American colleges and universities are subject to approval and accreditations of governing bodies. What that means is that there are a group of people who travel from school to school counting library books, adding up square footage and checking out credentials of faculty.
When all is said and done, three very big people lift up an equally big stamp and slop it on to the roof or some other appropriate and visual place of the school.
State officials grant schools the right to operate and grant degrees and without such, the school can not legally open its doors.
But, the most prestigious stamp is lifted and placed by a larger group of people - called regional accreditation. One region is a group of states and there are six regions in the US altogether.
In order to transfer classes and credits from one school in one region to another school in another region - the school must have regional accreditation.
Needless to say, schools - fopros and non-profits alike want this approval at all costs AND they will try all means to get it - even buy it.
How could a school buy accreditation?
What do you think?
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Bill, hopefully these governing bodies will hold to good ethics. With the Lay and Schilling conviction and folks in congress losing seats because of corruption, let's hope it sends a message to people on accreditation governing boards. No one appreciates this kind of corruption. Maybe Elliot Spitzer should step in if this is so. :-)
Posted by: Robyn McMaster | June 8, 2006 7:31 AM | Permalink to Comment