Comparative Analysis of Ranking and Accreditation: Exploring a Set of Universal Principles for Higher Education Quality Assurance

• Author: Steve O. Michael
• Pages: 15-33

Quality in Education Quality Assurance Internationalization and Management of Higher

Education in a Globalized Society

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Quality in Education Quality Assurance Internationalization

and Management of Higher Education in a Globalized Society

Comparative Analysis of Ranking and Accreditation: Exploring a Set of

Universal Principles for Higher Education Quality Assurance

Steve O. Michael1

Abstract: All universities are not equal. Universities are not equal in size, scope, curricular offerings, and

resources. More importantly, they are not equal in mission, scale o f operation, productivity, and quality. Even

two universities located within the same geographical locations may differ considerably in productivity and

quality let alone those that are located a world apart. Given the wide range of differences in the environments

of these institutions, in the political systems within which they reside, in the economic contexts within which

they o perate, and in their historical origins, the variations among higher education institutions are

understandable and frankly speaking should be anticipated. Given the differences among institutions, how

should we approach the issue of their qu ality? In response to this question, the benefits and process of

rankings are compared to that of accreditation. The implications of rankings and accreditation for two

“randomly” selected institutions in the US are discussed. By reviewing the standards used by two accrediting

commissions, a set of principles that is applicable universally is recommended.

Keywords: curricular offerings; quality; higher education institution

Introduction

The truism that all fingers are not equal is applicable to higher education institutions. Human needs for

higher education are enormous, co mplex, and varied; hence, higher education’s responses to these

needs must be comprehensive, complex, and varied. If this is the case, why do we sometimes address

the issue of quality among higher education institutions as if they were a monolithic entity? The

reluctance to embrace a universal scheme of institutional ranking by some is based primarily on the

understanding that the differences among institutions are so vast that any attempt to rank them would

be futile - a case of comparing apples with oranges. However, as we all know, this concern has not

deterred the ranking industry from cranking out their rankings every year. Institutional ranking is not

only here to stay, it is gaining grounds across the globe and doing so rapidly.

1 Executive Vice President & Provost Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science; President of AGAUC, USA,

Address: 1731 E 120th St, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA, Tel.: +1 323-563-4800, Corresponding author:

stevemichael@univ-danubius.ro.

European Integration - Realities and Perspectives. Proceedings 2015

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But if rankings, fraught with myriads of problems, are gaining grounds, why is the movement toward

internationalized accreditation stalling? Rankings are a simplistic solution to a complex problem.

Parents of prospective students want to select the best institutions for their children and need whatever

information there is to help navigate through hundreds of institutions out there. By reducing

institutional characteristics and activities to a single number that is ranked, the ranking industry is seen

as providing valuable benefit for parents and prospective students. Most parents do not go beyond the

ranking number to question the methodology used and the criteria employed. In many people’s minds,

rankings describe the quality of institutions. After all, whatever is ranked number one should be better

than whatever is ranked number two.

Why does the ranking industry flourish? The simple answer is money. To the extent that rankings

enable the producers to sell magazines and to the extent that they can make money from the exercise,

the desire to rank will continue to rise. Accreditation on the other hand, provides little information to

parents of prospective students insofar as all it offers is a list of institutions that are accredited and

nothing more.

Yet, many, if not most, higher education leaders know that accreditation speaks more to the issue of

institutional quality than rankings. Accreditation is a painstaking process of evidence-based peer

review of internal operations and systems of an institution for the sole purpose of providing further

improvement. This definition is a departure from the one that describes accreditation as merely

ascertaining the minimum acceptable compliance. The strength of accreditation as embraced by the

Association for the Global Advancement of Universities and Colleges (AGAUC) lies in the provision

of agenda for further improvement. After all, the pursuit of excellence is a relentless critiquing of the

status quo for the sole purpose of transformation.

Purpose of the Article

The purpose of this paper is to compare ranking criteria with the accreditation standards, in this case,

the Higher Learning Commission’s and t he Western Association of Schools and Colleges’ (WASC)

standards, describe the results of ranking and accreditation for two randomly selected institutions, and

examine a set of criteria that can be meaningful and useful for international quality assurance in higher

education. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is the accrediting organ of the North Central

Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) responsible for accrediting over 10,000 institutions in the

mid-western U.S. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of the six regional

accreditation associations in the US. WASC provides accreditation services to over 4,000 institutions

and organizations in the western region of the United States.

Differences among Higher Education Institutions in the US

In the US, there is a wide range of higher education institutions. Currently, there are over 4,000 higher

education institutions representing different sectors: private, public, small, medium, large, rural, urban,

specialized, comprehensive, teaching, research and so on. As shown on Table 1, in 2009, there were

over 2,770 4-year and over 1,720 2-year universities and colleges in the US. Of the 4,495 institutions,

over 62% were private institutions, while about 37% were public institutions in 2009. Of the 2,823

private institutions, about 76% of them are 4-year degree granting institutions. The majority of the

public institutions are 2-year (58%) associate degree granting institutions. The differences among