Running head: ACCREDITATION REVIEW: UNFORTUNATE REALITIES 1

Accreditation Revie: Un!ortunate Rea"itie#

E$i"% R& Wi"#on 'o(
)eorgia Southern Univer#it%
ACCREDITATION REVIEW: UNFORTUNATE REALITIES *
Accreditation Revie: Rea"itie#
For thi# a##ign$ent+ the $eeting o,#erved a# an advi#or% co$$ittee revie ,oard $eeting&
It-# .ur.o#e i# to give .eer# and .ro!e##iona"# re"ated to the .rogra$# o!!ered an o..ortunit% to e(a$ine
and revie the curricu"u$+ $ateria"#+ and outco$e# o! the .rogra$# o!!ered& The accrediting ,oard !or
the#e .rogra$# a# the Counci" on Occu.ationa" Education /COE0& Thi# regu"ator% ,oard a# created
in 1121 a# an o!!#hoot o! the Southern A##ociation o! Co""ege# and Schoo"# /SACS0 /34i#tor%+
5i##ion6+ n&d&0& The .rogra$# u. !or revie ere #evera" a""ied hea"th o!!ering# at a #$a"" !or7.ro!it
.rivate in#titution& The#e $eeting# ta8e ."ace tice a %ear and are .art o! the re9uire$ent# !or the
in#titution-# #e$iannua" accreditation renea" .roce##&
5eeting Su$$ar%
A# #oon a# ever%one arrived+ :att% ;o$an+ Director o! Education+ e"co$ed ever%one and
$ade introduction#& She than8ed ever%one !or co$ing and than8ed the$ !or their .artici.ation a# .art
o! the A""ied 4ea"th Advi#or% ;oard& Each $e$,er a# given a !o"der than contained the !o""oing+
the $eeting agenda+ the "i#t o! $e$,er# and their contact in!or$ation+ a co.% o! the $inute# !ro$ the
"a#t $eeting+ a co.% o! the #tudent hand,oo8+ #choo" cata"og+ and an Advi#or% Co$$ittee :artici.ant
A##e##$ent Surve%& A"#o inc"uded ere a "i#t o! a"" te(t,oo8# u#ed in the a""ied hea"th cour#e#+ and
ad$i##ion# ,rochure# re"ated to each .rogra$&
Introduction# ere $ade and each $e$,er e(."ained their re"ation to the a""ied hea"th !ie"d#&
Facu"t% and #ta!! introduced the$#e"ve# and their ro"e# on ca$.u#& In attendance ere :att% ;o$an+
Director o! Education< =arrie =u"ic8+ Ca$.u# Director< Lanetra E..#+ Student Service# Coordinator<
Randa Wi"#on+ In#tructor< Whitne% S$ith+ In#tructor< and Lata#ha Tatu$+ In#tructor& :att% ;o$an
continued ,% e(."aining the .ur.o#e o! COE accreditation and the ro"e o! the advi#or% co$$ittee in
thi# .roce##& She e(."ained that accreditation #erve# a# a recognition o! the #choo" and it# $i##ion to
$eet nationa" #tandard# o! education e#ta,"i#hed ,% the accrediting agenc%& The co$$ittee-# ro"e in
ACCREDITATION REVIEW: UNFORTUNATE REALITIES >
thi# .roce## i# to .rovide !eed,ac8 to the #choo" on it# curricu"u$+ in#tructiona" $ethod#+ and #u..ort
#ervice# a# e"" a# .rovide va"ua,"e in!or$ation concerning the need# o! indu#tr% e$."o%er#& The
co$$ittee then addre##ed o"d ,u#ine## and revieed and ado.ted the $inute# !ro$ the "a#t $eeting&
Their a# no out#tanding ,u#ine## to addre##+ #o the co$$ittee $oved to addre## ne ,u#ine##& The
co$$ittee revieed the COE #tandard# #ti"" in ."ace and ,oth the in#titutiona" and .rogra$$atic
$i##ion# o! the #choo" in the #choo" cata"og& The% .receded to revie the #tudent hand,oo8 and a""
ritten ."an# therein& That co$."eted+ the% $oved to revie the co$."iance o! each .rogra$
individua""%& The i##ue# covered inc"uded .rogra$ o,?ective# and "ength+ .rogra$ co#t#+ t%.e# o!
