Donna Carney

EDLD7430

WWW.CHEA.ORG

What is CHEA?

CHEA is the Council for Higher Education

Accreditation. It is a national supporter and
institutional voice for self-regulation of
academic excellence through accreditation.
CHEA is an organization of more than 3,000
degree-granting universities and colleges.
CHEA recognizes 60 institutional and
programmatic accrediting associations.

What is
Accreditation?

Method of external quality review used

by higher education to examine
colleges, universities and programs for
quality assurance and improvement
U.S. accreditation came into existence
more than 100 years ago
Process emerged from public health and
safety concerns to better serve the
public interest
Conveyed by private, nonprofit
organizations designed for this explicit
purpose

Purpose of
Accreditation

Uphold quality education offered in higher

education institutions
Degrees meet standards set by the
government and higher education experts
Ability to transfer credits
Ability to receive federal or state financial
aid
Respected and recognized by employers
Eligible for public or private scholarships

Steps to
Accreditation

Self-study - written summary of

standards by institution
Peer review - conducted by faculty,
staff, and members of public
Site visit - a team is sent for review of
program or institution
Judgment by accrediting organization
Periodic external review - institutions
reviewed every few years

Mission of CHEA

Committed to coordinating and improving quality

review for accreditation based on the following
principles:
Quality Assurance
Leadership
Advocacy
Service
Core Values
Independence
Inclusion

Purpose of CHEA

Recognizes accreditors
Performs periodic external reviews of
accreditors
Recognition carried out by CHEA or U.S.
Department of Education
Develops standards for accreditors
May award or deny recognition status
Assures academic quality and ongoing
quality improvement in higher
education institutions and programs

Information
available

Databases available of approximately

7,800 degree-granting & non-degree
granting colleges and universities
Databases of > 20,000 programs
Inform the public about accreditation
Recognition
Degree Mills and Accreditation Mills
Research and Publications
International Quality Review
Government Relations

Videos available

Degree mills
Accreditation and its value
Types of accreditation
Information about CHEA

Suggested Uses of
Website

Determine if a school or program is

accredited
Publications and documents available for
learning about accreditation and quality
assurance
Employers want to know if schools are
accredited before providing tuition
assistance
Students seeking federal & state assistance
need to attend an accredited school