Belford University is an accredited institution recognized by two renowned accreditation agencies for on-line education, namely the International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU) and Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA). All degrees offered by Belford, therefore, benefit from having the recognition of these accreditation agencies.

These accrediting agencies and boards were founded with the aim of providing a standard by which distance-education institutions can be judged on the quality of the educational service, educational standards, and ethical business practices they provide.

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is a process through which a university maintains and improves its standards and practices. Accrediting organizations develop a criteria or standards by which a university can be measured. It is the responsibility of accrediting organizations to ensure quality, accountability, and improvement in universities that are accredited by them.

Why is accreditation important?

Accreditation is important to various constituent groups because it represents an institution's commitment to quality education.

Being accredited warrants that an institution meets the quality criteria set by the accreditation agencies. Business and industry leaders are interested in quality universities and consider accreditation status an important factor when hiring.

Citizens are assured of accountability and of value for their tuition dollars knowing their university meets established standards and undergoes regular re-evaluation by teams of professionals whose focus is on university improvement.

What is the purpose of accreditation?

Accreditation serves the following purposes:

• Assuring Quality: Accreditation is the primary means by which colleges, universities,  assure education quality to students and the public.

• Source of Improvement: Accreditation provides a stimulus for continuous improvement in educational practices due to the periodic re-evaluation by accrediting agencies.

• Easing Transfer: Accreditation of institutions and programs is important to students for the
smooth transfer of credits among colleges and universities.

• Recognition: Accreditation of institutions and their programs accords them recognition as providers of high-quality education. Federal, state, and local agencies openly refer students to these institutes and encourage students to consider only accredited institutes.

• Engendering Employer Confidence: The accredited status of an institution or program is important to employers when evaluating credentials of job applicants and when providing financial support to current employees seeking additional education.

On what basis is accreditation offered?

Non-governmental agencies or boards establish certain standards required of an institution or university in order to become accredited. Their core function is to promote high-quality distance education by identifying standards that outline the best educational practices. These boards or agencies evaluate the institute or university in the following areas:

• Institution's mission/vision
• Educational practices
• Administration
• Faculty
• Financial stability
• Policies and student services

Institutions meeting the standards set for each of these areas are granted accreditation.


How are universities granted accreditation?

Accreditation is offered only to those universities or institutes that meet the strict standards
set by the official and semi-official agencies or boards. There are several non-governmental
agencies which are highly committed to improving the educational standards of on-line
universities, in particular those which are offering degrees based on working adults' life/work
experience or those who test the aptitude of degree-seekers by taking an online equivalency
test.

A few of these non-governmental agencies or boards performing accreditation services are as following:

• Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA)
• International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU)
• Board of Online Universities Accreditation (BOUA)
• World Online Education Accrediting Commission (WOEAC)
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
• Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NASCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

All the above-mentioned boards or agencies are well-known and enjoy worldwide recognition.