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PURPOSE OF ACCREDITATION

The purposes of regional accreditation include encouraging institutions to improve academic quality, institutional effectiveness, and, ultimately, student success. The IABSP focuses on community colleges, career and technical colleges, and junior colleges, through the creation and application of standards of accreditation and related policies, and through a process of review by higher education professionals and public members. IABSP evaluation of institutions assures the educational community, the general public, and other organizations and agencies that an institution has clearly defined objectives appropriate to higher education; has established conditions under which their achievement can reasonably be expected; and appears in fact to be accomplishing them; is so organized, staffed, and supported that it can be expected to continue to do so.

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Each institution affiliated with the IABSP accepts the obligation to participate in a cycle of periodic evaluation through institutional self-evaluation and review by teams of peer evaluators. Teams conduct an evaluation review following completion of institutional self-evaluation in order to determine the extent to which an institution meets the Commission’s Standards. Team members, selected for their expertise, make recommendations to meet the Commission’s Standards, make recommendations for improvement, commend exemplary practices, and provide both the college and the Commission with a report of their findings.

INSTITUTION TYPES
The IABSP accredits institutions in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia which have as a primary mission the granting of associate degrees, but which may also award certificates and other credentials, including bachelor’s degrees, where the provision of such credentials is within the institution’s mission and, if applicable, as authorized by their governmental authorities. The AIABSP may accredit non-domestic institutions in other geographic regions at its discretion.

ACADEMIC QUALITY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT INFORMATION
The Association requires each accredited institution to make public its Reports to the Commission, External Evaluation Team Reports, and Association Action letters, by placing the documents on the institution’s website as well as other locations accessible to students and the public.

Schedule of Fees

Initial Application Fee - Main Campus
$6000
Initial Application Fee - Learning Site
$3000
Initial Resource Visit - Domestic
$3400
Initial Resource Visit - International
$3400
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