Consumer Reports Recommended. The Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Practically every product or service is eligible for some kind of designation that indicates quality and trustworthiness. Universities are no exception, and The University of Texas Permian Basin has been honored with many such acknowledgements, many in the form of accreditations.
Have you ever wondered what accreditation is all about, who does the accrediting, and what criteria they use? Let’s examine all of these now.
Why Choose an Accredited University?
Accreditation indicates that an institution has been independently verified as meeting the highest educational standards and is being reevaluated on an ongoing basis. It’s a key consideration when choosing any institution of higher learning because it:
- Indicates a high-quality education.
- Is widely recognized and well regarded.
- Is a must if you wish to pursue ongoing studies at most universities.
By choosing an accredited university, you can feel confident that you’ll get a superb education and earn a credential that employers and/or licensing boards recognize and respect. If you choose a non-accredited university, however, you’ll face some limitations:
- To qualify for federal financial aid, you must attend or plan to attend an accredited institution.
- An accredited college or university will only accept transfer credits from another accredited institution. If you begin a program at a non-accredited school and then wish to transfer to an accredited school, you will have wasted time and money on the credits you already earned.
- Many employers will only offer tuition reimbursement benefits for accredited schools.
Regionally accredited universities such as UT Permian Basin are generally considered the top choice in terms of financial aid availability, transferrable credits, and overall recognition by the academic and professional communities.
Accreditation by University and College
UT Permian Basin holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is one of six regional accrediting bodies that operate within the United States. The others include:
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
In addition to regional accreditation, individual colleges within a university can also receive accreditation. UT Permian Basin’s colleges have numerous such accreditations:
- Our College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)—a distinction shared by just 5% of business programs worldwide.
- Our College of Arts and Sciences has accreditations in areas including athletic training (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education), music (National Association of Schools of Music), social work (Council on Social Work Education), and visual arts (National Association of Schools of Art and Design).
- Our College of Education programs have been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and verified by the Accountability System for Educator Preparation (ASEP).
- Our School of Nursing is accredited by the prestigious Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- Our College of Engineering has multiple accreditations from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Who Are the Accreditors?
Accrediting organizations are generally made up of accomplished academicians who are qualified to synthesize and assess a broad range of information about a given educational institution. They verify a variety of criteria, including whether:
- The institution has a stated mission and adheres to said mission.
- The institution operates in an ethical, inclusive, and transparent manner.
- The institution has the physical, technological, financial, and other resources to fulfill its mission.
- The institution’s programs are effective at achieving their stated educational goals.
- The institution’s student body meets acceptable graduation, employment, licensure acquisition, loan repayment, retention, and transfer rates.
Teams of representatives from accrediting bodies will visit the campuses of institutions requesting accreditation to review documentation and interview deans, provosts, program administrators, faculty, and students. Most universities undergo this process every 5 to 10 years to maintain their accreditation. In addition, a university must be reassessed anytime it adds a new program, opens a new campus, or makes any other “substantive change” to ensure its adherence to its high standards. Institutions that fail to meet required standards can be denied accreditation, or, if previously accredited, lose their accreditation.
Earn and Show Off Your Own Credentials
Just as universities can receive accreditations, you can claim your own form of “accreditation” by earning a UT Permian Basin degree or certificate. These credentials signify your level of academic achievement as verified through our rigorous standards. UT Permian Basin offers dozens of in-demand graduate and undergraduate degrees and certificates in an online, asynchronous format that empowers you to complete your program on your own schedule from virtually anywhere in the world. There’s no more convenient way to advance your education and career! Once added to your resume, these credentials show potential employers your qualifications and demonstrate your commitment to earning a quality university education.
UT Permian Basin invites you to experience all the benefits of our regionally accredited university! Explore and apply to available programs now.
Sources:
https://www.hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/how-institutions-are-accredited.html
https://www.nacacnet.org/globalassets/documents/knowledge-center/professional-standards/regional-accreditation-standards.pdf