Accreditation

What is ATSU’s Accreditation Affiliation? A.T. Still University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Association is one of six regional institutional accrediting associations in the United States. Through its Commissions it accredits, and thereby grants membership to educational institutions in a nineteen-state North Central region. How Does Accreditation Work? There are two types of educational accreditation: specialized and institutional. Specialized accreditation evaluates individual departments or programs and is not discussed here. If you have questions about specialized accreditation and its relevance to specific ATSU programs, please ask your Graduate Enrollment Counselor. An institutional accrediting agency evaluates an entire institution in terms of its mission and the agency’s standards. It assesses the formal educational activities of the institution as well as its governance, administration, financial stability, admissions and student services, institutional resources, student academic achievement, institutional effectiveness, and relationships with constituencies inside and outside the institution. Institutional accreditation is provided by regional associations of colleges and schools as well as several national associations. What is the Difference Between Accreditation and Licensing? Accreditation is based on a voluntary self-review process by a non-governmental body. Accreditation authorities are recognized by the Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Licensing is the responsibility of each state and includes the basic elements of consumer protection, such as financial stability. ATSU has satisfied the licensing requirements of the Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education. Should I Care About Accreditation? Simply put, accreditation is one measure of consumer protection, with state licensure being the other important measure. There may be other reasons why prospective learners should care that the institution they are considering has certain accreditations. Please let your Enrollment Counselor know if you have questions that are not addressed in this documentation. Do You Want More Information About the North Central Association? If you would like more information about the Higher Learning Commission, a part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, please visit their website at http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org or contact them at Higher Learning Commission, 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, (800) 621-7440; (312) 263-0456; Fax: (312) 263-7462. Questions? If you have any additional questions regarding A.T. Still University’s accreditation or any other aspect of the ATSU experience, please contact your Graduate Enrollment Counselor at (U.S./toll-free) 877-469-2878, (Outside the U.S.) 480-219-6018, or at onlineinquiry@atsu.edu.

5850 East Still Circle ● Mesa, Arizona 85206-3618 ● (480) 219-6000