Can your institution withstand shocks to the system? Accreditors want you to prove it
Darren Catalano
May 2, 2023
And before pointing blame at accreditors, accreditation leaders want the public to know that today’s accreditation process is often misunderstood and under-appreciated in terms of how it has stepped up its game to improve student outcomes, financial viability, transparency, monitoring, innovation, and data-informed decision-making.
However, despite accreditors’ improvements, critical gaps remain. As a result, startup accreditors are coming onto the scene in an attempt to fill the gaps and solve higher ed’s ROI dilemma. The Workforce Talent Educators Association (WTEA), for example, recently released new workforce success standards in response to a lack of accreditation requirements for evaluating workforce outcomes.
Increased discussion in Congress about accreditation reform may also require accreditors to pay more attention to student economic outcomes. The shift could influence how federal funding is allocated to higher education institutions in the future, should Congress decide to make funding determinations based on performance benchmarks.
