Association for Innovation in Distance Education

The Association for Innovation in Distance Education (AIDE) was created to develop, publish, and provide for high quality standards for the accreditation of legal institutions providing a non-traditional approach to secondary education. AIDE is dedicated to the process of institutional accreditation and works with candidate organizations to fulfill the requirements of the standards for accreditation. Standards have been developed, and based on extensive research and current trends related to non-traditional educational institutions. An advisory board of professionals oversees the process of development and accreditation review of candidate institutions. Accreditation surveyors are independent contractors who conduct each institutional review.

The Association for Innovation in Distance Education is not an accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Such approval is a voluntary process, and in fact, the U.S. Department of Education states that accreditation itself is a voluntary process. There is no mandate by law for a School, College or University to be accredited.

• To provide accreditation of higher education institutions which are committed to offering innovative and non-traditional curriculums and programs.
• To develop standards that guide petitioning institutions in meeting quality standards that are applicable to non-traditional curriculums and programs.
• To convene a board of professionals who have education/experience in academia, as well as in specific specialties that are multi dimensional and provide for consistency and appropriateness in the accreditation process.
• To uphold the developed and agreed upon standards for accreditation.
• To disseminate information to prospective students considering an accredited institution of AIDE.
• To provide a means to re-evaluate standards, and revise standards on an ongoing basis to insure the overall mission of AIDE. Accreditation standards are developed for all of the following major categories:
  
• The Institution - Structure and Process.
• Administration.
• Faculty.
• Curriculums.
• Learning Assessments.
• Undergraduate Programs.
• Graduate Programs.
• Record Keeping.
• Credits - Transfers and Acceptance.
• Policies.
• Tuition Refunds.
• Financial Viability.
• Ownership.
• Dispute Resolution.
• New Programs and Curriculums.

Each of these categories provides for a comprehensive set of standards by which institutions are evaluated against. All of the defined standards must be met in order for an institution to be considered for accreditation by AIDE.

Association for Innovation in Distance Education Website

ˆ Back To Top ˆ