in#truction and $ethod o! de"iver%+ cour#e content !or re"evanc% and current .ractice+ the nece##ar%
e9ui.$ent and #u.."ie# !or each .rogra$+ the attendance and grading .o"icie#+ and the te(t,oo8#+
in#tructiona" $ateria"#+ and eva"uation# u#ed in each .rogra$& Fo""oing thi#+ the #tudent outco$e#
$ea#ure$ent# ere di#cu##ed+ and the co$."etion+ ."ace$ent+ and "icen#ure rate# !or each .rogra$
ere noted and a..roved& Surve%# !ro$ ,oth graduating #tudent# and e$."o%er# ere revieed and
trend# noted& Fo""oing that+ ,oth the e!!ectivene## o! $edia #ervice# and #tudent #ervice# ere
revieed& It a# noted that the #choo" .rovide# an a##ort$ent o! additiona" in#tructiona" $ateria"# that
are avai"a,"e !or the #tudent# to revie a# de#ired& The $ain o,?ective# !or #tudent #ervice# are
attendance and grade $onitoring+ #tudent retention+ and ?o, ."ace$ent& :er!or$ance in a"" o! the#e
area# $et or e(ceeded current guide"ine#&
The co$$ittee $e$,er# then o!!ered their #ugge#tion# and reco$$endation# !or each .rogra$&
Sugge#tion# inc"uded greater attention to certain .ortion# o! the curricu"u$+ .roviding #tudent# ith a#
$uch .ractice in rea" "i!e #cenario# a# .o##i,"e+ and rein!orcing the nece##it% o! #8i""# that #tudent# $a%
.re!er to avoid& At thi# .oint the co$$ittee too8 a ,rie! tour o! the ca$.u#+ a..roved the date !or the
ne(t co$$ittee $eeting+ and #u,$itted their co$."eted #urve%#& Ever%one a# than8ed again !or
their .artici.ated+and the $eeting a# ad?ourned&
ACCREDITATION REVIEW: UNFORTUNATE REALITIES @
Re!"ection#
A!ter o,#erving thi# $eeting+ the $o#t .ro$inent thought a# that thi# a# a e"" rehear#ed
.roce## ith no rea" advantageou# !unction& It #ee$ed o,viou# that the#e $otion# ere re9uired ,% the
accreditation ,oard+ and #ounded good on .a.er+ ,ut in rea"it% .rovided no "egiti$ate ,ene!it to the
in#titution or the #tudent ,od%& No great a$ount o! e!!ort or invo"ve$ent a# itne##ed on the .art o!
the co$$ittee $e$,er#+ and the !acu"t% .re#ent did not #ee$ e#.ecia""% intere#ted in e(."oring the
co$$ittee# o.inion# either& A"" .artie# #ee$ed re#igned to #ho u. and go through the $otion# a#
re9uired+ ,ut neither e(.ected to gain $uch !ro$ the e(erci#e& It a# a g"oing e(a$."e o! re9ui#ite
docu$enta,"e .a.er .u#hing& )iven the #ee$ing"% !uti"e nature o! thi# e(erci#e+ the 9ue#tion i# rai#ed
hat ,ene!it i# there to in#titution# ho .artici.ate in #uch action#+ and h% i# their #uch di#intere#t on
the .art o! the !acu"t% !or the#e .roceeding#A A ,it $ore in!or$ation on the .roce## can he". #hed "ight
on ,oth o! the#e 9ue#tion#&
AccreditationB# :rogre## and :ain
According to the US De.art$ent o! Education-# e,#ite+ 3The goa" o! accreditation i# to en#ure
that education .rovided ,% in#titution# o! higher education $eet# acce.ta,"e "eve"# o! 9ua"it%6
/3Accredidation6+ n&d&0& Accreditation it#e"! i# an idea and .roce## created ,% co""ege# and univer#itie#
$ore than a centur% ago& It-# ,eginning# can ,e !ound in the .rogre##ive $ove$ent at the ,eginning o!
