The purpose of ALA-accreditation is to ensure quality, innovation, and value in LIS education. Accreditation is voluntary and nongovernmental. ALA accreditiation is a process that combines peer review with self-review by the individual MLIS programs. ALA only accredits the first professional degree in library and information studies, which is the Master's degree. The ALA Standards as written in the [http://www.ala.org/ala/accreditation/accredstandards/standards.htm ''Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies'']provide the basis by which all accreditation decisions are made.

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*The purpose of ALA-accreditation is to ensure quality, innovation, and value in LIS education.

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Earning a master's degree from an ALA-accredited program affords you more career options than other degrees from non ALA-accredited programs. The majority of employers require an ALA-accredited master’s for professional positions – no matter what specialty or type of library you are interested in working in.

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*Accreditation is voluntary and nongovernmental.

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*ALA accreditiation is a process that combines peer review with self-review by the individual MLIS programs.

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*ALA only accredits the first professional degree in library and information studies, which is the Master's degree.

+

*The ALA [http://www.ala.org/ala/accreditation/accredstandards/standards.htm ''Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies''] provide the basis by which all accreditation decisions are made.

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*Earning a master's degree from an ALA-accredited program affords you more career options than other degrees from non ALA-accredited programs. The majority of employers require an ALA-accredited master’s for professional positions – no matter what specialty or type of library you are interested in working in.

== How it works ==

== How it works ==

Revision as of 16:27, 9 March 2007

The information presented here is summary information only. If you really want to learn about the accreditation process in-depth follow the links embedded in the text to the Office for Accreditation (OA) web site. The OA site also includes a host of reports, schedules, newsletters, and other documents. The point of this page is to present some of that same information in less formal language (sorry, there will still be a lot of acronyms), and to shed some light on common concerns and misperceptions that students express about the accreditation process.

Earning a master's degree from an ALA-accredited program affords you more career options than other degrees from non ALA-accredited programs. The majority of employers require an ALA-accredited master’s for professional positions – no matter what specialty or type of library you are interested in working in.

How it works

ALA has been accrediting library education programs in the U.S. and Canada since 1925. There are currently 56 established ALA-accredited MLIS programs,and a handful of contenders in various stages of the process. The ALA Committee on Accreditation (COA) is the agent by which ALA accredits programs. COA makes accreditation decisions for any given program at the end of a 24 month long review process that includes an onsite visit to the program by appointed reviewers (the ERP). Programs are typically reviewed once every seven years, unless COA determines there is evidence to support additional reviews. Seven years is a long time between reviews, but programs aren't ignored or forgotten until their next review. All programs submit regular written and electronic reports to COA.
That's a very brief synopsis. If you really want to know all the ins and outs of the process, you can read through the Accreditation Process Policy and Procedures (AP3) manual (also available in pdf format).

Committee on Accreditation

The Committee on Accreditation (COA) is a standing ALA committee consisting of twelve members appointed by the ALA President-elect. Ten members are ALA members appointed to four-year terms and two members are appointed from the public at large to 2-year terms. One of the ALA members is Canadian to represent those programs. COA appointments are made with an effort to balance the various aspects and specialties in LIS education and the larger profession. The committee rosteris public record and posted on the OA web site.

The Standards are designed to preserve the uniqueness of each program while ensuring that all accredited programs meet the same level of educational excellence. It's important to understand that the Standards are indicative, not prescriptive. In other words, the Standards describe essential features that programs must have; they don't impose cookie-cutter requirements that may not be suitable for all programs.

Comprehensive reviews & site visits

The comprehensive review process lasts approximately two years. During that time, the OA works with the program representatives, COA, and a carefully screened External Review Panel (ERP) to ensure a fair, honest, and collegial review. The 24-month long review process involves many important steps – too many to list here. What follows is a brief summary of a few key steps:

A site visit is scheduled by the OA and the program. Site visits are typically 2 days, usually mid-November in the fall and mid-April in the spring.

About 12 months into the review, the program develops a detailed self-study, called a Program Presentation. The purpose of the Program Presentation is to present evidence that the program is meeting the Standards for ALA-accreditation. Program Presentations are usually written by key faculty members and administrators in the program. Quite a few Program Presentations are available online, if you're interested in seeing one.

After the final draft of the Program Presentation has been submitted, the ERP members conduct a site visit. The ERP acts as the "eyes and ears" of COA, who do not go on visits. The major purpose of the site visit is to allow the ERP to verify what has been presented in the Program Presentation. Towards that end, the ERP members may interview faculty, students, alumnae, and administrators. They may inspect files, look at facilities, or visit classes. The ERP writes a report of their findings based on their observations on-site. The program has an opportunity to read and respond to the report before it is submitted to the COA.

COA makes an accreditation decision after meeting with the dean of the program and the ERP Chair at the first Midwinter or Annual Conference following the review. The decision is based on evidence found in the Program Presentation, ERP report, program response to the ERP report (if any), program reports, and other relevant documents. Programs are informed of the COA decision in a letter sent shortly after Conference.

The Office for Accreditation posts a current schedule of programs up for review over the next seven year cycle in its web site.

Is your program being reviewed?

Don't panic. The whole idea behind accreditation is to ensure the quality of your LIS education. A comprehensive review is not intended to be an unpleasant or adversarial experience. No one is "out to get" your program. In fact, most program administrators report they have benefited from the process; gaining valuable knowledge through the opportunity for self-reflection and review by their peers.

Get involved. Students are encouraged to participate in the activities surrounding comprehensive reviews and site visits. Ask your program administrators about ways you can contribute.

Learn more about the process. Read through the Standards and relevant sections of AP3. Visit the OA web site and familiarize yourself with the materials provided for programs and ERP members.

Get involved in ALA student chapters, conferences, round tables, and divisions. Think about your career and the future: do you see yourself as a leader? Champions for the future of librarianship - like COA and ERP members - are drawn from ALA membership and are active in the association.