01
Leadership Interviews
Interviews with executive, academic, financial, administrative, student-services, records, compliance, and other responsible personnel.
Accreditation Verification
Site Review
Every initial grant of NACCUA Provisional Accreditation or Full Accreditation includes a Site Review. The purpose is to verify institutional representations and evaluate readiness or actual operations—not to repeat the written application.
Review modality
Virtual, in person, or combined.
NACCUA determines the appropriate Site Review modality after considering the institution, its educational level and delivery method, geography, complexity, risk, information already available, and the verification needs of the review.
An institution does not select the modality as a matter of right. NACCUA may require an in-person review whenever physical verification is materially necessary.
Purpose
Verification of what the institution actually represents.
The Site Review gives NACCUA an opportunity to test the accreditation record through interviews, systems demonstrations, records sampling, observation, facilities review, and other appropriate verification methods.
Reviewers do not grant accreditation during the Site Review. Their role is to gather and evaluate evidence and document findings for the accreditation process.
Normal review activities
What a Site Review may include.
The exact review is tailored to the institution and the questions that must be resolved, but the following activities are common.
02
Faculty Interviews
Discussion of qualifications, instructional responsibilities, curriculum implementation, academic oversight, student interaction, and teaching practices.
03
Student Interviews
For operating institutions, selected students may be interviewed when their experience would materially assist the review.
04
Governance Verification
Review of ownership, governing authority, institutional decision-making, organizational responsibilities, and governance practices.
05
Records Sampling
Sampling may include faculty, student, admissions, academic, complaint, financial, operational, and other records relevant to the standards.
06
Technology Demonstration
Live demonstration of learning, student-information, admissions, records, support, identity-verification, backup, or continuity systems as applicable.
07
Facilities and Resources
Review of classrooms, laboratories, offices, libraries, equipment, student-service areas, and other physical or virtual resources supporting the institution.
08
Policy in Practice
Verification that institutional practices are consistent with written policies and the representations made in the accreditation record.
09
Additional Verification
Focused follow-up when material information cannot be verified, discrepancies arise, conditions change, or additional evidence becomes necessary.
Different stages, different evidence
Provisional and operating institutions are reviewed differently.
Provisional Accreditation
For a pre-operational or newly operating institution, the Site Review focuses on readiness. NACCUA may verify leadership availability, faculty appointments, curriculum readiness, admissions procedures, student-record systems, financial resources, facilities, technology, policies, learning resources, student-support capacity, and opening plans. NACCUA does not require nonexistent operating evidence, but the institution must demonstrate more than intentions.
Full Accreditation
For an operating institution, reviewers examine actual implementation. NACCUA may verify whether institutional practice matches policy, whether students receive the education represented, whether faculty are assigned and qualified as reported, whether records are reliable, whether resources and systems function, and whether public information and institutional claims are accurate.
The Site Review is a verification stage. It does not replace the accreditation standards, the written record, or the independent accreditation decision.
Preparing for review
Be prepared to demonstrate normal institutional operations.
- Ensure relevant leadership, faculty, and staff are available.
- Provide reasonable access to systems and records.
- Organize requested evidence so it can be located efficiently.
- Identify a coordinator for review logistics.
- Ensure technology required for a virtual review is functioning properly.
- Make requested records available without unnecessary delay.
NACCUA does not require elaborate presentations unless specifically requested. The institution should be prepared to demonstrate its normal operations as they actually occur.
Confidentiality and conduct
Verification is controlled by confidentiality, impartiality, and relevance.
NACCUA reviewers are subject to confidentiality and conflict-of-interest requirements. Institutions should avoid providing unnecessary personally identifiable or sensitive information when the same matter can be verified through limited records, redacted copies, demonstrations, or sampling.
Reviewers are expected to apply NACCUA standards consistently, remain impartial, distinguish material concerns from personal preference, and request evidence reasonably related to accreditation requirements.
At the conclusion
The review closes with evidence, not an on-site accreditation decision.
Reviewers may discuss factual matters or identify additional information still required. Final findings are developed through the accreditation review process and become part of the record considered by the authorized accreditation decision body.
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