the *Cth centur% hen $unici.a" re!or$er# ,egan creating "oca" #choo" ,oard# to regu"ate education
/Fo"er+ *CCD0& It-# ,a#ic .ur.o#e i# to a##ure i$.rove$ent in education& In higher education+ thi#
.roce## i# achieved through a #e"!7regu"ator% #%#te$ ,a#ed on ,oth .eer and .ro!e##iona" revie& Thi#
#%#te$ or8# to $aintain the three e##entia" core va"ue# in higher education: in#titutiona" autono$%+
acade$ic !reedo$+ and .eerE.ro!e##iona" revie& Over the "a#t !e decade#+ co""ege# and univer#itie#
have undergone a great $an% change# in their re"ation#hi. ith the !edera" govern$ent& The
in#titution-# .art in the accreditation .roce##+ and their acade$ic inde.endence i# ,eing #teadi"%
ACCREDITATION REVIEW: UNFORTUNATE REALITIES F
circu$#cri,ed ,% !edera" regu"ation and authorit% over accreditation& A# congre## continue# to re!"ect
on the great #u$# o! ta( $one% ,eing inve#ted in higher education through #tudent !inancia" aid+ their
drive to $onitor the#e !und# $ore c"o#e"% inten#i!ie#+ and the noo#e o! accreditation tighten# !urther
/Eaton+ *C1C0& According to the $i##ion #tate$ent# o! variou# accrediting organiGation#+ the% #erve
3the% co$$on good ,% a##uring and advancing the 9ua"it% o! higher "earning6 and ,% ho"ding the
authorit% to 3de!ine+ $aintain+ and .ro$ote educationa" e(ce""ence6 and their goa" i# to encourage
3in#titutiona" engage$ent ith i##ue# o! educationa" e!!ectivene## and #tudent "earning6& Whatever the
ording cho#en+ u"ti$ate"% the true in!"uence o! accrediting organiGation# i# ,a#ed on their ro"e a# the
gate8ee.er# to !edera" !inancia" aid !und# /4enr%+ n&d&0&
A# ti$e# have changed+ #o have accredidation-# de!inition# o! educationa" #ucce##& No "onger i#
evidence o! advanced thin8ing #8i""# or #ign# o! e!!ective genera" education #u!!icient indicator# o!
#ucce##& No ?o, ."ace$ent rate# and credentia"# reign #u.re$e a# the .ri$e indicator# o! #ucce##!u"
education& Thi# #hi!t in thin8ing i# di!!icu"t to reconci"e !or tho#e that va"ue inte""ectua" in9uirer% !or it#
on #a8e+ or idea"iGe the ,eaut% o! a %oung $ind groing through the care o! devoted !acu"t% on a
vi,rant ca$.u#& Thi# dicote$% ha# "ed to increa#ed ho#ti"itie# toard# the accredidation .roce##&
Facu"t% $e$,er# have a hi#torica""% divided re"ation#hi. ith accredidation& So$e !ind
accredidation to ,e a va"ua,"e e(a$ination too"& The#e are $o#t o!ten the !acu"t% ho i""ing"%
.artici.ate in #e"! #tudie# and #erve on revie co$$itee# !or other in#titution#& Other !acu"t% $e$,er#
!ind the accredidation .roce## to ,e an intru#ive a#te o! va"ua,"e ti$e and re#ource#& The% !ee" the
.roce## i# do$inated ,% ad$ini#trator# that !ai" to ta8e the !acu"t% .er#.ective into account& The#e
#a$e .ro!e##or# #ee accreditor-# !ocu# on #tudent achieve$ent a# an in#u"ting 9ue#tion o! their integrit%
and or8 9ua"it%& The% #ee accreditor# in9uirie# a# in#truding on !acu"t% .erogative# and acade$ic
!reedo$# /Eaton+ *C1C0& )iven the#e o.inion#+ it-# no #ur.ri#e the reaction# #o$e !acu"t% $e$,er#
have toard# the entire accredidation .roce##&
ACCREDITATION REVIEW: UNFORTUNATE REALITIES D
Fina" Thought#
The .roce## o! accrediadation i# an inherent"% .o"itica" one& )iven the tie# to ta( do""ar#
through #tate and !edera" !unding+ there i# no a% to ever #ucce##!u""% #e.erate education and .o"itic#&
)iven that thi# i# the ca#e+ the ,e#t ."an !or en#uring in#titutiona" #ucce## i# to unite ,oth the !acu"t%
and ad$ini#tration in the accredidation .roce##& The .roce## certain"% ha# the .otentia" to ,e o! ,ene!it+
hoever the re"ative "ac8 o! enthu#ia$ and .atience on the .art o! #o$e .atici.ant# i# a deva#tating
,"o to the .o##i,i"itie# in the .roce##& In#tead o! "oo8ing at thi# re9uire$ent a# $ere"% another #et o!
