Accreditation Links
If this sounds like a solution to your goals for accreditation, then you should contact us.
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 although the status of ACICS going forward from December 2016 is unsure.
National Accrediting bodies
Council on Occupational Education COE - http://council.org
The council on Occupational Education COE publshes their Standards in their Handbook of Accreditation (Generic) 2016. 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
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
Standards for Accreditation of Bacclaureate and Graduate Degree Nursing Programs
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)
Accreditation Handbook: Accreditation Standards
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
Institutional Accreditation ACICS - http://www.acics.org
Accrediting Council for independent Colleges and Schools ACICS
Accreditation Criteria: Policies, Procedures, and Standards
This national accrediting body is in deep trouble and there will be major changes. The U.S. Department of Education refused in early December 2016 to have ACICS as a valid institutional accrediting body.
Pay attention to
Found not to be in compliance with its own recognition accreditator, the U.S. DOE. Please read my October 2016 Blog for more information.
Title III Evaluation Standards (library standards are organized by degree levels)
Chapter 1 - 800 Library Resources and Services
Chapter 3 - 200 Nondegree Programs: Library, Instructional Resources, and Technology
Chapter 4 - 400 AA Degree Programs: Library, Instructional Resources, and Technology
Chapter 5 - 400 Bachelor's Degree programs: Library, Instructional Resoruces, and Technology
Chapter 6 - 700 Master's Degree Programs: Library, Instructional Resouces, and Technology
Chapter 7 -700 Doctoral ?Degree Programs: Library, Instructional Resources, and Technology
Regional Accrediting bodies
WASC - http://wascsenior.org/
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC): Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Handbook of Accreditation - 2013
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.
Pay attention to
Core Requirement 2.9
The Comprehensive Standard 3.8
HLC - http://www.ncahlc.org
Higher Learning Commission a Commission of the North Central Association NCA
Revised Criteria for Accreditation (ready for February 2013)
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.