Canyon College

ACCREDITATION
Return to the Canyon College FAQ web page

The following information will provide and hopefully describe in more detail the facts, the fallacies, the purpose, and the types of accreditation offered within the United States. You will also be provided various additional links to the United States Department of Education web site where additional information beyond that offered here may be obtained. This page will provide you information on the scope and nature, as well as, the contact information on the Canyon accreditations respectfully held by the college. Please contact the Canyon College Admissions Office should you have any questions, or require any assistance in obtaining additional information on accreditation.

Purpose of Accreditation Facts on Accreditation Types of Accreditation Domestic and International Reciprocity American Council on Private School Accreditation American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board

Purpose of Accreditation:
Accreditation is a process whereby an institution of higher learning has been reviewed by an non-governmental accrediting agency, association or organization. This process entails a peer review of courses and programs. This ensures that the institution, and the quality & delivery of content meet the basic level of quality. Other important facets of accreditation are the review of financial solvency by each institution, the ability of the institution to ensure that it's faculty have adequate research funding and facilities, an adequate library or resource center whereby the students may perform their necessary research. Each institution must show that it is working to improve each program of study, and for the benefit of the student population. The institution must be attempting to meet it's objective goals.

Institutions may find that other needs and purposes exist as well for accreditation. Land based institutions desiring to offer Federal financial aid to it's students would require accreditation by a regional or national accrediting body approved by the U.S. DOE. Federal financial student aid is not available to institutions of higher learning that offer degree programs entirely online. Students requesting or requiring financial assistance would be required to spend a percentage of time on campus and should seek out a land based institution that is able to offer this type of student aid.

Due to the independence and autonomy granted each institution of higher learning within the United States, each institution may have varying requirements for the transfer in of credits from another school. As such, and while there is no guarantee of the acceptance of another institution's credits for transfer, national and regional accreditation offers the best chance of transferring credits into another college or university. Each institution may have varying requirements for a course or program of study and may require specific elements be included within the same before they will accept for transfer outside credits earned at another institution. Besides accreditation issues, the most likely reason for a college or university not accepting a course for transfer will be the contents of the course that you are requesting to be transferred in for credit. However, there are numerous reasons for another institution to reject courses for credit transfer. As such, each prospective student is responsible to check with the accepting institution to ensure that specific requirements of each course or program will be met before enrolling.

Back to Top












Facts on Accreditation:
The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit colleges and universities, but rather reviews and approves those accrediting bodies who have applied for approval by the department as reliable authorities as to the quality of education or training provided by the institutions of higher education and the higher education programs they accredit. Accreditation in all countries, with the exception of the United States, is governed by the Minister of Education or a centralized authority exercising national control over institutions of higher learning within that country. Within the United States, however, colleges and universities are granted considerable independence and autonomy as a general rule and are not required to seek or obtain accreditation as it is a voluntary process. While the quality of courses and programs can vary widely from school to school, accreditation does assist, however, in assuring a prospective student that the institution has met and is operating at a basic level of quality.

As described within the U.S. Department of Education web site, ¹accreditation does not provide automatic acceptance by an institution of credit earned at another institution, nor does it give assurance of acceptance of graduates by employers. Acceptance of students or graduates is always the prerogative of the receiving institution or employer. For these reasons, besides ascertaining the accredited status of a school or program, students should take additional measures to determine, prior to enrollment, whether or not their educational goals will be met through attendance at a particular institution. These measures should include inquiries to institutions to which transfer might be desired or to prospective employers... Unquote. While the courses at Canyon have transfered to a number of major universities and colleges within the United States, it is always recommended that a prospective student check with the receiving institution before enrolling.

While each state also maintains jurisdictional authority to accredit an institution within the boundary of that state, as is noted on the U.S. Department of Education web site (Table of Contents, #10), only a few of the 50 states are recognized by the U.S. DOE as approved accrediting bodies. As such, a consumer attending a state accredited institution would maintain a certain amount of risk as they would with any institution accredited by an accrediting agency not approved by the U.S. DOE. For additional information on accreditation, please review the U.S. Department of Education web site at: www.ed.gov.

¹United States Department of Education - www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg2.html#U.S.

Back to Top












Types of Accreditation:
There are two types of accreditation: institutional & programmatic. While there are many accrediting agencies within the U.S., both recognized and non-recognized, national and regional, only those institutions accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education will be eligible to participate in the Federal student financial assistance programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. As discussed previously, certain requirements such as the requirement to spend a certain amount of time on campus exist by statute that prohibit an institution of higher learning from offering degree programs entirely online while offering Federal student financial aid under Title IV .

Institutional accreditation takes into account that all of the programs within the institution are working towards a common goal. This goal is to perpetuate a continual internal self-evaluation and external review of curriculum and practices to enhance the quality of the course/program and the over-all quality of learning for the student.

Programmatic accreditation is incurred when a specific program is reviewed and approved by a organization that covers only that specific field. This is usually accomplished for national licensure of the student after graduation, but each state may have specific requirements as well.

While either accreditation is acceptable and recognized, it is generally found that those programs holding programmatic accreditation are generally better equipped for a specific field of study. Areas of study that are generally found to be programmatic are areas such as social work (NASW), psychology (ABA), and others. It is not necessarily required for a student to attend a program having programmatic accreditation, but it may be found that states and licensing boards may be more apt to transfer through reciprocity, those individuals holding licenses after completing a program having this type of national accreditation.

