ACCREDITATION? IS IT IMPORTANT?

                                            \ac·cred·i·ta·tion

/əˌkrediˈtāSH(ə)n/

 

In Higher Education, an accrediting organization has a regional and/or national jurisdiction. Also,in Higher Education, even an "Accreditation Body" is reviewed, granted status and monitored for compliance by the United States Department of Education. [https://www.ed.gov/accreditation]

 

About our Accreditation Partner, TRACS:

 

"Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) is recognized by the United States Department of Education (ED), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) as a national accrediting agency for Christian postsecondary institutions that offer certificates, diplomas, associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees, including distance education. " TRACS ACCREDITATION MANUEL - (April 2018 Edition) (Also, see TRACS Policy and Procedures Manuel https://tracs.org/Documents/PoliciesandProceduresManual2019.pdf)

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For the college or university, Accreditation is both a status and a process. Accordingly, Haven University has been through the Accreditation Process, and has been granted Accreditation Status. As a status, accreditation provides public notification that an institution or program meets standards of quality set forth by an accrediting agency. As a process, accreditation reflects the fact that, in achieving recognition by the accrediting agency, the institution or program is committed to self-study and external review by its peers—seeking not only to meet standards but to continuously seek ways in which to enhance the quality of education and training provided. 

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1. the action or process of officially recognizing someone as having a particular status or being qualified to perform a particular activity.​

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2. an acknowledgment of a person's responsibility for or achievement of something. 

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For the Academic Institution, there are many avenues for recognition. So, how to weigh it up? Consider the successful alumni and their accomplishments, current student successes, public and private recognition, associations, and the agencies specifically purposed to "Accredit". For Haven, our original school of theology, (California Graduate School of Theology), has amassed 50 years of accolades.

What is TRACS Looking For in a University? More About TRACS

As to agencies specifically purposed to "Accredit", our accreditation partners - TRACS 

 

"TRACS is authorized to pre-accredit and accredit institutions offering certificates, diplomas, and associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees; including institutions that offer distance education."

 

Institutional accrediting agencies review the entire institution, acknowledging that each of an institution's parts contributes to the achievement of the institution's objectives including such areas as governance, finances, administration, curriculum, faculty qualifications, support services, facilities, institutional effectiveness, planning, learning resources, policies, and publications. As such, TRACS requires that member institutions meet national norms in the areas of curriculum; programs; faculty credentials; and measured student learning outcomes at the course, program and institutional levels

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TRACS is a member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). INQAAHE is a world-wide association of over 200 organizations active in the theory and practice of quality assurance in higher education.

 

TRACS is also a member of the American Council on Education (ACE). ACE has over 1,700 organizations that collectively promote, protect, and advocate for students, faculty and administrators in higher education. ACE is the most visible and influential higher education association in the nation and is at the center of federal policy debates concerning issues related to higher education legislation across the country." https://tracs.org/tracs-distinctives/

Some Benefits of Accreditation?

Quality education: Accreditation status indicates that a college, university, institution, or program meets the standards of quality set by the accreditation organization. A quality review covers a study of an institutions faculty, curriculum, administration, libraries, financial well-being, and student services. For the student, this assurance of quality education is important, but, does not automatically guarantee a student's academic success. 

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Credit Transfer: A benefit to a student wishing to transfer to a new program (such as graduate specialization) at another college or university with accumulated credits.  Accreditation is an important factor when a college or university is deciding whether to accept transfer credit from a student's previous school.

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Federal Aid: Certain Federal Financial Aid is available to an Accredited School.

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Success in the Workplace: Employers and state professional licensing bureaus may require a candidate's college, university or program to be Accredited. 

Accreditation Membership

Haven University is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) [15935 Forest Road, Forest, VA 24551; Telephone: (434) 525-9539; e-mail: info@tracs.org], having been awarded Accredited Status as a Category IV institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on October 30, 2018. This status is effective for a period of up to five years. TRACS is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).​ 

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