Why Accreditation Matters to Programs and Institutions

Accreditation provides an opportunity for academic institutions to demonstrate they are committed to maintaining their programs' quality and that their programs are performing at the level required by the professions they serve. Programs undergo periodic accreditation to ensure that they continue to meet quality standards set by the profession. The result provides lasting benefits to students, the institution, employers, the professions, and society as a whole.

What Accreditation Means for Your Program

When a program becomes CIPS accredited, it means that it:

• Has received a national and in some type of programs international recognition of its quality
• Promotes "best practices" in education
• Directly involves faculty and staff in self-assessment and continuous quality improvement processes
• Is based on "learning outcomes," rather than "teaching inputs"
• Can more easily determine the acceptability of transfer credits

Accreditation Is Voluntary

Program accreditation by CIPS is voluntary. Many institutions choose CIPS accreditation for their programs because it offers many benefits, such as peer-review, recognition of the program's commitment to quality, and insights from the professionals who review the programs.

Worth the Effort

There's no doubt that the CIPS accreditation review process is an intensive team effort. However, the accreditation process yields a wealth of information that programs can use to deliver the very best education for their students