Accredited by department or is the degree accredited? What does this mean? What's the difference between ACBSP and AACSB accreditation? Accreditation Directory

What's the difference between ACBSP and AACSB accreditation?

All I know, is that AACSB is the highest accreditation for universities that teach business majors and is seen as "the gold standard". I also know that ACBSP is seen more as silver than gold, but is still better than the third one out there or none at all. I'm just curious because I got into a school (Troy University) that is an AACSB member, but is ACBSP accredited. However, University of Alabama is AACSB accredited but seen as a lesser school than Troy. I've heard it matters most if you're looking to teach, and I'm not. I'm just after a Business bachelor's for now, and a few years later would like to apply for a MBA somewhere that is AACSB accredited. In the mean time, will having a bachelor's in business with an ACBSP accreditation ruin any chances of getting jobs for me? Will people look down upon it, or are most unaware/don't care? Thank you :)

asked by: Jade

Answer: The story goes like this: AACSP used to restrict accreditation to a very small number of research universities. Every other School of Business was locked out. Business Schools started to see that "programmatic" accreditation such as ABET for Engineering, raised standards generally and distinguished good schools from mediocre schools. So, ACBSP was formed, to accredit Schools of Business which claimed to prefer "teaching" over "research." Soon after, a third accreditation agency IACBE split off due to some internal dispute. When these competing agencies started growing rapidly, AACSB changed its policies to allow a broader range of school to apply for accreditation. Once AACSB changed policies and started recruiting, support for ACBSOP and IACBE faded. Today, both remain one-horse operations out of Kansas. Today, the only respected accreditation for USA Business Schools is AACSB. ACBSP and IACBE are seen as accrediting schools which are not good enough for AACSB. Notes: ATMAE accredits a type of degree called "Technology Management" or "Industrial Technology," which combines Business and Technology. Outside the USA, there are two other respected accrediting agencies: AMBA and EQUIS.

http://www.asktostudy.com/pd/everest-university-lakeland/business/bachelor/184511.html

http://www.asktostudy.com/accreditation-agencies.html

Accredited by department or is the degree accredited? What does this mean?

The U.S. government itself does not accredit colleges, unlike common practice in many countries. Likewise, the federal government does not accredit or conduct academic evaluation of foreign colleges.

U.S. accrediting organizations evaluate colleges and universities in all 50 states, as well as in 97 other countries.

There are four types of accreditation, and many different accrediting organizations.

Government agencies are not part of the accreditation process, but may recognize or approve certain types of accreditation based on their assessment of the standards and performance of the accrediting agency, their member institutions, and/or the reason for the accreditation.

The U.S. Department of Education recognizes accrediting bodies for purposes of institutional financial aid eligibility and other areas in which the federal government has an interest.

It’s important to know what kind of accreditation is best for your own purposes as you plan for your future educational and professional goals.

Approval by a state government is not accreditation, except in the case of the New York Board of Regents, which is both a state agency and an accrediting body

The accreditation of schools is funded primarily through fees and annual dues

What are the Different Types of Accreditation?

1. Regional accreditors are the oldest and most widely accepted standard for accreditation. Regional organizations accredit public and private, mainly non-profit and degree-granting institutions.
   Regional accreditation is:
   
   • widely accepted as the standard quality indicator by other higher education institutions, employers, state and federal governments, and international partners.
   • used as the standard accreditation for many different purposes, including transfer of credits from one college to another, admission to graduate study, evaluation of the validity of an academic degree, employment and licensing.
2. National faith-related organizations accredit religiously-affiliated and doctrinally-based institutions, mainly non-profit and degree-granting
3. National career-related organizations accredit mainly for-profit, career-oriented institutions,
4. Programmatic accrediting organizations accredit specific programs, professions, and free-standing schools, such as law, medicine, engineering, and health professional schools.

How does the Accreditation Process Work?

• Accrediting organizations develop standards that must be met in order to be accredited.
• Institutions and programs undertake self-studies based on standards.
• Institutions and programs are subject to peer review, including site visits and team reports.
• Accrediting organizations make a judgment based on standards through their decision-making commissions and award (or do not award) accredited status.
• Institutions and programs undergo periodic review by accrediting organizations to maintain accredited status.

Accreditation in the United States

        What is "accreditation"?

Accreditation is a process of external quality review created and used by higher            education to scrutinize colleges, universities and [degree] programs for quality            assurance and quality improvement. — Judith Eaton, President of the                Council on Higher Education Accreditation

        Accreditation is an indicator that an institution has met a set of accepted standards        of academic quality that are defined and recognized by other higher education institutions,        and is the primary standard for quality assurance in U.S. higher education, and        is used both here and internationally to determine the value of a college degree        earned at a college or university in the United States.   
        For more information on accreditation, see             The Council for Higher Education Accreditation website, which provides extensive        resources, articles and             videos about accreditation.

