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Accreditation plays a vital role in ensuring higher education institutions maintain high standards for student success. It is a process that ensures institutions meet expectations for quality education, student learning outcomes, and overall institutional effectiveness. However, accreditation, especially the 10-year reaffirmation, often goes unnoticed until the year 8 or year 9, leaving little time for preparation and engagement. This approach limits the potential for accreditation to benefit the institution and its community.
Accreditation is not just about passing a review; it is about advancing the institution’s mission and ensuring students are achieving the learning outcomes the institution set for them. The challenge is that many institutions treat accreditation as a task that only requires attention in the final stages, rather than as an ongoing process integrated into daily operations.
Additionally, many people view accreditation as someone else’s responsibility. This misconception arises from a lack of understanding of accreditation’s significance. Accreditation affects more than just paperwork; it is crucial for ensuring federal financial aid, creating smooth transfer opportunities, and providing students with better job prospects after graduation.
So, what should the approach to accreditation entail?
Institutions must take four steps: planning, engagement, preparation, and execution. The most important of these is engagement. Achieving and maintaining accreditation relies on active participation from faculty, staff, students, and community members. Accreditation focuses on how an institution ensures the quality of the student experience while enrolling, attending, and graduating from the college, which means every person on campus has a role to play.
Here are some examples of how various roles can impact accreditation efforts: Do students feel safe on campus (security employees)? Are the walkways clear, lights on, and plumbing working (facilities maintenance)? Are academic advisors helpful? Do students get what they need from the financial aid office? This list could go on.
The key to successful accreditation is overcoming the fear and hesitancy of participation. Most institutions offer educational sessions regarding accreditation, as well as preparation sessions around the time when accrediting bodies will be on campus for the “site visit.” Make time to attend these meetings, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and get clarity about what you can do to support the process.
Your participation becomes especially important during the site visit, so be prepared and motivated to contribute. By the time the visit occurs, everyone should understand their role, and excitement about the process should be high.
Once accreditation is affirmed, the process should not end. Accreditation should continue to be an integral part of the institution’s operations. Regular discussions about accreditation should be woven into annual orientations, newsletters, in-service weeks, and strategic planning. The accreditation task force should transition into a standing committee that works on accreditation annually, ensuring continuous engagement and alignment with accreditation standards.
This continuous engagement does not only benefit accreditation but also supports the institution’s long-term success. It keeps the focus on student success and institutional quality while creating opportunities for professional development. As more senior administrators retire, accreditation knowledge becomes more critical, and involving everyone in the process helps train the next generation of Accreditation Liaison Officers (ALOs).
In conclusion, accreditation is not a task to tackle once every decade but a process that should shape the future of the institution — and everyone can, and should, contribute. By making accreditation an ongoing part of institutional life, it can drive continuous improvement, enhance student success, and ensure that the institution remains aligned with its mission.
