The International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) is an oversight organization serving higher education, globally. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a United States (U.S.) based, non-governmental agency with international membership. Administration, faculty, staff and some students at schools, colleges and universities are made aware when “accreditation” is looming. Typical “accreditation” in the U.S. may be regional (i.e. WSCUC, SACS, etc.) or discipline specific (i.e. AACSB [Business and Accounting], CCNE [Nursing], etc.).
Internationally, all accrediting bodies have covenants, standards, rules, requirements and hurdles for those educational entities wishing to obtain their appropriate membership in the overarching organization. Once admitted, as an accredited educational entity, there are follow-up reviews and re-assessment of the qualifications of the school, college or university to maintain accredited status.
Preparation for initial accreditation and/or maintenance of status bears a heavy burden of documentation, reporting, cost and involvement by key individuals. Accreditation status is often a determining factor for decision-making for all levels of stakeholders: students, parents, employees, employers, financial advisors, and other institutions.
To obtain the coveted status, educational institutions must provide “proof” of (in no order of priority):
Notice that “program progress” is in bold, indicating that this one detail of demonstrated “quality” is a measure of students’ achievements as reported on their transcripts. The data therein (referring to course grades) is, supposedly, a reflection of what a student has learned and accomplished as they complete courses required or selected as they move through the university system toward graduation. The breakdown occurs when those course grades are partly, or entirely, the result of academic corruption.
Academic corruption takes many forms, including, but not limited to:
How can accreditation entities pursue “quality assurance” in higher education and conclude an institution’s awareness of and attempts to curb academic corruption and lack of academic integrity? How do the accreditation team know that the mission of the school, college or university is being met through the study of student transcripts and outcomes? Ultimate accredited status is seen as a “stamp of approval” provided by outside reviewers who have expertise in the various aspects of the investigation and the resulting conclusions.
This is a world-wide problem and these questions are addressed in work being done by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), International Quality Group of the US Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA/CIQG), among others.
Should higher education Quality Assurance (accrediting) Bodies require schools, colleges and universities to develop, implement and report on their handling of academic corruption and academic integrity violations? For those institutions where such programs are in place, could there be standards established through their experiences and successes?
Without assurance of actual accomplishment and learning, a student transcript can be viewed simply as a scorecard that certain time was spent jumping hurdles. Some programs have “outcomes assessment” which can provide some meaning to the data on a transcript. (For example, success on the CPA exam is a good indicator that an accounting student did acquire the knowledge within their college career. This can also be true for the study of law.) However, not all “successful hurdles” in any program is demonstrated by outcomes assessment.
Every educational institution has dedicated “learners” and “hurdlers.” The “learners” benefit from the respect they garner through their educational accomplishments. That respect is tarnished by the cloud of academic corruption. On behalf of the dedicated “learners,” a system pursuing a culture of academic integrity on campus provides meaning to the data showing the quality of the work as they move through their academic career and ultimate graduation. Those learners are only one of the many stakeholders to benefit from Quality Assurance.
Thank you for being a member of ICAI. Not a member of ICAI yet? Check out the benefits of membership and consider joining us by visiting our membership page. Be part of something great!