美国民间高等教育认证的政府性

An Analysis of Government Feature of Higher Education Accreditation in U.S

美国高等教育认证一直被视为民间性的质量保障制度。事实上,该认证还具有很强的政府性,表现为认证机构的准入条件、认证标准的内容、认证中的评定、评定后的监控和惩罚以及认证的基本程序都受到联邦政府的控制。认证的政府性伴随着联邦政府对学生资助的开始而形成,并随着联邦干预的加强而不断强化。政府性虽然在一定程度上损害了高等教育的自治传统,但也存在许多积极的意义。它会促进认证机构提升质量保障的效果,增加认证的公开透明性,维护学生利益,并推动认证理念的更新及机制的改革。

Higher education accreditation in the U.S has always been considered as a non-government quality assurance system.But it is actually controlled by federal government in almost every aspect,including accrediting bodies’ qualifications,standards for accreditation,application of standards,process and decision-making of the committee,ongoing monitoring and punishment.The government feature is originated from the connection between accreditation and federal student aids.It has been strengthened as federal government involves more widely and deeply in accreditation.To some extent,the government feature of accreditation damages the academic autonomy in higher education,but it does push the system to promote quality assurance effectiveness,increase transparency,protect students’ benefits,refresh concepts and reform its accrediting mechanism.