Associate Degree Application & Preliminary Questionnaire

Associate Application for Candidacy Institutions interested in applying for candidacy status should complete this document and submit it to ACBSP along with the $1,250 candidacy fee (1,000 outside the U.S.).  The $1,250 candidacy fee is applied to the total accreditation fee of $2,500 ($2,000 outside the U.S.)  A mentor will be appointed for institutions entering candidacy.  Please see the Cost of Accreditation for Associate Degree Schools listed below for additional information. Preliminary Questionnaire Complete this preliminary questionnaire and send your response to your mentor to conduct a gap analysis. Your mentor will get back with you to develop any required action plan to close the gap in meeting the ACBSP standards.

Associate Degree Process

Accreditation Processes for Associate Degree Schools An explanation of eligibility, initial accreditation and renewal, timetable and costs, visits and self study, evaluation team, maintaining accreditation and other key processes. Cost of Accreditation for Associate Degree Schools Proposed budget for the cost of accreditation for Associate Degree Schools Reaffirmation of Accreditation Process for Associate Degree Institutions This process book is to be used for Associate Degree Institutions seeking reaffirmation of accreditation.  Please contact ACBSP for information regarding the reaffirmation process

Associate Degree Reports

Best Practices for Quality Assurance Reports A tutorial which teaches how to fill out a QA report.  This is a PowerPoint presentation. Example of a Quality Assurance Report Here is an example of a QA report that is close to the current format. We do not have any reports that have used the current revision to the QA report. Quality Assurance Report Template This report is filed every other year by accredited associate degree institutions on or before September 30th.  The current up to date file is Revision H.

Associate Degree Standards

STANDARDS AND CRITERIA for Demonstrating Excellence in Associate Degree Schools and Programs This document presents the standards and criteria for institutions to demonstrate compliance with the accreditation standards of the Associate Degree Commission for initial accreditation and for reaffirmation of accreditation.

Associate Evaluator Self-study Review

ACBSP Evaluator Application Form ACBSP Members who have completed evaluator training at the regional or national level should complete this form and submit it along with a current resume. The form should be submitted to Steve Parscale, Director of Accreditation or Diana Hallerud, Accreditation Coordinator.

Shared Best Practices in Accreditation
ACBSP is committed to a quality and institutional, functional accreditation process. In achieving this commitment, ACBSP endorses the following accepted best practices:

The eight regional accrediting commissions through its Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions developed the Statement of "Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs." Each commission separately in keeping with their own policies and procedures is currently considering the document.