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| What Distance Education Accreditation Means | What Distance Education Accreditation Means
Since 1926, the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) has been the standard-setting agency for distance education institutions. The Council has progressively raised its standards. Its accrediting program employs procedures similar to those of other recognized educational accrediting agencies.
Each accredited institution must voluntarily meet the twelve standards for accreditation. An institution must:
• have a clearly defined and stated mission and objectives;
• have reasonably attainable and clearly stated educational objectives, and
educationally sound and up-to-date courses/programs;
• provide satisfactory educational services;
• offer adequate student services;
• have demonstrated ample student success and satisfaction;
• have a competent faculty, administrators, and staff;
• have fair admission policies and adequate enrollment agreements;
• advertise its courses/programs truthfully;
• be financially able to deliver high quality educational services;
• have fair and equitable tuition and refund policies;
• have adequate facility, equipment and record protection; and
• conduct continuous research and self-improvement studies.
To become accredited, each institution must have made an intensive study of its own operations, opened its doors to a thorough inspection by an outside examining committee, supplied all information required by the Accrediting Commission, and submitted its instructional materials for a thorough review by competent subject matter specialists. The process is repeated every five years.
Distance Education Accreditation
The Distance Education and Training Council accredits online or distance learning programs that have been in existence for at least two years. Other distance education accreditation bodies are the regional agencies who currently evaluate distance education programs using the same criteria as on-campus programs. The six regional accrediting agencies have proposed new criteria for evaluating distance education, which address issues of faculty control of course content, technical and program support for both faculty members and students, and evaluation and assessment methods for measuring student learning. However, the new guidelines have not been accepted yet.
Unaccredited Institutions
Education is a serious investment of time and can be a serious investment of money as well. You should exercise caution in regards to attending any school which is not accredited by a DOE-recognized accrediting body. Some diploma mills have been known to create their own accrediting agency and then proclaim themselves "accredited." To find out if an accrediting agency is legitimate and nationally recognized, you can consult the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a private agency that accredits the accreditors. You may find that the lack of accreditation means the degree you earn does not allow you to achieve the goals you set out to. Attending a non-accredited institution also means that you will not be qualified for financial aid.
Advantages to Attending an Accredited School
· Qualify for Financial Aid
· Qualify for Graduate School
· Earn a More Marketable Degree.
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