        Who is Responsible for Accreditation?

        The accreditation process is based on the premise [that] higher education institutions            have primary responsibility for academic quality: They are the leaders and the primary            sources of authority in academic matters. — from Accreditation and Recognition in the United States published by the Council                for Higher Education Accreditation in September 2008

        In the United States, accreditation of colleges is carried out by private, non-profit        organizations. In other countries, accreditation may be a function of the national        government, a regional oversight body, or standards used in another country (such        as U.S. accreditation) may be used as a measure of quality.

        How can I Find Out Which Accrediting Organizations are "Recognized"?

        Click here for a        complete list of legitimate accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department        of Education.

        How can I Find Out if a School is Accredited?

        There are two searchable databases on the Internet that provide reliable information        about the accreditation of institutions and academic programs.

• The US Department of Education
• The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (Click "I agree" at the bottom of            page)

        Be aware that most schools will claim accreditation if they have it, but it’s still        a good idea to verify that their accreditation is one that will be recognized by        other schools, employers, licensing boards, and government agencies.
        Here is a list of unaccredited schools offering degrees that are not valid in Oregon. Claiming a degree from one of these schools in Oregon for employment, education, or business purposes, may result in legal action against the degree-holder.
Unaccredited schools offering degrees that are not valid in Oregon

        Is "Accreditation" Required?

• Accreditation by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education            is required for access to federal student aid funds and federal programs.
• Both federal and state governments consider accreditation to be a reliable indicator            of academic quality. However, all accrediting organizations are not considered equally            reliable. The U.S. Department of Education "recognizes" accrediting organizations            for the purpose of determining access to federal financial aid. Some states also            "approve" or "recognize" specific accrediting organizations.
• Most colleges and universities will only accept credits for transfer if the credits            were earned at an institution with recognized accreditation. Some institutions will            require a specific type of accreditation.
• Degree mills are schools that offer degrees without the proper legal authority to            do so. There are also "accreditation mills" which are organizations, usually operated            by degree mills, that don’t have any recognition to make their accreditation valid.            Accreditation is only useful if it is recognized.

source:

http://www.oregonstudentaid.gov/oda-degree-validation-accreditation-faq.aspx

How Do I Verify Regional Accreditation of a College or University?

Please see below for instructions on how to find out if a college or university is regionally-accredited.
Department of Education certification regulations generally require that college credits be shown on the transcript of a regionally accredited institution of higher education. N.J.A.C. 6A:9-11.5(c). In most cases these credits must also appear on the transcript of a regionally-accredited, four year institution of higher education. Exceptions include some of the requirements for the educational interpreter certificate, the military science certificate, experience-based career and technical education certificates, and career and technical education certificates for which the department accepts courses from regionally-accredited two year institutions of higher education.
Please note, per below, that regional accreditation does not provide automatic acceptance of course credits.
In addition, a “regionally accredited college or university” is defined as (N.J.A.C. 6A:9-2):
“Regionally accredited college or university” means an institution of higher education accredited by one of the following regional accreditation associations:

1. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools:
2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges;
3. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;
4. Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges;
5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and
6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Instructions: Is a College or University Regionally-Accredited?
Go to www.chea.org/search/default.asp, scroll to the bottom of the page, and agree to the search conditions.
On the next page, enter the name, state, and country of the institution in question, choose ‘Any Accreditor,’ and click on the ‘Search for Institutional Accreditation’ button. (Sometimes the name of the institution is a little different than what you would expect, and you may have to try different variations. For example, you can find out about Rutgers University by typing in either Rutgers or Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, but not by typing in Rutgers University.)
If successful, you will retrieve a link to the institution you are seeking.
Click on that link. The information then provided will indicate the address, phone number(s) and institutional accreditation.
If the institutional accreditation matches one of the six allowed by regulation, then credits from this institution may be accepted by the Department of Education.
Limitations on Accepting Credits Include:

• All certification titles have specific degree and content/subject requirements that must be met, regardless of which regionally-accredited institution one has attended.

• Some certification titles generally require that one complete a particular program that is specifically approved by the department. These include alternate route certificates for Teacher of Students with Disabilities, English as a Second Language, Bilingual/Bicultural Education, and School Library Media Specialist.

• A graduating cumulative grade point average (GPA) cannot be improved by taking just any post-graduation courses at the same institution, nor does the department re-calculate a graduating GPA by considering courses from institutions other than the one(s) from which you graduate.

Please refer to Licensing regulations for details on the certificates for which you might apply. In addition, application requirements for many certificates are summarized at this page.

http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/usaccred.htm

About Accreditation

What is the purpose of accreditation?

Accreditation is a process that assures the educational community and the general public that an institution or a program has clearly defined and appropriate objectives and maintains conditions under which their achievement can reasonably be expected. It encourages improvement through continuous self-study and review. It fosters excellence in postsecondary education through the development of principles and guidelines for assessing educational effectiveness.

