What is Distance Education?

Distance Learning (DL) is an instructional delivery system which connects learners with educational resources. DL provides educational access to learners not enrolled in educational institutions and can augment the learning opportunities of current students. The implementation of DL is a process which uses available resources and will evolve to incorporate emerging technologies.

Within rapid technological changes, the American education system is challenged with providing increased educational opportunities without increased budgets. Many educational institutions are answering this challenge by developing distance education programs. At its most basic level, distance education takes place when a teacher and student(s) are separated by physical distance, and technology (i.e., voice, video, data, and print), is used to bridge the instructional gap. These types of programs can provide adults with a second chance at a college education, reach those disadvantaged by limited time, distance or physical disability, and update the knowledge base of workers at their places of employment.

Historically, most distance education courses were vocational in nature, but today courses are offered for academic, professional, and avocational purposes for students of all ages. There are numerous specialized programs, such as those for blind persons and for parents of children with hearing impairments. Distance education is available in practically any field, from accounting to zoology, while the courses are offered in gemology, high school diploma, journalism, locksmithing, child day care management, yacht design, and many fascinating subjects.

Distance education courses also vary greatly in scope, level, and length. Some have a few assignments and require only a few months to complete, while others have a hundred or more lesson assignments requiring three or four years of conscientious study.

In the year 2000, over one thousand degree and certificate programs from nearly nine hundred accredited institutions were offered by distance learning, in North America. New courses and programs are continually being developed, and selected universities are offering their courses and degree programs solely through distance methods.

What Does Accreditation Mean?

The word "accreditation" has acquired many shades of meaning over the years. Distance education accreditation is a certification by a recognized body that a distance education institution has voluntarily undergone a comprehensive study and peer examination that has demonstrated that the institution does in fact meet the established standards. The institution must perform the functions that it claims: that it has set educational goals for students who enroll, offers formal, organized learning experiences and services that enable students to meet these stated goals, and can, in fact, show that students and graduates have benefited from the learning experiences provided.

Basically, accreditation is a process that gives public recognition to institutions that meet certain standards. It is a promise that an institution will provide the quality of education it claims to offer. Accreditation assures the student that the institution operates on a sound financial basis, has an approved program of study, qualified instructors, adequate facilities and equipment, effective recruitment and admission policies, and advertises its courses truthfully.

Historically and currently, accreditation may be said to:

> foster excellence in education through the development of standards for assessing educational effectiveness;

> encourage improvement through continuous self-evaluation and planning; and

> assure the educational community, students, state and federal authorities, the general public and other interested agencies or organizations that an institution has clearly defined and appropriate objectives; maintains conditions under which their achievement can be reasonably expected; appears in fact to be accomplishing them; and can be expected to continue to do so.

IAAOU accreditation is an institution-wide source of nationally recognized accreditation that covers all distance study courses offered by an institution. American accreditation is unique because it is based on a method of instruction rather than educational level or subject matter discipline. It covers all programs, courses and distance study endeavors of an institution, including degree, non-degree, vocational and avocational programs.

Why Become Accredited?

Accreditation provides an opportunity to improve the educational quality of your institution. It provides a means of evaluating and comparing your courses/programs, facilities, and procedures with those of others. It involves a process whereby an accrediting body grants public recognition to an institution as having met certain standards. However, the greatest value of accreditation is to be found in undergoing the process itself, a process of self-evaluation in which an institution voluntarily monitors and controls its own behavior to ensure that its "programs and policies embody standards of good practice."

> Accreditation is purely voluntary. The applicant institution voluntarily elects to apply for accreditation and it voluntarily agrees to comply with all standards and policies of the Commission.

> Accreditation is a non-governmental peer review process in which the integrity and good faith of an institution and its officers are essential.

> The burden of proof in demonstrating compliance with standards rests with the institution, not with the Accrediting Commission. The institution must prove to the Accrediting Commission that it meets or exceeds the standards.

> The Accrediting Commission considers information about an applicant institution from any source in reaching its conclusion.

> Accreditation is by its nature a formal, but nonetheless, collegial process. It works best when there is a common agreement that the chief purpose for seeking accreditation is the identification of soundness, honesty and quality in the practice of distance education.

Who are IAAOU Member institutes?

There are various institutes that have had themselves accredited from IAAOU, and who now hold the status of being full-fledged IAAOU members. IAAOU also have numerous candidate institutions, whose accreditation cases are being considered.