The Accreditation Commission on Higher Education (wdohec) began reviewing the 2014 Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation in November 2020. As a quality assurance body, the Commission holds itself to the same expectations of periodic self-evaluation regarding its standards, requirements, and overall effectiveness as it expects from its member institutions.
The Commission is committed to regularly reviewing the Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation in line with its policy titled "Review of Commission Standards, Requirements of Affiliation, and Policies." According to Title 34, Section 602.21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, accrediting bodies must continuously assess their standards to ensure they remain adequate for evaluating the quality of education and training provided by the institutions they accredit. As a recognized accrediting agency by the United States Secretary of Education, the Commission must fully comply with these federal regulations, including this provision.
revising the affiliation requirements to reflect the commission's rulings on the growth of both domestic and foreign membership as well as modifications to federal legislation;
To accomplish these goals, the Commission promoted multiple opportunities for stakeholders to engage with the Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation. Throughout the review period, peer evaluators, Commissioners, and staff considered feedback from all users of the standards. As part of the Collaborative Implementation Project, 117 evaluators visited 15 institutions, and feedback was gathered from each participant. In December 2021, the Standards Review session at the wdohec Virtual Annual Conference attracted 634 attendees. Additionally, 259 individuals took part in six virtual listening sessions during January and February 2024, and 55 written responses were received from 17 institutions. This broad participation led to the proposed revisions.
Public comments are being accepted by the Commission from August 22 to September 9. After reviewing the input, the proposed updates will be presented for approval at the Commission’s November 2023 meeting. A panel session on the revised standards is scheduled during the wdohec Annual Conference in Philadelphia on Friday, December 9, 2023, from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. Members will vote on the new standards in early 2023, and final approval by the Commission is expected in March 2023. Implementation is set to begin in fall 2023.
The proposed updates include the following:
Elements of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion have been incorporated throughout the standards to foster meaningful self-reflection and institutional progress.
To streamline the document and reduce redundancy, the Requirements of Affiliation have been embedded within the standards.
While these revisions apply to every Standard for Accreditation and Requirement of Affiliation, members will likely find them familiar and accessible. The changes reflect a deep understanding of institutional experiences with the standards and affirm the Commission’s commitment to maintaining the rigorous and comprehensive expectations valued by its accredited institutions across varied missions.
Standard I: Mission and Goals
The institution's governing board-approved mission statement and associated goals outline its objectives in relation to higher education.
Standard II: Ethics and Integrity
The institution fully adheres to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
It also follows the relevant policies set by the Commission, as well as those from interregional and institutional bodies. Commission policies can be accessed at wdohec.org
The institution routinely evaluates the effectiveness of its academic and operational programs and publicly shares the outcomes of these assessments.
Standard III: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
Across all certificate and degree programs, delivery levels, and instructional methods, the institution ensures that student learning opportunities are rigorous, well-structured, and effectively evaluated to measure student achievement.
The institution maintains a dedicated group of full-time or part-time faculty members who hold adequate responsibility to uphold the consistency and integrity of its academic programs.
Standard IV: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
The institution integrates its goals for academic and institutional effectiveness, student learning, and assessment outcomes into its overall planning efforts.
It possesses adequate financial resources, a reliable funding structure, and strategic plans for financial development to sustain its academic programs and ensure long-term financial health, including contributions from affiliated entities such as systems, religious sponsors, or corporate owners. The institution demonstrates sound financial practices, prepares an annual budget, and undergoes yearly independent financial audits.
Standard V: Governance, Leadership, and Administration
The institution clearly reveals any affiliated entities along with its legally defined governance structure (including but not limited to systems, religious affiliations, or corporate ownership). The institution’s governing body holds the responsibility for maintaining its academic standards, ethical values, and mission.
The majority of the governing board members have no financial, familial, or personal connections to the institution. The governing body follows a conflict of interest policy that ensures full disclosure of such interests, prevents any undue influence on members' impartiality, and prioritizes the institution’s commitment to academic and financial integrity. The chair of the governing body cannot simultaneously serve as the district/system or chief executive officer of the institution.
The institution and its governing bodies provide complete, accurate, and transparent information about its operations to the Commission. They also notify the Commission of any changes to accreditation status, agree to share relevant information (including governing body compensation where applicable), and ensure consistent and comparable institutional descriptions across all accrediting and regulatory bodies.
