not accredited institution
what are some ways to attract potential prospects to your institution if you are only licensed and not accredited?
I agree...knowledge is power!
Andrea,
We should never be vague. We need to be thorough in our knowledge and provide honest answers. Many students do not understand accreditation and confuse it with the term licensure. It is very important that we clarify these terms.
Patty Aronoff
Matthew,
The difference between regional accreditation and national accreditation is merely the organization that they belong to. The most Important factor is that the accrediting body that you seek affiliation with is recognized by the US DOE.
Patty Aronoff
Minelba,
Not all schools are accredited. It is a very laborious and expensive process. It is not a requirement to operate in Florida. Only licensure by the commission is required.
Patty Aronoff
For most students who ask "Are you accredited?"; they have no idea what that means. Of course they're looking for a YES answer, but what kind of accreditation is something a rep should be well informed on and can explain the difference so the student can make an informed decision.
I worked at a school briefly years ago that trained their reps to be very vague and unclear in answering that question, especially when it came to transferring of credits!
My school is Nationally accredited but not Regionally. I know our administration is working to become Regionally accredited. What are the differences between them?
Accreditation is "The Stamp of Approval" however it is not an easy task and it takes time and patience. The most important part is that a school identifies the criteria for accreditation and start working towards that goal. If everything is done right a school can get accreditation in less than 3 years. So it is important to do everything right and look to the goal. Everyone should be on the same page with the same focus.
Paola,
Check with your local workforce board and also your local municipalities. Often times they have connections that can assist you in this area.
Patty Aronoff
David,
Schools can provide resources with third-party lenders such as banks, credit unions or other finance companies in order to finance student tuition.
Patty Aronoff
I am looking to go through accreditation specifically so our students can obtain additional funding for their education. As a private non profit institution our program was always small and we never felt that need to pursue higher accreditation. However; with budget cuts across educational government assisting programs that help pay for short term vocational programs, I believe all small institutions must be proactive in securing resources that will help students pay for these types of programs. Any good resources out there to help pay for short term programs for individuals with disabilities that is not Voc Rehab?
So one of the major advances of being accredited is to be able to provide financial aid. What other types of financial resources loans etc, can a non accredited school provide?
Thanks
Robert,
Actually, accreditation sells itself. It is the extra stamp of approval beyond the state licensure.
Patty Aronoff
Yvonne,
Very true! Often times people misconstrue accreditation with licensure.
Patty Aronoff
How does one sell the accreditation? My school is accredited so that should be considered a bonus.
Hi Ian, sometimes when a prospective student calls and ask if the school is accredited, what they are asking is if the school is licensed. If the school is not accredited but offers very flexible payment plans to the prospect, they will more readily forget that the school is not accredited but licensed by the Florida Dept of Education.
Ian,
There are many schools that are not accredited. Accreditation for some schools is basically out of their reach. The marketing and recruitment of the students is still the same. where it accreditation makes a difference is the availability of title IV funding which assist students with their tuition.
Patty Aronoff