Questions about accreditation

• What is accreditation?
• What is the difference between APA accreditation and institutional accreditation?
• Why are “degree mills” and “accreditation mills” harmful?
• What kinds of programs are accredited?
• What is the purpose of accreditation?
• Why is accreditation important?
• What are the different statuses of accreditation and what do they mean?

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is both a status and a process. As a status, accreditation provides public notification that an institution or program meets standards of quality set forth by an accrediting agency. As a process, accreditation reflects the fact that in achieving recognition by the accrediting agency, the institution or program is committed to self-study and external review by one's peers in seeking not only to meet standards but to continuously seek ways in which to enhance the quality of education and training provided.
Psychology's accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation (CoA), publishes guidelines and procedures by which its accreditation process is carried out. It also publishes a list of accredited programs annually in the December edition of the American Psychologist.

What is the difference between APA accreditation and institutional accreditation?

The APA Commission on Accreditation is a specialized/professional accreditor. This means that APA accreditation only extends to specific doctoral graduate programs, predoctoral internships and postdoctoral residencies in professional psychology. The accredited status of one specific program does not extend to other programs in the same department or institution.
Regional accreditation covers entire institutions. There are six regional accrediting bodies in the United States, and each is authorized to accredit institutions in specific states, divided by geographic region. APA-accredited doctoral graduate programs must be housed in an institution that has regional accreditation. However, an institution may hold regional accreditation and not have any APA-accredited programs.
For more information on regional accrediting bodies, please visit their websites:

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

National accreditation also covers entire institutions, and national accrediting agencies operate across the entire United States. Many of their accredited institutions are single-purpose (such as for education in technology) or faith-based.
Prospective students are encouraged to inquire of programs directly what type of accreditation they, or the institutions in which they are housed, hold. Such status can be confirmed with the appropriate regional, national or specialized/professional accrediting body.
http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/about/about-accreditation.aspx?item=3

Accreditation

Accreditation is a process of validation in which colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning are evaluated. The standards for accreditation are set by a peer review board whose members include faculty from various accredited colleges and universities. The board aids in the evaluation of each potential new school accreditation or the renewals of previously accredited colleges/schools. In order for potential colleges to proceed with the accreditation process smoothly, they must meet the general standards set by the peer review accreditation boards. Each college is typically assessed using the following criteria:

• Overall Mission of the College
• Objectives and Goals
• Student Requirements for Admissions
• Services Available to Students
• Quality of Education
• Reputation of Faculty

Why is accreditation important?
An important factor in realizing a successful career is choosing a reputable college. Colleges that have been through the accreditation process are more likely to offer degrees that employers and recruiters recognize. Companies want to know that you have a quality education and that you will have something to bring to the table when you join their team. For this purpose, accreditation enables companies to filter those individuals who have obtained a degree from an accredited institution from those who have not. The accreditation process also offers students a better chance of having their credits transfered to other reputable institutions should they decide to obtain a graduate or doctoral level education.
Do all schools need accreditation?
Not all schools need accreditation. Some schools offer specialty training programs in technical and art fields that don't fall under the traditional process of accreditation. One way to tell if your school is qualified or not is to do the research and be sure that it is recognized in the community as providing the valuable skills necessary to do the job.
Do online learning institutions offer the same accreditation as "brick and mortar" institutions?
All national and regional agencies of accreditation hold online educational institutions and distance learning programs to the same high standards that are held by the traditional "brick and mortar" institutions.
How do I know if my school has accreditation from a reputable agency?
Whether you are interested in being a student of an online university, traditional "brick and mortor" college, or an online training program, it is important to be directed to a credible source to obtain the right degree. Knowledge of the accreditation process will help you avoid "diploma mills" or other institutions that grant degrees without providing students a quality education. To avoid these issues, be sure to conduct your due dilligence and read up on the body responsible for accreditation at your college/school before you sign up. You can also find a wealth of information on accrediting bodies at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation's website, www.chea.org. CHEA is recognized as an advocate and institutional voice for self regulation of academic quality through accreditation.

http://www.50states.com/college-resources/accreditation.htm

• PROFESSIONAL TRAINING REVIEWED BY ACE (American Council on Education) & NCCRS (National CCRS)
  TESC also awards credit for professional training that has been reviewed by ACE and NCCRS. For more information about professional training please visit Professional Training Programs.
  TESC requires an official ACE transcript for ACE-reviewed professional training, and an official transcript from the credit-awarding organization for NCCRS-reviewed professional training.
  
  
  http://www.tesc.edu/degree-completion/Professional-Training-Programs.cfm

example IU-Bloomington Indiana University Network of Campuses
https://uaa.iu.edu/academic/accreditation/

https://www.hlcommission.org/Accreditation-Processes/accreditation.html

http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html