The ACHEC Accreditation Regulations are designed to ensure the integrity and ethical functioning of ACHEC and its services. They guide the accreditation, membership, and validation processes for higher education institutions.
1. Principles and Proposal Process
- Regulations are interpreted with the assumption of ethical values and integrity from all members.
- Members, students, staff, the public, governmental agencies, and other institutions may submit proposals for new regulations or changes.
- Proposals are submitted to the ACHEC Secretary and reviewed by the Accrediting Commission in a reasonable and impartial manner.
2. Accrediting Commission
- A special commission manages all accreditation and membership processes.
- Composition: Minimum 5 members, including the President and Secretary. Members serve voluntarily, on a yearly basis.
- Responsibilities:
- Evaluate and recommend accreditation status of institutions.
- Supervise other validation services.
- Represent ACHEC to third parties.
- Conflict Resolution: If a dispute arises, a 3-member arbitration panel is formed to resolve conflicts, and their decision is final.
3. Regulations for the Accreditation of Institutions
a. Eligibility for Accreditation
- Institutions must be legally authorized to conduct higher education and award degrees, certificates, or professional credentials.
- Must prepare students to achieve occupational competencies.
b. Application for Accreditation
- Mandatory application guides the preparation of the Self-Study Report and required documentation.
- Institutions must address all ACHEC standards and provide evidence.
- If a standard is not applicable or unmet, a clear explanation and remediation plan must be provided.
- Confidentiality of all documents and information is guaranteed.
c. Accreditation Options
- ACHEC recognizes:
- Members of IAU from UNESCO
- ACHEC Full Accreditation
d. Assessment of Accreditation Status
- The ACHEC Secretary distributes applications to Commission members for initial evaluation.
- Members have 15 days to review, amend, or request interviews or site visits.
- Evaluation criteria include:
- Respect for institutional autonomy
- Thoughtful guidance
- Cost-effective process
Grading Scale for Standards:
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 4 | Outstanding: No improvement needed |
| 3 | Standard: May improve |
| 2 | Acceptable: Requires improvement |
| 1 | Insufficient: Does not meet minimums |
| 0 | Null: Failed to comply |
e. Accreditation Status
- Results communicated only to the applicant institution.
- Certificates are non-transferable to third parties.
- Interactions with non-accredited parties may reference ACHEC accreditation without implying accreditation of third parties.
f. Accreditation Status Disagreement
- Institutions have 30 days to respond to any concerns or errors in the evaluation.
- After 30 days, results are considered fully accepted.
g. Reaccreditation Review
- A complete new application must be submitted:
- Within 3 years of last accreditation or reaccreditation.
- Within 1 year for conditional accreditation.
- Significant operational changes must be reported and may trigger review.
h. ACHEC Improvement
- Accredited institutions may submit suggestions to improve ACHEC standards, regulations, and procedures.
- Accredited institutions may propose membership representation in the Accrediting Commission.
i. Withdrawal of Accreditation
- ACHEC may withdraw accreditation if the institution:
- Fails to meet standards
- Fails to pay current dues
- Withdrawal requires sufficient cause.
j. Legalization of Accreditation Certificate
- ACHEC can legalize certificates via:
- Hague Convention Apostille
- Consulate Legalization
- Requests for legalization must be submitted in writing to the ACHEC Secretary.
