Accreditation 101
As Fordham prepares for its Middle States Reaccreditation, here is some information about how accreditation impacts the education colleges and universities provide.
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a process by which colleges and universities are evaluated by an independent accrediting body to ensure they meet specific educational quality standards. It’s similar to a performance evaluation you might have at work or being graded on your performance in a course.
Who accredits colleges and universities?
Colleges and universities are accredited by Independent accrediting agencies, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Fordham is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education who accredit over 500 institutions including most private and public colleges and universities in the mid-Atlantic region including Columbia, NYU, Princeton, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, and John Hopkins.
How is a school accredited?
Colleges and universities undergo a rigorous review process, including self-assessment, peer review, and meeting specific academic and institutional standards.
At Fordham, reaccreditation begins with a self-assessment called a self-study that is led by a steering committee and a variety of working groups and teams who are responsible for demonstrating how Fordham has met MSCHE standards across institutional priority areas.
It culminates in a site visit by an MSCHE Evaluation Team made up of peer evaluators who are higher education professionals at other institutions.
Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation assures students and employers that a college or university provides a quality education, but it is also important because:
- Federal financial aid is only available to students attending accredited institutions.
- Accredited schools typically accept credits only from other accredited institutions.
- Employers often prefer degrees from accredited institutions, as they demonstrate a standardized quality of education.