.Wb6uf8h97IU
Federal Accreditation Law and Regulations. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2017, from https://www.aft.org/highered/resources/student-success/federal-accreditation-law-and-regulations -
References Part 3
(n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2017, from https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/authority/