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The Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a US-based organization that accredits universities and colleges to ensure quality education. Accreditation from CHEA is voluntary and schools are monitored for 5-10 years to maintain standards. Loss of accreditation does not prevent re-enrollment.
Students choose to attend accredited institutions of higher learning for a variety of reasons – federal governments only grant loans and grants to students from accredited schools, licensing exams are available only for students who have attended accredited universities, and prospective employers examine a student’s alma mater during interviews. The Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a United States-based organization. CHEA is made up of more than 3,000 higher education institutions that strive to provide a quality education to students.
The Council on Higher Education Accreditation was founded as the organization it is today in 1996. The founding of CHEA marked a merger of several regional and national non-governmental accreditation agencies for institutions of higher education. The organization exists to ensure quality among postsecondary education programs and to prevent changes to the structure of postsecondary education in the United States that it considers unreasonable or unfair.
A CHEA accredited school is one that has been reviewed by the organization and found to meet its quality standards. The CHEA accreditation process is a multi-step procedure. Accredited universities have their staff, curriculum and physical facilities evaluated by the organization. After gaining CHEA accreditation, the school is monitored for a period of five to ten years to ensure that quality and standards are maintained.
The benefits of CHEA accreditation are numerous. The Higher Education Accreditation Council is a voluntary accreditation organization; participation is not required. By choosing to obtain accreditation from the Council for Higher Education, schools demonstrate accountability to the public and federal government. Because all CHEA-certified schools meet the same standards, students who attend these organizations know the quality of education they choose to accept – it’s as much a marketing tool as it is a label.
There are several other types of accreditation in addition to those given by the Council for Accreditation in Higher Education. The United States Department of Education (USDE) also accredits universities and colleges; both organizations operate in the United States. Accreditation types are not mutually exclusive. A school can undertake USDE and CHEA accreditation at the same time. Schools may also be accredited by other organizations; for example, schools with a veterinary medical program may also be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
CHEA accredited schools are re-examined periodically, usually every three to 10 years. If a school does not meet the same standards set by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, it may lose its status as an accredited school. Loss of accreditation does not prevent the institution from re-enrolling at a later date. A school may be CHEA accredited and non-accredited at various points throughout its history.
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