CHEA Recognition-Polic-FINAL-Dec-2018 0
The document is the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) International Quality Group’s comprehensive policy and procedures governing the recognition of accrediting organizations. It begins with key term definitions (e.g., academic quality, accountability, accreditation action, conflict of interest, transparency) that frame the policy’s language. The background section situates CHEA’s mission to promote academic quality and explains the role of recognition as a non‑governmental endorsement of accrediting bodies that meet CHEA’s standards. The policy outlines three recognition standards that an accrediting organization must satisfy: (A) promotion of academic quality and student achievement, (B) public accountability and transparency, and (C) an effective accreditation structure and organization. Detailed expectations for each standard are provided, including requirements for public disclosure of accreditation decisions, evidence of student outcomes, legal authority, governance independence, due‑process safeguards, and continuous self‑evaluation. The scope of recognition is defined, specifying the types of institutions, degree levels, geographic boundaries, and program areas an accrediting organization may cover, and the process for proposing changes to that scope. The document describes the Committee on Recognition (membership, duties, meeting conduct) and the recognition review cycle (seven‑year reviews, interim reports, out‑of‑sequence reviews triggered by performance concerns). The application process is laid out step‑by‑step: initial staff consultation, submission of an application form and fee, a narrative evidencing compliance, observation visits, public notice and solicitation of third‑party comments, oral presentations, and the Committee’s preliminary analysis. Decision‑making procedures follow: the Committee makes recommendations (recognition, conditional recognition, deferral, denial, withdrawal), the Board of Directors reviews and acts, and the organization is notified. Provisions for deferral, denial, withdrawal, and reconsideration are detailed, along with public notice requirements. Additional sections address conflicts of interest, personal gain, confidentiality, and CHEA’s right to amend the policy. The tone is formal and regulatory, and the document serves as the authoritative procedural guide for accrediting organizations seeking CHEA recognition.
Topics
Foundational Definitions Shaping CHEA Recognition
Key terms such as academic quality, accountability, accreditation action, conflict of interest, and transparency that establish the conceptual framework for the policy.
Committee on Recognition: Composition and Responsibilities
Structure, membership rules, term lengths, and duties of the nine‑member committee that reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Board.
Observation Visits and Expert Input
Procedures for CHEA observation visits to accreditor decision‑making meetings, inclusion of experts, confidentiality, and response rights.
Confidentiality and Communication Protocols
Guidelines on handling confidential information, permissible communications, and public disclosure of recognition actions.