Understanding CHEA Recognition

 

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Recognition process is the examination of the quality, effectiveness, and ability of accrediting organizations to accredit degree-granting higher education institutions and/or the programs that these institutions offer. Accreditation using nationally and professionally approved rigorous academic standards confirms quality assurance and commitment to quality improvement in higher education. Accreditation is a thoughtful initiative that began with the higher education community. Today, just as in 1996 at CHEA’s inception following a referendum of college and university presidents, the higher education community believes that it is capable of monitoring and judgment through peer review to determine academic quality and quality improvement. 

While the U. S. Department of Education (USDE) provides recognition to accrediting organizations, it does not fulfill the same role as CHEA. Integral to CHEA’s philosophy is the principle that academic quality should be determined primarily by the academic community, not by the government. USDE recognizes only those institutional, professional, and specialized accrediting agencies that serve as gatekeepers for federal funds. CHEA recognizes accrediting organizations regardless of their federal financial gatekeeping role and only recognizes those who meet CHEA’s rigorous standards specific to academic integrity, student success, and accountability to the public. 

The CHEA Recognition process and subsequent approval speaks volumes to the public, families, and the higher education community. CHEA recognition signals that an accrediting organization values the work it does with higher education institutions and academic programs in providing quality assurance and goes beyond criteria used as eligibility requirements for federal funding. 

To ensure that the Recognition process is thorough, transparent, and incorporates the perspectives of higher education, the CHEA Committee on Recognition – comprised of academicians, accrediting organizations, and specialists – serves as peer reviewers for accrediting organizations seeking initial and continuing recognition. 

CHEA Recognition provides an assurance that accrediting organizations are demonstrating the same expectations that are required of the institutions and/or programs they accredit, with a focus on: 

  • student success;
  • innovative practices; 
  • public accountability ; 
  • continuous improvement; 
  • implementing rigorous standards that protect students and families;
  • fairness in application of standards; 
  • commitment to diversity and autonomy of institutional missions; and
  • willingness to address concerns regarding its role as an authority for oversight. 

CHEA recognition is not subject to any governmental authority or political ideology and serves as an impartial public authority for colleges and universities. Colleges and universities also want to be assured that accrediting organizations are impartial in their judgments and CHEA recognition provides that assurance. Over the many years of CHEA’s operations, USDE has conferred with CHEA and sought understanding regarding institutional governance and autonomy as it pertains to accreditation. CHEA’s recognition mission shares some similarities with USDE but remains singularly focused on standards that support the highest levels of academic quality. Those CHEA Standards are to be met by the recognized accrediting organization. A CHEA-recognized accrediting organization has core values that are specific to institutional accountability and student success and that can provide evidence of those values and standards to the public.

CHEA-recognized accrediting organizations are highly regarded throughout the nation and internationally. States vary as to whether they require institutions to be accredited by an accreditor recognized by CHEA or USDE. Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, North Dakota, and West Virginia require accrediting organizations to be recognized by CHEA or USDE. Colorado has legislation pending to become another state that accepts USDE or CHEA recognition. Idaho requires higher education institutions to become accredited by a CHEA-recognized accreditor if it is currently only accredited by a USDE-recognized accreditor. 

CHEA and its recognized accrediting organizations coalesce with a concerted voice in sharing with higher education stakeholders (students, families, public, higher education systems, and state and federal government) that academic quality in higher education cannot and should not be weakened, marginalized, or compromised, and that fulfillment of institutional missions remain at the core of  student success.

August, 2021