Although it is the policy of the National Association of Private Colleges and Universities to work with its members to refine and support its uniqueness and diversity in the field of education, it is essential that NAPCU accreditation reflect a demonstrated level of reasonable and consistent competency by a school for the benefit of interested third parties. Therefore, all applicants requesting candidacy for accreditation must meet and adhere to the following standards as set forth by the National Association of Private Colleges and Universities. These guidelines apply to all accredited members of the NAPCU, and must be maintained to secure continued accredited status once accepted.
In addition to its function as an accreditation agency, the NAPCU provides access to a variety of resource materials and development programs for both faculty and administration. NAPCU's rapidly growing international membership has also opened many new sources of information, training, and networking for its constituents, and has increased awareness of many practical advancements and perspectives in teaching and management methodology. Mentor groups, research publications, survey projects in the field of education, as well as annual conventions and peer seminars are some of the invaluable services which our members utilize, participate in, and contribute to through NAPCU's extensive international network of counterpart associations and private educational organizations.
- The candidate must currently operate a continuous educational institution or program that functions and is largely financed within the private business sector.
- The candidate must apply for membership in the NAPCU.
- The responsible contact person for the candidate school must demonstrate their authorization to represent and contract on behalf of the entity seeking accreditation.
- The candidate must be willing to submit for evaluation any catalogues, curriculum guides, brochures, or any other appropriate official materials that would document or define its program’s claims and offerings to the reasonable satisfaction of a qualified committee of examiners.
- The faculty of each applying university or college must hold diplomas, recognized credentials, or reasonable evidence of demonstrated mastery in the appropriate subject for which they have been assigned or allowed to teach.
- Students must be provided consistent and definitive curriculum, courses of study, and other essential information or materials appropriate to the completion of their degree once they have been accepted into a school’s educational program.
- A reasonable minimum standard of competency for each course offered must be defined and reached by graduating students.
- Student progress and evaluation in each course of study must be appropriately monitored and documented by a qualified supervising professor in accordance with established university guidelines.
- Testing and other formal assessments must be conducted under standardized, monitored conditions in accordance with established member university policy. This includes a procedure by which an enrollee has positively identified his or herself as being the person taking the exam, and a method of scoring that is traceable and equivalent to testing standards used by established, peer educational institutions to determine student mastery of equivalent subject material.
- NAPCU members must maintain verifiable attendance records for each enrollee, and that said enrollees have submitted to the school a positive form of identification or a copy of such identification (accompanied by a notarized statement confirming its authenticity) to be entered into their permanent academic records.
- Faculty and administration must respond in a timely manner to all relevant student inquiries, questions, and concerns.
- Any member university or college must be willing to voluntarily offer its facility and responsible personnel for a pre-arranged on-site inspection by NAPCU representatives at the school’s expense. The necessity for such a visit is negotiable and/or can be appealed if it creates undue financial hardship on the school or if NAPCU concerns can be satisfied remotely. However, it should be noted that most candidate universities or colleges are generally asked to host at least one such inspection prior to full accreditation.
- Once full accreditation is achieved, it is the responsibility of the member university or college to inform NAPCU accreditation services of any significant change in its location, administration, program offerings, assessment policies, or legal status within 10 business days of said modification or change.
Fulfillment of the above guidelines does not guarantee acceptance or accreditation by NAPCU, nor does a deviation or lack of fulfillment in any one of these standards automatically prohibit consideration for accredited status.
However, the National Association of Private Colleges and its responsible representatives denies any and all legal accountability for the degree programs, specific course work, grading or evaluation methods, or administrative functions of its accredited members. The NAPCU further absolves itself of all responsibility concerning student performance or success in any course of study, and will not assist nor take part in any legal action brought against its members. Each accredited member of the NAPCU is to be considered a legally responsible and separate entity from the NAPCU itself or any of its other accredited member schools. Enrollees and prospective students must direct all complaints, questions, and concerns related to the operation, administration, or course content of its member’s academic facilities to the schools themselves.
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