The granting of accredited membership by an accreditation commission signifies that an institution has successfully demonstrated compliance with the procedures, standards, and guidelines of the association. Integral to this voluntary process is ongoing, regularized self-evaluation and peer review.
Accreditation, in practical terms, is a stamp of approval; it is a sign that an institution ascribes to, believes in, and has met an external set of basic criteria for the programs it offers. In some cases, accreditation assists in the transfer of credits from one institution to another. In all cases, it indicates that threshold standards are adhered to in a fashion that provides a base of academic strength and operational integrity. The University of Alabama in Huntsville holds college or program accreditations from the following accreditation commissions:
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is the recognized regional accrediting body in the eleven U.S. Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) and in Latin America for institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees.
The Commission's mission is the enhancement of educational quality throughout the region, and it strives to improve the effectiveness of institutions by ensuring that institutions meet standards established by the higher education community that address the needs of society and students.
Accreditation by the Commission on Colleges signifies that the institution (1) has a mission appropriate to higher education; (2) has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission; and (3) maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers; and that it is (4) successful in assessing its achievement of those objectives and demonstrating improvements. Accreditation by SACSCOC is a statement of the institution's continuing commitment to integrity and its capacity to provide effective programs and services based on agreed-upon accreditation standards.
Originally founded in 1932 as the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development (ECPD), in 1980, we became the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology to more accurately describe the emphasis on accreditation. In 2005, ABET began using the acronym only to reflect its expanded scope. ABET is a not-for-profit, non-governmental accrediting agency for programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. The agency is recognized as an accreditor by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
ABET accreditation provides assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards of the profession for which that program prepares graduates.
ABET accredits programs, not institutions. The agency provides specialized accreditation for post-secondary programs within degree-granting institutions already recognized by national or regional institutional accreditation agencies or national education authorities worldwide.
We currently accredit 4,361 programs at 850 colleges and universities in 41 countries. Each year, 2,200 experts from 35 member societies contribute to ABET’s goal of assuring confidence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
The Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) is an ABET discipline-specific accreditation.
ACS promotes excellence in chemistry education for undergraduate students through the approval of baccalaureate chemistry programs. ACS-approved programs offer a broad-based and rigorous chemistry education that gives students intellectual, experimental, and communication skills to become effective scientific professionals. Benefits for an ACS approved program include:
- Institutions with an ACS-approved chemistry program attract top high school talent looking for established and rigorous departments.
- Approved departments are staffed by accomplished faculty, contain a modern and well-maintained infrastructure, and provide a coherent chemistry curriculum.
- Employers find graduates of approved programs to be better prepared for technical employment.
- The approval process provides a mechanism for departments to evaluate their program, identify areas of strengths and opportunities for change, and leverage support from their institutions and external agencies.
AACSB provides internationally recognized, specialized accreditation for business and accounting programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral level. The AACSB Accreditation Standards challenge post-secondary educators to pursue excellence and continuous improvement throughout their business programs. AACSB Accreditation is known, worldwide, as the longest-standing, most recognized form of specialized/professional accreditation an institution and its business programs can earn.
Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, doctor of nursing practice program, and the Post-graduate APRN Certificate Program at The University of Alabama in Huntsville is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and post-baccalaureate nurse residency programs.
NASAD, founded in 1944, is an organization of schools, colleges, and universities. It has approximately 339 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials.
The major responsibility of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design is the accreditation of education programs in art and design, including the establishment of curricular standards and guidelines for specific degrees and credentials.
The Association also provides counsel and assistance to established and developing institutions and programs. NASAD is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of all art and design curricula.
NASM, founded in 1924, is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges and universities with approximately 651 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials. Institutional Membership is gained only through the peer review process of accreditation.
Our College of Education's, national accrediting body for educator preparation is CAEP.
CAEP stands on a strong foundation and rich history of accreditation in teacher and educator preparation. CAEP seeks to increase the value of accreditation and to increase participation, building on the decades of institutional knowledge of education’s previous accreditors.
- Vision: Excellence in educator preparation accreditation.
- Mission: CAEP advances equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.
Additionally, our undergraduate degree program (BS in KIN-exercise science concentration) is also nationally recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
In the spring of 2022, our College of Education plans to apply for national accreditation from the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). for our BS in Sport & Fitness Administration program. Stay tuned for more information on these accreditation efforts at UAH.
