College Accreditation

Jeffrey W. Alstete is Assistant Professor of Management and Business Administration at Iona College. He is the author of Accreditation Matters: Achieving Academic Recognition and Renewal, Post-tenure Faculty Development: Building a System of Improvement and Appreciation, and Benchmarking in Higher Education: Adapting Best Practices to Improve Quality.

• Introduction Part I: A Look at Accreditation Background of College Accreditation Quality Improvement Initiatives and Accreditation The Need for Accreditation Management Part II: The Accreditation Process Getting Started The Initial Application The Self-Study or Self-Evaluation Report On-Site Visit Publication of the Self-Study Follow-up to the Accreditation Review Part III: Accreditation Management Planning Staffing and Organizational Issues Controlling the Process Reporting and Budgeting Part IV: Recent Trends and the Future of College Accreditation Connecting Quality Initiatives to Accreditation Distance Learning Accreditation Conclusion

"Aninvaluable andpractical guidefor understanding and managing the increasingly complex world of higher education accreditation.Alstete has prepared an essential reference that shouldbe on the desktops of all administrators and faculty engaged in the accreditation process." Joseph Stetar, Professor of Education, Seton Hall University'Critics claim that accreditation often fails to satisfy either pubic or academic needs. Jeffrey Alstete's approach to accreditation management provides a blueprint for closing both gaps.Both administrative and faculty leaders preparing for regional or specialized accreditation can benefit from College Accreditation.' Joseph C. Burke, editor of Achieving Accountability In Higher Education: Balancing Public, Academic and Market Demands and co-author of Fixing the Fragmented University: Decentralization with Direction