University of Phoenix’s Accreditation and Affiliations Demonstrates Its Commitment to High Standards
Aiming to provide adults with the higher education they need to succeed in the workplace, John Sperling, PhD, founded University of Phoenix. The Cambridge-educated economist, professor and entrepreneur saw a need for change within the workplace.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), the University offers higher education opportunities to help students foster their knowledge and skills while propelling them toward their professional goals. University of Phoenix offers courses that help individuals prepare for opportunities while also serving their communities.
Armed with over 40 years of experience, the University focuses on the modern needs of adult learners. University of Phoenix offers flexible schedules, online learning and a variety of courses. Regardless of your aspirations, finding the correct course for your professional needs can be easier with University of Phoenix, which serves a diverse student population and offers programs at select locations across the U.S. and online.
Why Accreditation Is Important
Whatever your career goals, finding the right degree program doesn’t have to be difficult. For students looking to upskill and accelerate their careers, undertaking a degree program at an accredited university can be an important first step.
University of Phoenix holds institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). Additionally, select programs also have programmatic accreditation. Let’s take a look at the details of these accreditations and what they mean for both new and returning student, and why accreditation is important.
What Does Accreditation Mean for Students?
It’s important to understand first what accreditation means for new and returning learners at University of Phoenix. Accreditation is a form of external review and validation from the University’s peers in the higher education community. It showcases the University’s ultimate commitment to quality assurance and continuous quality improvement.
University of Phoenix has held institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and its predecessor since 1978—more than 40 years. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the HLC is one of several institutional accreditation agencies, and oversees degree-granting providers in the United States.
The University also holds programmatic accreditation applying specifically to certain degree programs. Currently, University of Phoenix has programmatic accreditation for programs in nursing (CCNE), business (ACBSP), counselling (CACREP), healthcare (CAHME) and education (CAEP).
For students considering University of Phoenix, accreditation is a positive factor to consider. It shows that the University is committed to quality assurance and continuous quality improvement through regular accreditation reviews and oversight by its accreditors.
The University also adheres to its mission and core values that are a component of its institutional accreditation. The University’s mission statement is: “University of Phoenix provides access to higher education opportunities that enable students to develop knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their professional goals, improve the performance of their organizations, provide leadership and service to their communities.”
University of Phoenix’s Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation measures the full scope of activities offered by an education provider. University of Phoenix has accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Founded in 1895, the HLC is one of several institutional accreditors in the country. University of Phoenix has held HLC accreditation since 1978.
HLC recently conducted a mid-cycle comprehensive evaluation and multi-campus visit of the University, which concluded in 2019. During this evaluation, teams of peer reviewers evaluated evidence to determine if the University met HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. Following this comprehensive evaluation and visit, HLC determined that the University met all Criteria for Accreditation. The University will undergo its next comprehensive evaluation and reaffirmation of accreditation in 2022-23.
“The Higher Learning Commission conducted a rigorous evaluation and, ultimately, we were pleased that the University’s efforts were recognized. We were excited and confident to demonstrate that our University meets all criteria set by the Commission. We pride ourselves in providing a quality education designed with working adult learners in mind. This HLC action confirms that we remain on the right track,” said John Woods, PhD, chief academic officer and provost at University of Phoenix at the conclusion of the 2019 comprehensive evaluation.
“While we are proud to continue to meet the rigorous accreditation, standards required of universities across all education sectors, we hold ourselves to even higher standards of continuous institutional improvement,” said Peter Cohen, president of University of Phoenix. “This accreditation confirmation is another milestone in our long history of educational excellence, but we’re not stopping there. The University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to ensure our curriculum is industry relevant and designed to provide the highest quality student outcomes.”
University of Phoenix’s Programmatic Accreditation
In addition to institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, University of Phoenix also holds a variety of programmatic accreditations. The University of Phoenix holds accreditation for select programs in nursing (CCNE), business (ACBSP), counselling (CACREP), healthcare (CAHME) and education (CAEP).
