Accreditation can be awarded at the institutional or programmatic level by a recognized, peer-governed accrediting body. The purpose of accreditation is to hold institutions and programs to standards set by their peers, convey credibility to the public, and standardize a cycle of self-study for continuous reflection and improvement.
The accreditation process typically includes a vigorous self-study as well as a peer review, which results in a decision to grant, grant with conditions, or deny accreditation (
http://www.chea.org). This information is made public by the accrediting body and can also be found on the CHEA website:
http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp.
Accrediting bodies are recognized by the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is governed by a board of higher education professionals and public members. These accrediting bodies also play a role in educational policy and government relations.
Institutional accreditation is awarded by accrediting bodies that are
regional,
faith-related or
career-related. A list of programmatic accrediting bodies can be found at
http://www.chea.org/Directories/special.asp.