Accreditation
There are a variety of for-profit and non-profit membership
organizations for accreditation that provide guidance for the evaluation and/or accreditation
of learning programs. These vary greatly in their qualification requirements
and you should review them carefully based on your goals. Many are listed
below. JHS is now working in conjunction with IABOS standards and has
received accreditation from this private accrediting body. In addition,
JHS provides a stringent internal review program for its overall program and
particularly for its interactive learning platform and completion program. JHS
has become a member of certain organizations that are consistent with its
online motivational and educational goals. These agencies and boards
were founded with the aim to provide a insight to distance education institutions
and in certain circumstances to judge their quality of motivational/educational
service on the basis of sound standards and business practices. Vist
www.IABOS.org
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a process through which a program/school maintains and improves its standards and practices. Accrediting organizations develop criteria or standards by which a school can be measured. It is the responsibility of accrediting organizations to audit programs on the basis of quality, accountability, and improvement for those organizations that are accredited by them.
Why is Accreditation important?
Accreditation is important to various constituent groups because it represents an organization's commitment to quality and control. Being an accredited program/organization assists in representing to those interested that the quality and control criteria set by accreditation agencies are being met. Also, business and industry leaders are interested in the quality of programs and consider accreditation status an important factor. Individuals are assured of accountability and of value for their efforts through the arrangement between program and the accrediting entity via procedure and policy control and compliance with established standards.
What is the purpose of Accreditation?
Accreditation serves the following purposes:
• Assuring Quality: Accreditation is the primary means by which schools and programs assure overall quality to students and the public.
• Source of Improvement: Accreditation provides a source and urge for continuous improvement in the educational practices followed by that institute, due to the periodic evaluation by the agencies.
• Easing Transfer. Accreditation of institutions and programs is important (although not a guarantee) to students for smooth transfer of programs among colleges and universities.
• Recognition: Accreditation of institutions and/or programs recognizes them as a symbol of high quality in their particular area of focus. Other organizations/agencies openly refer to these entities thus encouraging individuals to first consider accredited organizations.
• Engendering Employer Confidence: Accredited status of an institution or program is important to employers when evaluating credentials of job applicants.
On which basis is Accreditation offered?
There are some non-governmental agencies or boards that establish certain standards which are required to be met by an institution/school in order to get an accredited status. Their core function is to promote high quality distance education by identifying standards that outline best educational practices. These boards or agencies evaluate the institute/school for the following areas:
• Institution’s Mission/Vision
• Educational practices
• Administration
• Faculty
• Financial stability
• Policies and student services Institutions fulfilling the requirements for these areas are then granted accreditation.
How the schools are granted Accreditation?
The accreditation is offered to only those universities or institutes that meet the strict standards set by the official and semi-official agencies or boards. There are several non-governmental agencies which are highly involved and committed to improve the educational standards of online universities, in particular those which are offering degrees based of working adults’ life/work/knowledge experience.
Few of these non-governmental agencies or boards that are performing accreditation services are as following:
• International Accrediting Body of Online Schools (IABOS)
• Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA)
• International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU)
• Board of Online Universities Accreditation (BOUA)
• World Online Education Accrediting Commission (WOEAC)
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
• Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NASCU)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
- JHS has applied for and received accreditation from IABOS above. IABOS in an international, for profit, non-governmental body for accrediting online programs.
- JHS has not nor is seeking approval of the US DOE, CHEA or DETC organizations and does not represent itself to be an “Accredited” program of any of these organizations.
