In Search of Quality: The Development, Status & Forecast of Standards in Postsecondary Accreditation

This volume describes and analyzes the role of regional (institutional) accreditation in the history of higher education in the United States. In particular, the study focuses upon and analyzes the experience of the largest and one of the oldest regional accrediting associations, the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association.The volume documents the development and changes in accreditation theory and practice as they have evolved from the 1890’s through the 1980’s. It chronicles a change from fixed, a priori applied standards, to assessment criteria which are grounded in organizational theory. The book presents implications for the future development of accreditation based upon the foregoing analysis and current issues and problems confronting accreditation both in theory and practice.