.a.er# to .aci!% vi#iting accredidation tea$#+ .erha.# the !acu"t% and #ta!! #hou"d u#e thi# e(.erience a#
it a# de#igned to ,e u#ed and actua""% generate and a##i$i"ate co$$unit% !eed,ac8 on the #co.e and
#ucce## o! the .rogra$# o!!ered& Thi# .otentia""% va"ua,"e in!or$ation i# "o#t or underuti"iGed due to
the re#i#tance o! the ."a%er# invo"ved toard# the o.en e(."oration o! other-# idea#& In#tead+ great
o!!en#e i# ta8en+ and #ugge#tion# are con#i#tant"% veied a# criti#i#$& In order to regain the contro"
!acu"t% !ee"# i# #"i..ing through their !inger#+ a change $u#t occur& It i# a..arent that in#titution# o!
higher education re"% heavi"% on !unding !ro$ govern$enta" #ource#& It i# a"#o c"ear that thi#
de.endenc% i# un"i8e"% to di$ini#h an%ti$e in the near !uture& )iven thi# trend+ an increa#e in
govern$enta" over#ight i# ,ound to !o""o& A# the gover$ent-# contro" increa#e# i# area# that have
traditiona""% ,een ithin the contro" o! !acu"t% and in#titution#+ !acu"t% $e$,er# $u#t $ove ,e%ond
their di#content and or8 together to #tengthen the .o#tition o! inde.endant accredidation /Eaton+
*C1C0& On"% through thi# increa#ed .re#ence and invo"ve$ent can acade$ia ho.e to retain the
!reedo$# it ho"d# #o dear& Without #uch change+ govern$ent contro" i"" e(.and unchec8ed+ and
toda%-# regu"ation# i"" #ee$ trivia" ,% co$.ari#on&
ACCREDITATION REVIEW: UNFORTUNATE REALITIES 2
Re!erence#
Accredication in the United State#& /n&d&0& United State# De.art$ent i! Education& Retrieved !ro$
htt.#:EE*&ed&govEad$in#E!inaidEaccredEinde(&ht$"Ae(.HC
Eaton+ I& /*C1C0& Accreditation and the Federa" Future o! 4igher Education& A$erican A##ociation o!
Univer#it% :ro!e##or#& Retrieved !ro$ htt.:EE&aau.&orgEartic"eEaccreditation7and7!edera"7
!uture7higher7educationJ&U1R%I1ceU%I
Fo"er+ F& /*CCD0& Aa8ening to the :o"itic# o! 4igher Education& :hi"o#o.hica" Studie# in Education&
Retrieved !ro$ htt.:EE&ov.e#&orgE*CCDEFo"er&.d!
4enr%+ E& /n&d&0& Loo8ing the Other Wa%A Accreditation Standard# and :art7Ti$e Facu"t%& A$erican
A##ociation o! Univer#it% :ro!e##or#& Retrieved !ro$ htt.:EE&aau.&orgEre.ortE"oo8ing7other7
a%7accreditatio n7#tandard#7and7.art7ti$e7!acu"t%
4i#tor%+ 5i##ion+ Core Va"ue#& /n&d&0&Counci" on Ocu.ationa" Education& Retrieved !ro$
htt.:EE&counci"&orgEhi#tor%7$i##ion7core7va"ue#E