Business Accreditation
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) has accredited select programs in the College of Business and Information Technology at University of Phoenix. The ACBSP has accredited the following programs delivered by the University of Phoenix:
Associate of Arts with a concentration in Accounting Fundamentals
Associate of Arts with a concentration in Business Fundamentals
Bachelor of Science in Business
Master of Business Administration
Master of Management
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Master of Science in Accountancy
Doctor of Business Administration
Doctor of Management
Earning accreditation from the specialized accreditation body for business education shows University of Phoenix’s commitment to quality assurance and continuous quality improvement of its business programs. What’s more, the University of Phoenix hosts a chapter of Delta Mu Delta, which is a business honor society that recognizes and encourages academic excellence of students at qualifying colleges and universities
“The University’s Doctor of Business Administration and Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership are programs for those in the business world looking to begin the doctoral journey. We’re proud that the ACBSP recognizes our commitment to the quality of these programs,” said Hinrich Eylers, vice provost and executive dean of the College of Doctoral Studies for University of Phoenix, when the accreditation with ACBSP was renewed in 2018.
Healthcare Accreditation
University of Phoenix’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) holds programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).
Established in 1968, CAHME offers guidance on the quality of healthcare education from providers around the world. Programs that carry this highly renowned accreditation uphold an excellent standard of teaching when it comes to healthcare and related subject matter. The body states that these chosen programs help “better prepare the future leaders of healthcare.”
CAHME is also the only organization with the power to grant accreditation to programs offering a professional master’s degree in healthcare management education by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
Nursing Accreditations
The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing and master’s degree programs in nursing at University of Phoenix are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
According to the CCNE, this accreditation “supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and nurse residency programs.” Obtaining CCNE accreditation is a voluntary, self-regulatory process, which University of Phoenix officials undertook.
Counselling Accreditation
University of Phoenix’s Master of Science in Counselling program in Clinical Mental Health Counselling at the Arizona Campus holds accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counselling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Choosing a degree program with this formal accreditation assures the contents of the course meet professional standards and prepare students to work effectively in the counselling field when they graduate.
Education Program Accreditation
University of Phoenix College of Education offers a variety of programs holding accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is administered by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The following programs are accredited at the University of Phoenix’s by NCATE:
Bachelor of Science in Education/Elementary Education
Master of Arts in Education/Elementary Education
Master of Arts in Education/Secondary Education
Master of Arts in Education/Special Education
Why accreditation?
Again, accreditation is the recognition that an institution maintains standards of quality and consistency for its students to achieve credentials for future careers. The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided meets acceptable levels of quality. Accrediting agencies, which are private educational associations of regional or national scope, develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those criteria are met. Institutions and/or programs that request an agency’s evaluation and that meet an agency’s criteria are then “accredited” by that agency. Accreditation is helpful to decision-making about choosing a University because it:
Helps determine if an institution meets or exceeds minimum standards of quality.
Helps students determine acceptable institutions for enrollment.
Assist institutions in determining acceptability of transfer credits.
Helps employers determine the validity of programs of study and whether a graduate is qualified.
Employers can sometimes require evidence that applicants have received a degree from an accredited school or program.
Helps employers determine eligibility for employee tuition reimbursement programs.
Oftentimes, enables graduates to sit for certification examinations.
Involves staff, faculty, students, graduates, and advisory boards in institutional evaluation and planning.
Creates goals for institutional self-improvement.
Why Affiliations Are Also Important
University of Phoenix also maintains a number of voluntary memberships with numerous organizations. These memberships and affiliations provide the University an important connection to the professions and industries for which students are preparing for careers. Oftentimes, these affiliations provide students and faculty the opportunity to interact and collaborate with others in education and business at conferences and other educations opportunities. Here are several of the affiliations University of Phoenix is currently engaged with:
Institutional:
American Council on Education®
Council for Higher Education Accreditation®
Consortium for the Advancement of Adult Higher Education
Educause
League for Innovation
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Cooperative for Educational Technologies
Advanced studies:
Council of Graduate Schools
International Leadership Association
Business:
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
American Accounting Association
American Institution of Certified Public Accountants
Arizona Quality Alliance
Manufacturing Institute
National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
Project Management Institute
Society for Human Resource Management
Criminal justice:
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
American Correctional Association
American Jail Association
ASIS International
FBI National Academy Associates
International Association of Chiefs of Police
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
National Sheriffs’ Association
Police Executive Research Forum
Education:
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification
Information systems and technology:
Association for Computing Machinery
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Health professions:
American College of Healthcare Executives Higher Education Network
Association of University Programs in Health Administration
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
Nursing:
Arizona Nurses Association
California Association of Colleges of Nursing
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
Social sciences:
Center for Credentialing and Education
Council for Accreditation of Counselling and Related Educational Programs
Council for Standards in Human Services Education
National Board for Certified Counselors International
National Organization for Human Services
Learn more at https://www.phoenix.edu/
Contact:
Twitter: @Exec_Edge
