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Formation of Accrediting Agencies
The first regional accreditation agency was founded in 1885. These agencies evolved with the growth of peer review between institutions and accreditation along with regulation of federal and state legislation (Lindborg & Spangehl). -
Record Enrollment
College enrollment exceeds two million students, nearly half of whom are veterans attending under the provisions of the GI Bill. -
Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952
After the Korean War, the Veteran's Readjustment Act of 1952 (also known as the GI Bill) established the relationship between accreditation and the government. It specified that veterans could only use the education benefits at accredited colleges and universities (G.I. Bill, 1953). -
Higher Education Act of 1965
Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Higher Education Act established eligibility for federal student aid programs including grants, low-interest loans and scholarships for accredited universities and colleges. Recognition meant that accreditors were determined to be a "reliable authority as to the quality of education or training offered" by the institutions of higher education or programs they credit (Schlam, 2004). -
General Education Provisions Act of 1972
This act amended the Higher Education Act of 1965. The legislation states " no provision... shall be construed to authorize any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, school or school system" (Eaton, 2010). In addition to these amendments, Title IX was introduced and prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex. -
The Council on Postsecondary Accreditation
The Council on Postsecondary Accreditation is established by the merger of the National Commission on Accreditation and the Federation of Regional Accrediting Commissions of Higher Education to serve as the recognizing body for accrediting agencies (Davenport, 2000). -
Higher Education Act Amendments of 1992
These amendments defined what the area accreditors needed to examine when determining institutional quality as well as authorizing more than three-quarters of all financial aid available to students in higher education (Hannah, 1996). -
Commission on the Future of Higher Education
Former United States Secretary of Education, Margaret Spelling, called for in-depth research to be conducted over the future of higher education. This assignment brought further scrutiny to accreditation as a whole and suggested more federal control as a solution for several institution's shortcomings, including potential requirements about creating a standard of student learning outcomes and assessments (Lederman, 2006). -
Reauthorized Higher Education Act of 2008
The commission report’s emphasis on greater accountability from accreditation ultimately found its way into the reauthorized Higher Education Act, retitled the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which finally was signed into law in August 2008. This act resulted in 110 new rules or reporting obligations for higher education and accreditation (Eaton, 2010). -
Credit Regulation
In 2010, the U.S. Department of Education defined an academic credit hour to provide regulations for Title IV eligibility. These rules were set in place to address program integrity and student aid programs.
