U.S. Accreditation and the Future of Quality Assurance: A Tenth Anniversary Report from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
| Title: | U.S. Accreditation and the Future of Quality Assurance: A Tenth Anniversary Report from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation |
| Author: | Ewell, Peter T. |
| Date: | 2008 |
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| Price: | $ 29.95 |
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| Description: |
This book provides a comprehensive review of the current role of accreditation in the United States and considers its future. The principal audiences for which it was prepared are policy leaders at institutions, higher education associations, accrediting organizations and government agencies. All types of accreditation are addressed, including institutional (regional, national faith-related and national career-related) and programmatic.
The monograph consists of six chapters: Chapter 1 first sets the stage for discussion by examining the need for the nation’s higher education system to significantly improve its performance and the role of accreditation as the principal quality assurance mechanism within this system. The bulk of Chapter 1 presents seven important trends in the environment for higher education that will have major impacts on how accreditation operates. Chapter 2 provides a brief history of accreditation in the United States over four periods for each of the four major types of accrediting organizations—regional, national faith-related, national career-related and programmatic. Chapter 3 deals with the relationship between accreditation and the academy by examining the distinctive features that are the hallmarks of higher education in America and accreditation practices that reflect these features. Chapter 4 examines the relationship between accreditation and government. Chapter 5 turns to an assessment of accreditation’s strengths and areas of challenge and considers a set of enduring issues that are embedded in accreditation practice. Chapter 6, the final chapter, attempts to block out issues for the future of accreditation in seven areas: governance, substance, learning outcomes, differentiation, consistency, transparency and globalization. Accreditation is a uniquely American approach to quality assurance in higher education that has, up to now, stood the test of time. It is hoped that this publication will help stimulate and inform discussions about its future and help the enterprise improve. Single copy (non-CHEA member) $29.94 Single copy (CHEA member) $24.95 Two or more copies $24.95 Council for Higher Education Accreditation One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 510 Washington, DC 20036-1135 Telephone: 202-955-6126 http://www.chea.org/store |