Meaningful Results over Process
It’s time for accreditation to tell us something worthwhile.
Robin Capehart
Dec 2
The accreditation process for colleges and universities is a critical component of ensuring educational quality and institutional accountability. However, there is a growing concern that national accreditors place excessive emphasis on process-oriented criteria rather than the actual educational outcomes achieved by institutions.
Emphasis on Compliance Over Outcomes
Accreditors typically require institutions to demonstrate adherence to a set of standards and processes that have been established to ensure quality. These standards often include documentation of policies, procedures, and organizational structures.
According to a report by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the process-oriented approach of accreditors can lead to a situation where institutions are more focused on meeting these procedural requirements than on assessing and improving student learning outcomes (CHEA, 2020).
Research by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) indicates that this focus on process can result in institutions engaging in “checkbox” compliance, where the primary objective is to satisfy the demands of accreditors rather than genuinely improving educational quality. For instance, IHEP’s analysis found that institutions often prioritize creating extensive documentation and reports to demonstrate compliance, rather than investing in innovative teaching practices or assessing student learning effectively (IHEP, 2019).
Lack of Standardized Outcome Measures
Another significant issue with the current accreditation landscape is the absence of standardized measures for evaluating student outcomes. National accreditors often provide institutions with flexibility in how they assess student learning, leading to inconsistencies in how outcomes are measured across different institutions.
According to a 2021 study published in the Journal of Higher Education, the lack of standardized assessment tools can result in a fragmented understanding of educational efficacy, making it difficult to draw meaningful comparisons between institutions or to gauge the overall effectiveness of the higher education system (Smith et al., 2021).
Case Studies and Examples
Several institutions have reported that their accreditation processes have become more about demonstrating compliance with bureaucratic requirements than about enhancing educational quality.
For example, a study conducted by The Brookings Institution highlighted that many colleges reported spending significant resources on preparing for accreditation reviews, often at the expense of initiatives aimed at improving student outcomes (Davis et al., 2020).
Moreover, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that while accreditation processes are designed to promote quality, many institutions found that they were not significantly improving their educational practices as a result of the accreditation process (NCES, 2022). This raises questions about the effectiveness of the current accreditation model in promoting genuine educational improvement.
And so . . .
While accreditation is an essential mechanism for ensuring quality in higher education, the overwhelming focus on process over results can hinder the true objectives of educational improvement and student success. A shift towards valuing and prioritizing results over process is crucial for developing a more effective and accountable higher education system.
The time for such a transformation may be on the horizon.
The accreditation landscape in U.S. higher education is poised to evolve. During President Donald Trump’s first administration a change in policy allowed colleges to pursue institutional accreditation from national agencies beyond their regional boundaries. This shift has raised pertinent questions about the effectiveness of current accreditation practices, particularly the emphasis on process over meaningful results.
Currently, the Postsecondary Commission, a new institutional accrediting agency focusing on tangible outcomes—such as graduate employment rates, admissions to graduate programs, performance on standardized tests, and success on licensure exams— is seeking approval and may provide a framework that better serves students and society.
The Need for a Results-Oriented Accreditation Model
Traditionally, accreditation has concentrated on institutional processes, ensuring compliance with established standards. In many cases, these accreditors were more concerned with assuring faculty participation in campus affairs than they were real student learning. While this approach has helped maintain a somewhat standardized process providing a baseline of quality, it often overlooks the essential question:
Are students truly learning and succeeding?
The shift towards a results-oriented approach to higher education accreditation goes beyond a mere focus on general educational outcomes such as graduation and retention rates. Rather, it emphasizes the importance of specific, measurable metrics that directly reflect the success and preparedness of graduates. These key metrics may include:
1. Graduate Employment Rates: One of the most critical metrics of educational effectiveness is employment among graduates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for college graduates is significantly lower than that of those with only a high school diploma (BLS, 2023).
Institutions that can demonstrate high employment rates for their graduates provide evidence of their effectiveness in preparing students for the workforce. An accrediting agency emphasizing this metric can drive institutions to enhance career services and align curricula with employer needs.
2. Admissions to Graduate Programs: The ability of graduates to gain admission to reputable graduate programs serves as another indicator of academic quality. A study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that graduate school acceptance rates are influenced by the quality of undergraduate education (NCES, 2022).
Institutions that prioritize student preparation for further academic pursuits can attract more talented applicants, thereby enhancing their reputation and demonstrating their commitment to educational excellence.
3. Performance on Comprehensive Standardized Tests: Standardized tests, such as the GRE or GMAT, provide a benchmark for student preparedness and academic achievement. Data from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) indicates that students from institutions with robust academic support systems tend to perform better on these assessments (ETS, 2021).
An accreditation model that holds institutions accountable for student performance on these tests can incentivize improvements in teaching quality and curriculum design.
4. Success on Licensure Exams: For professional fields, success on licensure exams, such as the NCLEX for nursing or the bar exam for law, is a critical measure of educational effectiveness. A report by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) highlights that nursing programs with strong curricula and support systems tend to produce graduates who excel on the NCLEX (NCSBN, 2023).
Accrediting agencies that emphasize these outcomes ensure that institutions remain focused on preparing students for the demands of their chosen professions.
The Importance of Results-Oriented Accreditation
By focusing on these tangible, outcomes-based metrics, a results-oriented accreditation model can provide a more accurate and meaningful evaluation of an institution’s effectiveness. This approach aligns with the growing demand from students, parents, and employers for higher education to deliver a strong return on investment.
1. Relevance to Stakeholders: Prospective students and their families are increasingly concerned with the post-graduation outcomes of an institution, such as job placement and earnings potential. A results-oriented accreditation system can help inform their decision-making process and ensure that institutions are held accountable for the success of their graduates.
2. Accountability and Transparency: Accrediting agencies that prioritize outcomes-based metrics can hold institutions more accountable for their performance and provide greater transparency to the public. This can incentivize institutions to continuously improve their educational programs and support services to better serve their students.
3. Alignment with Workforce Needs: By emphasizing metrics like employment rates and licensure exam pass rates, a results-oriented accreditation model can help ensure that higher education institutions are producing graduates who are well-prepared to meet the demands of the modern workforce. This alignment can benefit both students and employers.
4. Fostering Innovation: When institutions are evaluated based on the tangible outcomes of their students, they may be more motivated to explore innovative teaching methods, curricula, and support services that can enhance student learning and success. This can lead to continuous improvement and a stronger return on investment for students.
Going Forward . . .
The change of administrations in Washington may provide an excellent opportunity to bring our colleges and universities in greater alignment with the economic needs of the nation and provide accountability for our institutions.
There is nothing to stop colleges and universities from continuing to offer a broad-based liberal arts curriculum to parents and student who wish to pursue such an education. In that regard, the accreditation process could be adjusted to provide the appropriate assurance of student learning for institutions that do not necessarily offer defined career pathways.
However, there is a growing demand among parents, students, employers and policymakers for colleges and universities that provide career pathways that help meet the economic needs of their communities, states and our nation.
In that regard, the future of higher education accreditation should embrace a results-oriented approach that prioritizes student learning and success. By focusing on measurable outcomes, accrediting agencies can foster accountability, drive innovation, and align educational programs with workforce needs. As discussions about accreditation policies continue, it is crucial to advocate for changes that will enhance the quality and relevance of higher education in the United States.
Meaningful Results over Process – by Robin Capehart