Ashford University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Accreditation by the Commission provides assurance to prospective students that Ashford University has been found to meet the Commission's stated requirements and criteria.

To learn more, contact:
The Higher Learning Commission
North Central Association
www.ncahlc.org

Many traditional universities find themselves burdened by traditions and practices that prove ill suited for adult learners. The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) supports higher educational institutions through its Adult Learning Focused Institution (ALFI) Initiative, which enables universities to improve learning opportunities for working adults and the employers who support their education. Ashford University is a proud member of CAEL and a participating ALFI institution. In accordance with CAEL's Principles of Effectiveness for Serving Adult Learners, a framework that outlines best practices for schools to adopt, Ashford has designed specific enrollment policies and procedures to make educational opportunities highly accessible to adult students.

Ashford University is committed to implementing the Quality Matters standards for the design of online courses, and is systematically building and evaluating its courses based on these rigorous, research-based standards. The Quality Matters standards ensure that the online components of these courses promote learner engagement and provide students with the tools and information they require to be successful learners. Further information regarding Quality Matters may be found at www.qualitymatters.org.

Ashford University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), located in Lenexa, Kansas. The business programs in the following degrees are accredited by the IACBE:

• Master of Arts in Organizational Management
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Public Administration
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Accounting
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Management
• Bachelor of Arts in Accounting
• Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics
• Bachelor of Arts in Business Information Systems
• Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurship
• Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management
• Bachelor of Arts in International Business
• Bachelor of Arts in Operations Management and Analysis
• Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management
• Bachelor of Arts in Professional Accounting
• Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration
• Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Marketing
• Bachelor of Arts in Sports and Recreation Management
• Associate of Arts in Business

Read Ashford University's complete IACBE accreditation information.

For the fourth consecutive year, Ashford University has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service. This distinction from the highest levels of government recognizes Ashford University's leadership in building a culture of service and civic engagement on campuses and in our nation.

As described on Learn and Serve America's website, "The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, launched in 2006, annually recognizes institutions of higher education for their commitment to and achievement in community service. The President's Honor Roll increases the public's awareness of the contributions that colleges and their students make to local communities and the nation as a whole.

"President Obama has pledged to make service a central cause of his administration and wishes to commemorate the significant role that higher institutions, their students, staff, and faculty play in helping to solve pressing social problems in the nation's communities."

View the official President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll of August 1, 2011.

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is committed to improving the academic quality for it 3,000 member institutions and 60 accrediting agencies. As an advocate for self-regulation, CHEA identifies issues and trends affecting accreditation in higher education and provides forums for in-depth discussion and debate on these topics. Additionally, CHEA leads initiatives to support continuing improvement in accreditation efforts. Ashford University is proud to be a member of this organization.

Constellation, Ashford University's suite of innovative electronic textbooks, is recognized in the 2011 Horizon Report, a respected publication that identifies emerging technologies likely to have a large impact on higher education. Technologies are examined for their potential in teaching, learning, and creative inquiry. The Horizon Report, co-produced by Educause and the New Media Consortium, showcases Constellation as an example of "innovative work going on among learning-focused institutions." Technologies featured in the report are placed among adoption time frames for mainstream use. Constellation, included in the "one year or less" category, demonstrates how electronic books are successfully being used in higher education. The Horizon Report is published annually and has more than 600,000 readers in 70 countries.

 

Ashford University publicly communicates its commitment to online education through its membership in Transparency by Design. Transparency by Design is a consortium of accredited colleges and universities aimed at providing adult learners with better information about choosing a degree-granting, online education institution. Transparency by Design provides adult learners with information on program-level learning outcomes, how outcomes are measured, and how students performed on these measures at http://www.collegechoicesforadults.org. Adult learners have access to student satisfaction responses, learner progress, and other data on each member institution participating in the initiative. This partnership provides additional resources that help students make informed decisions about their education.

As a member of the Presidents' Alliance for Excellence in Student Learning and Accountability, sponsored by the New Leadership Alliance for Student Learning and Accountability, Ashford University is publicly making a commitment to significantly improve assessment of, and accountability for, student learning outcomes on our campus. This initiative actively engages our stakeholders in examining assessment practices and using evidence to inform changes in teacher practice and student learning. Through its efforts and membership in the organization, Ashford University demonstrates a dedication to the preparation of students for work, life, and responsible citizenship.

Ashford University is a proud member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), a professional association of teacher preparation programs representing 800 institutions in the United States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. AACTE's mission is to serve all learners by providing educators with quality training and continuing education dedicated to increasing PK-12 student achievement.