Real Academic Difference Between National & Regional Accreditation?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by JNelson467, Sep 10, 2004.

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  1. JNelson467

    JNelson467 New Member

    TO REMOVE FROM SOME OF THE OTHER DISCUSSIONS AND TO SEEK A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENCES OF RA AND NA ETC., I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW - DOES ANYONE REALLY KNOW THE ACTUAL DEFINED REQUIREMENTS AND SPECS OF BOTH A RA APPROVAL CHECKLIST OR REGIONAL APPROVAL CHECKLIST.

    WHAT I AM GETTING AT AND QUESTIONING IS - WHAT WOULD MAKE A SCHOOL CHOOSE TO SEEK NATIONAL VS. REGIONAL ACCREDITATION? WHAT REQUIREMENTS ARE DIFFERENT FROM NATIONAL VS. REGIONAL? IS THEIR A REQUIRED FINANCIAL OR CASH RESERVE REQUIREMENT ETC. THAT COULD PREVENT A SMALL SCHOOL FROM MEETING A RA REQUIREMENT?

    TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO'S ETC.

    SOMEONE WHO TRULY AND UTTERLY KNOWS THE DIFFERENCES PLEASE SHARE. I THINK MANY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THIS AND UNDERSTAND OR TO SIMPLY BE RE-ITERATED THE DIFFERENCES.
     
  2. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Standards for accreditation are available from the various accrediting agencies. There are dozens of national accreditors dealing with specific academic areas, such as law or psychology as well as the six regional accreditors and the national DETC. You must decide which SPECIFIC comparason interests you.
     
  3. Fortunato

    Fortunato Member

    Dear JNelson467,

    The CAPS LOCK key is located on the left side of your keyboard, slightly to the left of the "A" key on most US-spec QWERTY keyboards.

    :D

    --Fortunato
     
  4. mrw142

    mrw142 New Member

    It depends on the regional accrediting agency, from what I hear they're different. As for national accreditation, there are some types of national accreditation that are very weak and are basically cover for semi-degree mills, while there are others, such as the AACSB, ABA, and ABET that are the gold standards for their respective professions and in some cases a requirement for getting a job or sitting for professional boards in the field (such as the ABA).

    You need to define what you mean by "national" and "regional". A good school should be both regionally accredited and have some individual programs in specific fields that are nationally, professionally accredited. When you start talking about schools as a whole that are accredited by national accrediting bodies only, you are typically talking about schools that are not as well-regarded, but not necessarily providing an education sans value.
     
  5. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Here's something to indicate the significance of the difference: It is clear that regional accreditation is more valuable to schools and their students/graduates. But, as of yet, there have been no DETC-accredited schools (nor ACICS-accredited schools, IIRC) that have subsequently pursued and received regional accreditation. A couple of schools pursued both simultaneously, getting DETC accreditation far sooner (another interesting indication). APUS is the first to get to candidacy with an RA.

    Now, why is that?
     
  6. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    If you are looking for an authoritative source of information regarding RA and DETC accreditation standards wouldn't it be more fruitful to put this question to the respective sources (the agencies themselves) rather than to put the question to an internet forum full of anonymous members? For example, what could I possibly say in answer to your question, that would be considered to be authoritative?
    (one of the first rules of academic research is, don't rely on secondary sources. ALWAYS go to the primary source first.)
    Jack
     
  7. JNelson467

    JNelson467 New Member

    You are absolutely right... I must be crazy or simply out of it a bit. i do feel that i have already received what I wanted from this question though. That is simply that everyone here is speculative and fails to inhibit a real knowledge of defined accreditation standards and what various RA and NA tend to look for.

    You are right again... I would simply need to ask them directly.
     

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