Accreditation Links
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The Virtual Librarian Service and its librarians are very involved in their client’s accreditation activities as they relate to the library, teaching and learning resources. Whether applying for candidacy or renewing accreditation, the library and its learning resources has a part to play. The Virtual Librarian Service and its librarians pay marked attention to the guiding principles, standards and policies of its client’s accreditors. We are routinely relied on to write the self-study, measure compliance, assess the library services and resources, provide a needs analysis and provide strategic plans and costs to get to what the client wants to achieve. The library must not be left behind or out of the accreditation process. We are the librarian embedded into the academic fiber of the institution and branded by the educational institution as theirs.
Melody Hainsworth, MLIS, Ph. D.
melody@virtuallibrarianservice.com
There are 6 U.S. higher education regional accreditors. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges maintains an aggregating list of weblinks to each of them with contact information. Below I have highlighted 3 of those regional accreditators noting the name of their accreditation publication and the section(s) where the library/information resources is covered. I have also listed below the 3 major national accrediting bodies with ACICS now gone.
National Accrediting bodies
Council for Higher Education Accreditation - https://www.chea.org
The Council for Higher Education Accredition CHEA is an advocate membership organization, serving as an authority and repository of actionable research to shape the future of accreditation and quality assurance. Subscribe to its newsletter for communication about member accrediting organizations and other accreditation news.
Council on Occupational Education COE - http://council.org
The Council on Occupational Education COE publishes their Standards in their Manuals called Handbook of Accreditation (Generic) 2019. The COE has national and international members.
The library information is in Standard Five called Learning Resoources.
Standard Five contains 3 Objectives and 3 Criteria of Accreditation being A. Media Services, B. Instructional Equipment and C. Instructional Supplies.
Institutional Accreditation ACCSC - http://www.accsc.org/
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges ACCSC
Standards of Accreditation July 1 2019
Pay attention to:
Chapter 2 - Substantive Standards Section II A. 6 Learning Resource System
and go to their website where under Resources there is a Monograph Series: Learning Resource Systems
Programmatic Accreditation AACN - http://www.aacn.nche.edu
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Accreditation CCNE
2018 Standards for Accreditation of Bacclaureate and Graduate Degree Nursing Programs in effect January 1 2019.
Pay attention to
Standard II Program Quality: Institutional Commitment and Resources
Key Elements II-B Academic support services.
Institutional Accreditation DEAC - http://www.deac.org
The Distance Education Accrediting Commission DEAC (formerly DETC)
DEAC Accreditation Handbook: Policies, Procedures, Standards and Guides (February 2020)
Pay attention to
Standard II: Educational Program Objectives, Curricula and Materials Educational Media and Learning Resources, II. K. and read the Guide to Self-Evaluation Report SER II.K.
Policies depending on degree level under Educational Media and Learning Resources
Regional Accrediting bodies
WASC - http://wascsenior.org/
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC): Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Handbook of Accreditation - 2013, revised 2015, edited 2018
Pay attention to
Accreditation Standards
Standard 2: Achieving Educational Objectives through Core Functions: Teaching and Learning Criteria for Review CFR 2.2a. and 2.3
Standard 3: Developing and Applying Resources and Organizational Structures to Ensure Quality and Sustainability : Fiscal, Physical and Information Resources Criteria for Review CFR 3.4 and 3.5
and Appendix I Stipulated Policies: Collection Development Policy (Weeding: Gifts)
SACS/COC - http://www.sacscoc.org
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Principles of Accreditation (2018 Edition).
Pay attention to
Core Requirement 2.9
The Comprehensive Standard 3.8
The Higher Learning Commission - http://www.hlcommission.org
North Central Association of Colleges and Schoool Higher Learning Commission a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools NCA-HLC
Criteria for Accreditation (February 2019)
Pay attention to
Criterion Three Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support Core Components 3. C. 4 and 3. D. 4 and 3. D. 5.
Criterion Four. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement Core Components 4. A. 4
Criterion Five 5. C. 1.