Accreditation Workgroup

Accreditation Workgroup Chair

 Martha Mock

Martha Mock, PhD

Email: mmock@warner.rochester.edu


 

A key activity of the Think College National Coordinating Center (NCC) 2020-2025 is to establish a process by which postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disability can become accredited. To that end, the NCC has established an accreditation workgroup to focus on this goal.

The current workgroup activities build upon the seminal work and recommendations of previous accreditation workgroups, which started in 2011. In 2021, a Report to Congress from the National Coordinating Center described the work and shared finalized program accreditation standards for the first time.

Since 2021 the NCC Accreditation Workgroup has developed an accreditation process, a Guide to Accreditation, training materials for peer reviewers, and an independent program accreditor, the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council. In 2023, Western Carolina University’s UP Program was the first program in the nation to become accredited. By 2025 a total of five programs will have piloted the program accreditation process.

This page shares information about the work of the NCC Accreditation Workgroup, and related resources. For more program accreditation information and resources go here.

 

News & Features

Accreditation Workgroup Updates February 2024
The Accreditation Workgroup continued its work to pilot and refine the program accreditation process and related materials.  ...Read more
resources to help programs learn more about program accreditation standards
Check out these tools college programs for students with intellectual disability can use NOW to become familiar with Program Accreditation Standards.  ...Read more
Accreditation News: Tips from the First accredited program, pilot process continues, new guidance manual
[Project: National Coordinating Center] Establishing accreditation in inclusive higher education takes time, but steady progress is being made.  ...Read more

Meet the Accreditation Workgroup

The NCC Accreditation Workgroup represents a wide array of stakeholders who bring expertise in college programs for students with intellectual disability, higher education accreditation, employment of individuals with disabilities, disability policy and higher education administration. The Workgroup meets regularly to refine and implement a program accreditation process so that the program accreditation standards finalized in 2020 may be used to accredit college programs.

Learn more about the members of the Accreditation Workgroup.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is accreditation of programs for students with ID important?

Accreditation offers a way to indicate that a program is meeting standards about high-quality programming in key areas. Accreditation of programs creates quality benchmarks for programs that are useful to students and parents when comparing programs. It provides legitimacy for programs that meet the standards and guidelines for colleges and universities who are considering establishing or expanding high-quality programs.

How were the accreditation standards developed?

The first National Coordinating Center Accreditation Workgroup was established in 2011 and completed its work in 2015. That Workgroup developed, for the first time, model program accreditation standards for these programs by consulting with existing accreditors, working with experts in the fields of higher education for students with intellectual disability and gathering input from hundreds of key stakeholders such as family members, educators, and accreditors.

The second NCC Accreditation Workgroup began its work in 2016 and concluded in 2020. This Workgroup conducted a field test of the model standards developed by the first Workgroup, held sessions to gather public input, surveyed programs regarding their interest in becoming accredited, and reached out to existing accreditors to ascertain interest in using the model standards.

What is the process currently underway to pilot the accreditation process?

The pilot process began in 2022, and the first program - the University Participant Program at Western Carolina University - was accredited in March 2023. Two programs are participating in the pilot process in Spring 2024. They are ACE-IT in College at Virginia Commonwealth and Inclusive Services at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. These two programs were selected from a group of 25 programs who expressed interest to Think College and the NCC Accreditation Workgroup.
In late 2024/early 2025, two final pilot sites will become engaged in the pilot process, for a total of 5 pilots to assist with finalizing the accreditation process.

Is there an agency whose mission it is to accredit programs for students with ID?

Yes! in March 2023 the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council was founded. The four founding board members of their IHEA Council (a non-profit) all have expertise in inclusive higher education and intellectual disability. The IHEA Council is the decision-making body for program accreditation. The NCC Accreditation Workgroup is leading the way on piloting the accreditation pilot. To find out more about the partnership and launch of the IHEA Council click here.

How many college programs for students with ID have been accredited?

As of February 2024, there is one accredited college program for students with ID. The first program that piloted the accreditation process with the NCC Accreditation Workgroup was the UP Program at Western Carolina University. The UP Program was awarded accreditation in May 2023 by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council.

What is the timeline for program accreditation to be available for all college programs for students with ID?

The goal is for program accreditation to be open for all interested programs in Fall 2025. Sign up to receive news and key updates via LinkedIn, Facebook, or the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council website.

Since program accreditation opens to all interested programs in Fall 2025, what can I do to prepare?

While the goal is for program accreditation to be open for all interested programs by Fall 2025, do not wait to prepare, START NOW! There are many ways you can prepare your program for accreditation.

To find all the best resources to help you prepare for program accreditation, review the tools developed by the Think College National Coordinating Center. An introduction to the standards, pre-accreditation self-assessment, and the free online course "Becoming Accreditation Ready" all offer ways programs ways to prepare their program for accreditation. Think College is also available to answer any questions as programs ready themselves for accreditation. Email us at thinkcollegeTA@umb.edu

How can I can learn what is included in the full accreditation process?

The 2024 Guide to Accreditation for Higher Education Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability was released in January 2024. It explains the application, self-study, and site visit processes, and includes the program standards, guidance, and evidence required for review. The guide is available here on the Think College website.

Is there a cost to program accreditation?

In 2025 there will be a cost for programs to pursue accreditation. The IHEA Council (a nonprofit) has not yet determined the cost but understands the need to keep costs low.

Colleges and university leaders are familiar with budgeting for program accreditation costs within their schools and departments to ensure that programs meet the highest standards in a particular field (continuing ed, nursing, education etc.).

All program accreditors must charge for the services to cover the cost of the accreditation process.

I understand Weave is the accreditation portal, can I sign up?

Weave is partnering with the NCC Accreditation Workgroup and the IHEA Council to provide an online portal where programs can apply for accreditation, upload their self-study, and peer reviewers can submit their report. It is available for programs to use once their accreditation process begins.

Currently, only the programs piloting the accreditation process may access Weave and login. In the future, at the necessary time, programs who pursue program accreditation will be assigned a login.

A system for organizing information via a Google folder structure has been developed by the Think College National Coordinating Center and mirrors Weave. Utilize this free resource by visiting the accreditation standards tools page on this website.

How do I know if my program is eligible to apply for accreditation in the future?

Find out if your program is eligible for accreditation by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council by reviewing the accreditation eligibility criteria here.

What if my program serves students with intellectual disability as well as students with other developmental disabilities (e.g., autism)?

While this is a commonly asked question, the answer can vary depending on the specific circumstances. We can help you figure out if your program falls within the accreditation scope of the IHEAC. Contact us at info@iheacouncil.org.