Accreditation
The accreditation process is an ambitious undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or unattainable.
After working with institutional and programmatic accreditors for 13 years, we know the vocabulary, culture, and people of accreditation. Our team provides guidance, instruction, templates, feedback, recommendations, reasonable (and aggressive, if needed) timelines, and comprehensive support.
With Accreditation
Building the Self-Study
The self-study is the heart of your institution’s story and accreditation efforts, and we’ve collaboraed on a lot of them. We set up project boards that track progress across every requirement, keep your team moving toward deadlines, and answer questions before they turn into roadblocks. And because our team members also serve as evaluators for various accrediting agencies, we can help you think the way a reviewer will, then show you how to put your institution’s strengths, identity, and mission front and center.
Mock Site Visits
Before the real onsite visit, we run a mock one. Think of it as a dress rehearsal: we put your team through the kind of questions and scrutiny an evaluation team brings, surface the gaps while there’s still time to close them, and walk through everything we found in a workshop right afterward. Whether you’re seeking accreditation for the first time or preparing for renewal, you’ll go into the real onsite visit prepared.
Annual Reports and Documentation
Accreditation doesn’t end at approval. Most accrediting and state agencies expect annual reports and supporting documentation, so we help you figure out which requirements apply to you, complete and review the reports, and get everything submitted on time.
Substantive Changes
Adding a program, changing your structure, opening a new location? Most of these strategic decisions trigger a substantive change application, and we know our way around them. We help you pull together the data, reports, and exhibits and submit a clean, complete package, which is the fastest way to avoid extra costs and delays.
Ask Us About Accreditation
Accreditation FAQs
Which accreditor should we pursue?
It depends on your goals, your programs, how long you've been operating, and how and where you deliver, among other things. Sorting that out is one of the first things we help institutions do. We've guided clients through various accreditation (e.g., MSCHE, DEAC, ACCSC, ACCET, ACEN, WASC), so we can help you weigh the options and identify an agency that actually fits your institution, not just the one with the biggest name.
What's the difference between institutional and programmatic accreditation?
Institutional accreditation evaluates your whole institution; programmatic accreditation focuses on a specific program. Many institutions pursue both, and we work across the two.
What is a self-study?
A self-study is the comprehensive narrative report you prepare to show an accreditor how your institution meets its accreditation standards. It's the centerpiece of all accreditation reviews, and the part we can help with the most in order to best position you for a successful result.
We're already accredited and up for renewal. Can you help?
Absolutely. We support institutions through both initial accreditation and renewal, including mock site visits and the necessary reporting required to stay accredited.
How long does accreditation take?
It depends on the agency and your starting point, which is exactly why we build a realistic timeline with you up front rather than promising an unrealistic timeframe.