A Profile of Regionally-Accredited For-Profit Institutions of Higher Education.

Autor/in	Kinser, Kevin
Titel	A Profile of Regionally-Accredited For-Profit Institutions of Higher Education.
Quelle	(2003), (31 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Accreditation (Institutions); Accrediting Agencies; Higher Education; Proprietary Schools + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Accreditation; Institution; Institutions; Akkreditierung; Staatliche Anerkennung; Institut; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen
Abstract	This study developed a profile of regionally accredited for-profit institutions of higher education, studying their characteristics, whether there are regional differences in the characteristics of for-profit institutions, and whether there is a business strategy surrounding regional accreditation that suggests it is valued by owners above other forms of accreditation. Information was gathered through a review of institution Web sites. Focusing on institutional characteristics. The 65 regionally accredited for-profit institutions represent about 8% of all degree-granting for-profit institutions of higher education, and only 2% of all institutions accredited by the 8 commissions. About 25% can trace their origins back more than 100 years; others were founded quite recently. Most grant the associate degree, but 24 institutions offer graduate degrees. Many of these institutions have relatively traditional academic models and faculty roles, but more than half offer the opportunity to study in shortened terms or take accelerated programs. There are differences among the regional commissions as evidenced by the distribution of regionally accredited for-profit institutions, but based on the proportion of for-profit institutions accredited in each region compared to all accredited institutions, the regions are fairly similar. There is evidence that at least some institutions have intentionally sought North Central accreditation because it was perceived to be amenable to their nontraditional organization or academic program, but there is reason to doubt that this accreditation shopping is a widespread activity. Regional accreditation can be considered a business decision for owners of for-profit institutions because it adds value in that the connection between credit transfer and regional accreditation is a benefit and it allows the institution to be linked with other more traditional and well-known institutions of higher education. The investigation points out the need for a better classification of the for-profit sector. (Contains 1 table and 17 references.) (SLD)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC