Accreditation PoliciesDecision on AccreditationThe Visiting Team Report and the vote on VAIS Standards for Membership are forwarded to the VAIS Accreditation Committee. The Committee makes a recommendation on accreditation to the VAIS Board of Directors and determines additional reporting that may be required by the School. All decisions concerning accreditation rest with the VAIS Board. Decision Following an Initial VisitAt the conclusion of an Initial Visit, the Accreditation Committee may make the following recommendations to the Board: Full Accreditation, Provisional Accreditation, or Denied Accreditation. Decision Following an Interim or Ten Year VisitAt the conclusion of an Interim or Ten Year Visit, the Accreditation Committee may make the following recommendations to the Board: Full Accreditation, Conditional Accreditation, or Denied Accreditation. Appeal of a RecommendationA school seeking to retain its full accreditation may appeal an adverse action. An adverse action is defined as a recommendation for Denial of Initial Accreditation, Conditional Accreditation, or Termination of Membership. A school is given the right to contest the recommendation of the VAIS Accreditation Committee. These are the procedures to be followed:
The action of the Board of Directors on accreditation and membership, after any appeals have been heard, is final.
Adding Grades or Programs to a VAIS Accredited SchoolA school creating a new program or adding new grades should establish the programs, note in their promotional materials that the new programs or grades are not accredited at that time, and seek re-accreditation within its existing accreditation cycle. At the time of the next visit, the school must write a separate report regarding the grades added to include rationale and mission alignment, as well as detailed curriculum mapping. A school may request a new accreditation cycle beginning with a full self-study process including the new program or grades. If accreditation is mentioned in the school's literature, note what grades and programs are accredited. |