Today, virtually all colleges and universities in the United States are accredited (sometimes by more than one accrediting body). Yet there is widespread—and justifiable—concern that college quality has been on a steady decline. And while accreditation may have been well-intended, it is no exaggeration to say that it is now the greatest barrier to innovation in higher education and a major driver of skyrocketing costs—not to mention a threat to the role of the college trustee. This guide provides some fast facts on this system that serves as a gatekeeper for $175 billion in student financial aid, and outlines actions trustees can take to exercise their fiduciary rights in the accreditation process.
This policy paper is intended as a primer for policymakers on lessons learned from decades of experience with the federal system of higher education accreditation. It streamlines, updates, and expands ACTA’s 2002 investigation, Can College Accreditation Live Up to Its Promise? At that time we found that accreditation did not ensure quality, was not protecting […]
ACTA president Anne D. Neal gives a presentation to the “Law Innovation and Growth: Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Retreat,” hosted by KAUFFMAN The Foundation of Entrepreneurship.
Recently, ACTA hosted a panel discussion on Capitol Hill to discuss the future of higher education accreditation with a group of experts from a range of different perspectives. The event was loosely based on the new book from Johns Hopkins University Press, Accreditation on the Edge: Challenging Quality Assurance in Higher Education, to which ACTA […]
A new report from a former president of the University of Colorado has set the stage for a vigorous debate on the future of higher-education accreditation. That topic could be a central focus of Congress as it takes up the reauthorization of the federal Higher Education Act. George H. (Hank) Brown, who is also a […]
On June 13, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Workforce held a hearing focusing on accreditation. The hearing – “Keeping College Within Reach: Program Quality through Accreditation” – featured testimony from Elizabeth Sibolski, President of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Michale McComis, Executive Director and Chief Executive […]
Several education groups are pushing for a major reform in how the United States handles school accreditation, arguing the current system raises costs for both schools and students while allowing unaccountable officials undue influence. Accreditation is essential for a college’s degrees to have value. In most states professional certification in various fields requires an accredited […]
Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
Discover MoreSign up to receive updates on the most pressing issues facing our college campuses.