Process
Membership
The institution first must be a member of the ICHE in good standing. Good standing includes up to date on annual dues, information on file is up to date with the institution’s current offerings, and staff is reflected correctly on the institution’s website.
Determination of Eligibility
An institution or organization must meet ICHE requirements to be considered for accreditation. To determine your institution’s eligibility, use the Self-Assessment Checklist.
Accreditation Workshop
The workshop is a preparation seminar to ensure the institution understands the accreditation process and how to prepare key items for an initial resource visit. Within 18 months of submitting the self-study, the chief on-site administrator and/or self-study coordinator must attend an accreditation training.
Initial Resource Visit
An ICHE staff member will undertake a First Resource Visit following a first contact phone meeting. This in-person meeting includes a review of the institution’s financial stability. The goal of this visit is to analyze the institution’s overall eligibility, verify the enrollment, retention, and placement information presented in the Annual Institutional Report, and investigate other areas of the institution’s readiness to move forward with the accreditation process.
Initial Application
ICHE is committed to working with the institution to ensure a smooth and thoughtful approach toward meeting requirements and achieving accreditation status.
Initial Campus Accountability Report
A Campus Accountability Report must be completed as part of an institution’s entire application for an initial award of accreditation with ICHE. The CAR contains vital information such as overall enrolment at the institution, student retention, and placement of completers and graduates.
Application and Self-Study
The self-study is the most essential aspect of the accrediting process and should be viewed as a big effort on the part of the institution, requiring time and careful planning. The self-study allows the institution to conduct a thorough examination of all aspects of its operations.
Evaluation Site Visit
ICHE Executives will assign a team to visit and evaluate an institution after it has submitted an acceptable self-study and other appropriate documentation. The institution is advised of the visiting team’s composition and may request that team members be removed for cause.
Team Report and Response
The evaluation team creates a written report that covers every aspect of the institution’s review and includes any extra material necessary for an accurate evaluation. The team chair then sends the report to ICHE, which forwards it to the institution for review and reaction.
Intermediate Review Committee
Before being examined by ICHE Trustees, all materials relevant to an institution’s accreditation are reviewed by experienced individuals. If the evaluation file is complete, this group will offer a recommendation to ICHE. If the file is incomplete, the reviewers will organize facts with specific missing items.
Council Decision
ICHE Trustees will decide to accredit or renew accreditation, or to limit or otherwise condition the grant of accreditation, based on a final evaluation of important facts and statistics about the institution.