Stages of Accreditation
The accreditation process passes through different stages/activities:
- Application - an educational institution files its application to undergo accreditation with AACCUP.
- Institutional Self-survey - upon approval of the application, the applicant institution will be required to make an internal assessment by its internal accreditors to determine the program's readiness for external review.
- Preliminary Survey Visit- the evaluation of the program for the first time by external accreditors. Passing the assessment entitles the program to be awarded a Candidate status valid for two (2) years.
- 1st (Formal) Survey Visit- the evaluation of the program which has attained Candidate status, and if it has attained a higher level of quality, is awarded a Level I Accredited status, good for three (3) years.
- 2nd Survey Visit- involves the evaluation of an accredited program, and if it has passed the standards set at a higher level of quality than the immediately preceding survey visit, may qualify the program to an award of Level II Re-accredited status, good for five (5) years.
- 3rd Survey Visit- the accreditation stage conducted after a program has enjoyed a Level II Re-accredited status for five (5) years. Passing a higher level standard of quality entitles the program to apply for Level III. The program is then evaluated and must excel in four (4) areas, namely: 1) instruction and 2) extension, which are mandatory; and two (2) more areas to be chosen from among research, performance in licensure examination, faculty development, and linkages.
- 4th Survey Visit- is a higher level which if hurdled, may entitle the institution to an institutional accreditation status.
Criteria Used
There are ten (10) criteria (areas) that are used in the assessment of programs:
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1.
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Mission, goals and objectives |
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2.
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Faculty |
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3.
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Curriculum and Instruction |
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4.
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Students |
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5.
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Research |
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6.
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Extension and Community Involvement |
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7.
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Library |
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8.
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Physical Facilities |
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9.
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Laboratories |
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10.
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Administration |
Accreditation Instruments
The evaluation instrument (aide memoire) which uses the 10 criteria described above is the working guide of the Accreditor. Starting with instruments for five (5) programs in 1992; then to ten (10) programs in 1994; there are now thirty-four (34) instruments which have undergone revision for the first time in year 2000. These instruments were updated in 2003, 2005 and 2010. The instruments for the following programs are available:
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1.
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Accountancy
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18.
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Fisheries
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2.
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Agribusiness
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19.
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Food Technology
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3.
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Agricultural Engineering
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20.
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Forestry
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4.
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Agricultural Technology
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21.
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Graduate Education
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5.
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Agriculture
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22.
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Graduate Teacher Education
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6.
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Agroforestry
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23.
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Hotel and Restaurant/Tourism/
Hospitality/Travel Management |
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7.
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Architecture
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24.
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Information Technology Education
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8.
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Biology
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25.
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Library & Information Science
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9.
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Business & Management Educ.
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26.
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Mathematics/Applied Mathematics
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10.
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Chemistry
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27.
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Maritime Education
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11.
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Civil Engineering
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28.
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Mechanical Engineering
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12.
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Computer Engjneering
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29.
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Nursing
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13.
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Criminology
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30.
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Nutrition & Dietetics
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14.
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Electrical Engineering
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31.
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Office Administration
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15.
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Electronics & Comm. Engineering
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32.
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Physics/Applied Physics
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16.
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Entrepreneurship
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33.
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Undergraduate Teacher Education
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17.
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Environmental Science
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34.
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Veterinary Medicine
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