The proliferation of accrediting agencies, agencies overreaching their authority, and the changes ahead in professional accreditation in the health professions are discussed. There are almost as many accrediting groups in the health-related areas as in all other areas combined. (MLW)

Effective use of accreditation as it continues to evolve is important to maintain educational quality. How accreditation developed its characteristics, use of standards, and conception of quality are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Traces changes in the federal role in and priorities for higher education and poses questions concerning the relationship between the federal government and the accrediting community. Highlights reports evidencing state concern for quality and differences among the states with regard to program review and accreditation. (DMM)

Three articles on accreditation by Richard M. Millard, Robert A. Scott, and David E. Sumler cover ensuring the quality of programs and institutions, the accreditation process and what accreditation is needed by higher education institutions, and the cooperation between the Maryland state agency and a regional accreditation body. (MLW)

State responsibility for chartering, incorporating, and authorizing postsecondary institutions to operate has become crucial in recent years. It is acknowledged that states have made major progress in strengthening their authorizing and regulatory functions but continued progress is needed. (Author/LBH)

The emphasis of the new accountability is upon the fact that, regardless of how intense competition among institutions may become, there are certain basic ethical and legal obligations that should pervade student-institutional relations. These are cited in recommendations of two invitational national conferences on consumer protection in…

Issues in developing tensions between some universities and the law schools within their walls over accreditation practices, philosophy, and standards are discussed: accreditation objectives; institutional autonomy in relation to component schools and programs; and maintenance of accredited status versus program improvement at university cost.…

The roles of accrediting associations and college trustees in promoting the quality of educational operations are considered. Voluntary accrediting associations have established a framework for institutional and program self-regulation, including the concept of peer review, and have emphasized the evaluation of institutions and programs in the…

Developments that highlight the importance of state oversight and authorization of higher education institutions and the objectives of the current Colorado Springs seminar on this topic are considered. In addition to the basic fact that states are the origin of chartering, licensing, and authorization of educational institutions, states have…

The Constitution mandates that the states take primary responsibility for education. Except for a few specialized institutions, such as the service academies, educational institutions have been chartered, incorporated, licensed and/or authorized to operate by the states. This historical relationship between the states and higher education is…

The history of the interrelation among state approval, accreditation, and institutional eligibility is considered. It is suggested that faculty and college administrators can be either an internal or external group in relationship to the planning process. The federal government, or the state government, passes legislation that may have both…

The issue of academic fraud is addressed in a transcript from a three-part series entitled "Degrees for Sale" from the "Donahue on Today" television show, and two essays drawn from presentations at the 1981 annual conference of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The essays are "Stopping Fraud and Ensuring Quality," by Lyn…