认证常见问题
It is an independent review of an institution’s educational 项目. 它有助于确保节目达到高质量标准. 认证 also helps to ensure that the institution meets the standards established by the accrediting body. North Park University adheres to the standards set by the 高等教育委员会 (HLC).
The Commission is one of the six regional associations of schools, 大学, 和美国的大学. 剩下的五个机构是中部各州, 新英格兰, 西北, 南部, 美国西部协会. 与上述所有认证机构一样, the 高等教育委员会 evaluates the entire institution and its 项目 collectively in terms of the institution’s mission and the standards or criteria established by the agency.
The HLC and other regional accrediting agencies are responsible for assuring that 大学 and universities meet certain standards in terms of their missions, 操作, 以及教学活动和学生学习活动, 以及发现和促进知识和服务.
认证 helps to ensure that a college or university is eligible to participate in state and federal financial aid 项目 to assist students towards obtaining their education. For many graduate 项目, accreditation is a prerequisite for many applicants.
保证参数是周期性的, 严格的, comprehensive review and analysis of an institution’s strengths and weaknesses. Its purposes are vital to both the institution’s external and internal constituencies. 认证 is merit-based on an institution’s ability to meet the criteria and established standards.
整体, accrediting agencies have are two purposes: one is to gauge the performance of an institution or program in relation to its overarching mission; the other is to promote improvement in the quality of the institution’s 项目 and member institutions. The HLC offers two 项目 for maintaining accredited status the Standard Pathway and the Open Pathway.
The Commission will also assess the institution’s educational 项目 and activities. The assessment process is further extended to the institution’s governance and administration; financial stability; admissions; student services; institutional resources; and student learning and institutional effectiveness.
在开阔的小路上, the Assurance Review is conducted in Year 4 and is a part of the 综合评价 that occurs in Year 10.
保证覆核的步骤如下:
- The institution demonstrates that it meets the Criteria for 认证 by preparing an Assurance Filing, 由鉴证论证和证据文件组成, 使用HLC的保证系统.
- A team of peer reviewers evaluates the institution’s Assurance Filing. The outcome of this review is a recommendation as to whether the institution meets the Criteria for 认证. 如果保证评审是a的一部分 综合评价，本次审查还将包括一个 现场访问 由同行评审小组负责. The Assurance Review conducted in Year 4 of the Open Pathway does not include an 现场访问 unless the team determines one is necessary to explore uncertainties in evidence that cannot be resolved at a distance or if a sanction is being considered.
- A 决策机构 reviews the institution’s documentation and the recommendation from the peer review team and takes an official action.
委员会制定了五项标准声明, 如下所述, 每个都包括其核心组件. An institution must present reasonable and representative evidence of meeting each Criterion.
标准一:使命
标准二:诚信:道德和负责任的行为
Criterion Three: Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support
Criterion Four: Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
Criterion Five: Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness
The last full accreditation visit by the 高等教育委员会 to North Park University was in 2001. 重新认证通常以十年为一个周期. Our most recent re-accreditation visit took place in November 2010.
The team drafts its report within four to six weeks following the visit. The institution may review the report and the team’s recommendations for errors of fact before the team submits its final report to HLC. 该机构也可以提交对小组报告的回应. The final team report and institutional response are then sent to the 机构行动委员会 供审查和采取行动.