Accreditation
WHAT IS ACCREDITATION?
The act of accrediting or the state of being accredited, especially the granting of approval to an institution of learning by an official review board after the school has met specific requirements.
ARE DIVISION OF RECREATION & RECREATION THERAPY PROGRAMS ACCREDITED?
YES. The Division of Recreation and Recreation Therapy maintains accreditation with the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT). The Division has maintained COAPRT accreditation since 1990 and is scheduled for reaccreditation in 2016. Currently the Division maintains the only accredited recreation therapy program in the State of Ohio, and is one of only four universities maintaining accreditation in recreation and leisure studies in the State.
WHO IS COAPRT?
The Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) recognizes academic programs in colleges and universities that prepare new professionals to enter the parks, recreation, tourism and related professions.
COAPRT Accreditation is a status granted to an academic program that meets or exceeds stated criteria of educational quality. In the United States, accreditation of professional preparation curricula is conferred by non-governmental bodies, which are often closely associated with professional associations in the field. COAPRT accredits baccalaureate degree programs in this profession.
WHO ASSURES THE QUALITY OF COAPRT ACCREDITATION?
The quality of COAPRT accreditation is assured by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is a nongovernmental organization that scrutinizes the capacity of accrediting bodies to assure and improve the academic quality of institutions and programs. For more information please visit www.chea.org or view the CHEA video on accreditation at http://www.chea.org/public_info/video_About_CHEA.asp
DO ALL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES MAINTAIN ACCREDITATION & ACCREDITED PROGRAMS?
NO. Not all colleges and universities maintain accreditation and accredited programs. While there are a number of institutions that may not maintain accreditation or accredited programs for reasons not associated with quality, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), cautions prospective students to be aware of “Accreditation Mills” and “Degree Mills”.
ACCREDITATION MILLS: HOW CAN THEY BE IDENTIFIED?
It is possible that an accrediting organization is an “Accrediting Mill” if the organization:
- Allows accredited status to be purchased.
- Publish lists of institutions or programs they have claimed to accredit without those institutions or programs publicly recognizing they hold accreditation with the agency.
- Claims to be recognized by an accrediting body accreditor (e.g., CHEA or USDE) and is not.
- Maintains few if any published standards of quality.
- Requires a relatively short time period to achieve accredited status.
- Does not require site visits as part of the reaccreditation process.
- Provides “permanent” accreditation with on established reaccreditation review process.
- Represents itself by a name that is very similar to recognized accrediting organizations.
- Makes routine claims in its publications that cannot be evidenced.
DEGREE MILLS: HOW CAN THEY BE IDENTIFIED?
It is possible that an institution is a “Degree Mill”if the institution:
- Allows degrees to be purchased.
- Claims accredited status for the institution or its programs that cannot be evidenced.
- Holds accredited status from a questionable accrediting agency.
- Lacks state or federal licensure or other required authority to operate.
- Requires little if any attendance of students in academic classes
- Has limited assignments for students to earn credit.
- Offers degrees that can be completed in short periods of time.
- Provides degrees based on work experience or resume review.
- Maintains only minimal requirements for graduation.
- Operates through a post office box
- Does not maintain a list of faculty and faculty qualifications.
- Represents itself by a name that is very similar to highly recognized colleges and universities.
- Makes routine claims in its publications that cannot be evidenced.
For additional information to assist in identifying a “Degree Mill” visit the United States Department of Education (USDE) website at http://www2.ed.gov/students/prep/college/diplomamills/diploma-mills.html
For additional information on the threat of “Degree Mills” visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website at http://www.chea.org/degreemills/frmPaper.htm
Updated 11-12-13