Accrediting Standards

To gain or maintain accreditation with the Commission on Colleges, an institution must comply with the standards contained in the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement and with the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges. The Commission on Colleges applies the requirements of its Principles to all applicant, candidate, and member institutions, regardless of type of institution (public, private for-profit, private not-for-profit).

Listed below are two documents:

1. The 2008 Edition of the Principles of Accreditation: Foundation for Quality Enhancement
2. Executive Summary of Changes to the Principles of Accreditation

The 2008 edition of the Principles, as approved by the membership in December 2007 and effective January 1, 2008, serves as the current version. The Executive Summary highlights the two substantive changes to the principles content as approved in December 2007.

Principles Of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement

Executive Summary of Changes to the Principles of Accreditation
(Revised 01/09/08)