Initial External Accreditation

Operational Standard/Purpose

Accreditation is a review process to determine if programs meet defined standards of quality as determined by an external agency. The process of accreditation typically culminates in an external quality review by a team of industry professional experts.

The purpose of this SOP is to document the procedure that college stakeholders follow to approve college resources being allocated for the preparation needed for initial external accreditation as it applies to programs and services.

Scope/Applicability

The Initial External Accreditation SOP: applies to departments, disciplines, and services across the institution.

The time frame for this SOP is from the time a department, discipline, or service identifies that external accreditation is desired to the time external accreditation is awarded. After external accreditation is awarded the Third-Party Accreditation SOP is followed for reaffirmation of accreditation.

Procedures

1. Internal Accreditation Liaison (e.g. teaching chair, dean, program director/coordinator) (referred to as requestor) submits a written request to Supervisor stating:
   1. Accreditation Agency
   2. Accreditation Costs (e.g. application fees, site visits, campus space, equipment, recurring costs)
   3. Accreditation Quality Standards (including staffing/employees)
   4. Timelines (e.g. curriculum process, assessment, external agency timelines)
   5. Estimated time needed for initial accreditation application, processes, and documentation
   6. Explanation detailing why accreditation meets student and stakeholder needs and is value-added
   7. Other Relevant Information (e.g. advisory councils, impacted College stakeholders)
2. Supervisor approves or denies request
3. Supervisor shares recommendation with Cabinet Member. (If Supervisor is Cabinet Member move to next step)
4. Cabinet Member approves, denies or requests additional information
5. If Cabinet Member approves, Cabinet Member brings recommendation to Executive Cabinet for approval (Results are shared with requester)
6. If Executive Cabinet approves, requester completes accreditation documents
7. Requester shares accreditation documents with Supervisor and Cabinet Member who then shares information with College President before approval for next step is granted
8. After approval of accreditation documents, documents are shared with external accreditation agency
9. During the initial accreditation process, requester informs Supervisor and administration of all scheduled campus visits and received accreditation application documents from external accreditation agency
10. Requester includes accreditation costs in yearly department budget (Requester may need to share information with department budget planner/manager)
11. After initial accreditation has been granted, the accreditation period, agency name, and internal ICC contract (e.g. requester) is shared with the Assistant Vice President of Assessment, Accreditation and Services
12. The Assistant Vice President of Assessment, Accreditation and Services adds information to College Accreditation website page and informs Curriculum and Scheduling to ensure accreditation information is included in College Catalog
13. After initial accreditation has been granted, the Third-Party Accreditation SOP is followed.

Additional Provisions/Information

The accreditation process timeline varies by program and discipline. The College recognizes that academic programs may require external accreditation for professional licensure/credentials. This process is followed for those accreditations. In addition, this process applies to all external accreditations.