Regional Accrediting Agency Documents on Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs
The "Statement of Commitment by the Regional Accrediting Commissions for the Evaluation of Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs" and the "Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs" were developed by the eight regional accrediting commissions through its Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions. Questions or comments regarding these materials should be directed as appropriate to one of the commissions, whose e-mail addresses can be found in a footnote in either document.
The documents were published by the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions in March of 2001 and are available in PDF format:
Statement of Commitment by the Regional Accrediting Commissions
Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs
Related Information
In 2005, the WCET project Balancing Quality and Access developed the first generally accepted basis for evaluating distance learning programs, “ Principles of Good Practice for Electronically Offered Higher Education Degree and Certificate Programs .”
Sue Day-Perroots, Dean of Extended Learning at West Virginia University, adapted the "Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree & Certificate Programs" and simplified it into a basic assessment inventory she calls: "Guidelines for Electronically Delivered Programs". She uses this document on campus and as a consultant-evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.