Accreditation is...
A voluntary, non-governmental activity that occurs approximately every five to ten years. The value and effectiveness of accreditation lies in the institutions' commitment to continuous self-study and evaluation.

A process in which educational institutions evaluate themselves objectively, and then subject their evaluations to an accrediting body for review and critique of educational quality.

A peer evaluation. The evaluation teams consist of professional educators and/or school administrators, specialists selected according to the nature of the institution or program, and sometimes others representing specific public interests.

Accreditation is not...
A replacement for government regulation, or a license from the government to do business. Public institutions receive their approval to operate through the state Constitution and legislative action. Although many states exempt accredited institutions from state regulation, accreditation is a voluntary, private sector evaluation. Accrediting bodies cannot force institutions to comply with state and federal laws, and do not view their role as regulatory.

A guarantee of consumer protection. The evaluation criteria of accrediting bodies tend to be general and non-uniform because of the great diversity of Post secondary educational institutions and accrediting bodies in the United States.

A tool to be used in certifying professional practitioners. Because accreditation is granted by a private, nongovernmental body, requiring candidates for professional licensure to obtain education from an accredited institution as prerequisite for licensure may be a denial of the candidates' constitutional rights.

Private post secondary schools must be approved the EAB before they can conduct business in Wisconsin. Approval is both a license to operate and certification that an institute meets statutory requirements for operation. Non-profit institutions like Saint Martin's College and Seminary often focus on specialized forms of national and professional accreditation for specific programs in religious related professions. As these individual programs receive approval, regional and or accreditation groups recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are the next progressive step to recognition.