More information on accreditation may be obtained at the U.S. Department of Education.

Back to Top












American Council on Private School Accreditation:

"Since its inception, the American Council on Private School Accreditation (ACPSA) has been dedicatedly identifying, recognizing, and accrediting online institutions providing uncompromised distance education across the globe. It has accredited members all over the United States of America. There are various institutes that have had them accredited by ACPSA, and who now hold the status of being full-fledged ACPSA accredited." - ACPSA Website.

Type of Accreditation: Institutional
Valid: 14 Dec 2009 - 31 Dec 2010















The Association for Innovation in Distance Education

Statement of Purpose: to provide for comprehensive standards for the accreditation of bona fide institutions providing a non-traditional approach to secondary education. The Association for Innovation in Distance Education is dedicated to the process of quality institutional accreditation and works with candidate organizations to fulfill the requirements of the standards for acceptance and accreditation. Standards have been developed, based on extensive research and current trends related to non-traditional online institutions of higher learning. An advisory board of professionals oversees the process of development and accreditation review of candidate institutions - End of Statement. The Association for Innovation in Distance Education offers accreditation to domestic U.S. based institutions only.

Type of Accreditation: Institutional
Valid: 1998 - 1 February 2010

It is recommended that any prospective student, prior to enrolling, check with the U.S. Department of Education to ascertain the status and validity of the institution's accrediting agency. The Association for Innovation in Distance Education is not affiliated with or approved by the United States Department of Education or other accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Back to Top












Reciprocity - Domestic and International

International Reciprocity:
It should also be understood, while most countries and their respective colleges and universities allow for a review and the subsequent acceptance from foreign institutions, it remains the institutions decision to accept or reject transferable credits and/or degrees. In many cases however, the institutions or governments have jointly agreed to their acceptance; see Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements (PDF)

• UNESCO
  PREAMBLE
  Quote; "Higher education includes ‘all types of studies, training or training for research at the post-secondary level, provided by universities or other educational establishments that are approved as institutions of higher education by the competent State authorities’. adopted by the World Conference on Higher Education, 9 October 1998" unquote.
  
  
• UNESCO: Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements (PDF);
  Page 7, Paragraph 24
  Quote; "The provisions of this Recommendation should apply to studies pursued at, and to qualifications obtained from, any institution of higher education coming under the authority of a Member State, even when that institution is situated outside its territory..." unquote.
  
  
• UNESCO: DEFINITIONS (1-a) - (PDF)
  Quote; 'higher education means all types of studies, training, or training for research at the post-secondary level, provided by universities or other educational establishments, that are approved as institutions of higher education by the competent State authorities; unquote.

Graduating foreign students should inquire with the Registrar's office regarding the process and cost for apostilled transcripts and diploma (degree).

Domestic Reciprocity between States:
As explained on the FAQ page, certain states have reciprocity agreements within the U.S., but it remains the responsibility of the enrollee to first check with their respective state, licensing board, agency, organization or other such entity to ensure that any credits, certificates, diplomas, degrees, or other issued items from Canyon College upon successful completion or graduation is acceptable in their state. Canyon College accepts no responsibility for any losses incurred by a enrollee as a result of any licensure board, agency, organization, state, or other such entity not accepting the aforementioned items as noted herein.

For verification of Canyon's legal authority to grant degrees, you may contact:

Attn: Registrar
Canyon College
4017 Garfield Ave
Carmichael CA 95608-6616


Back to Top












The American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board, ANMAB:
The Canyon College Doctor of Naturopathy program is accredited by the American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board, ANMAB. Established in 1978, this accrediting body is dedicated to serving the needs of the naturopathic community.

NOTE: Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for the certification exam through the
American Naturopathic Certification Board, ANCB.

American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board, ANMAB
2035 E. Windmill Lane, Suite B
Las Vegas, NV 89123

ANMAB Mission Statement:

• To foster excellence in education through the development of standards for assessing educational effectiveness in natural health care;
• To elevate the concept of innovative educational methods on a worldwide basis by promoting understanding of, and involvement in, innovative educational alternatives;
• To oversee the educational effectiveness of naturopathic learning institutions worldwide, by setting and maintaining high academic standards for correspondent and off-campus educational programs;
• To ascertain instructional quality within member institutions;
• To implement and maintain a system of self evaluation for adherence to standards for all member institutions;
• To assure all interested parties that an institution has clearly defined, appropriate and attainable objectives;
• To assist and enforce in the accomplishment of each member institution objectives;
• To act as a resource for proper program planning assistance;
• To set admissions standards commensurate with public expectations and needs;
• To answer student questions and address complaints regarding member institutions;
• To foster an attitude of cooperation and involvement in worldwide education, and therefore to serve as an idea forum for member institutions, the public, and governing agencies;
• To ensure truth in advertising and accurate presentation of each member institution's educational capabilities, and resources

It is recommended that any prospective student, prior to enrolling in any institution or program of study, check with the U.S. Department of Education to ascertain the status of the institution and it's accrediting agency. The American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board, ANMAB is not affiliated with or approved by the United States Department of Education or other accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Back to Top or Return to the Canyon College FAQ web page



© 2010 Canyon College