Maximizing Compliance and Academic Excellence: How a Library Expert Can Help Navigate DEAC’s Updated Accreditation Standards
The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) has recently implemented key updates to its Accreditation Standards, effective January 1, 2025. These updates reflect a continued effort to enhance educational quality and institutional accountability. Among the many revisions, Standard IV: Academic Achievement and Standard VII: Learning Materials and Resources introduce essential changes that institutions must address to maintain compliance and improve student outcomes.
Key Updates to DEAC Standards
Standard IV: Academic Achievement
This revision places a stronger emphasis on defining and measuring student learning outcomes. Institutions are now required to present clear, quantifiable evidence of student success, using a mix of qualitative and quantitative metrics. The goal is to ensure that academic programs effectively develop critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and practical skills that students can apply beyond the classroom.
Standard VII: Learning Materials and Resources
The revised standard highlights the importance of providing high-quality, accessible, and relevant learning materials. Institutions must ensure that all instructional content is current, comprehensive, and easily accessible to students, including those with disabilities. Additionally, the focus is on offering diverse resources that accommodate various learning styles, fostering an inclusive and supportive academic environment.
These updates are just two key areas among a broader set of enhancements designed to refine institutional effectiveness and student success. While these changes are beneficial, implementing them can be challenging—this is where a library expert’s insight becomes invaluable.
How a Library Expert Can Help
With evolving accreditation requirements, institutions can benefit from specialized library expertise to navigate these changes efficiently. A library expert can provide:
Resource Evaluation and Curation – A thorough review of existing learning materials to ensure they meet accreditation standards, accessibility guidelines, and curriculum objectives.
Accessibility Strategy Development – Guidance on making learning materials fully accessible to diverse learners, including students with disabilities.
Information Literacy Support – Development of strategies to equip students with critical research skills, ensuring they can effectively locate, evaluate, and utilize information.
What to Expect from a Consultation with SOL in HIGHER ED
Free Consultations:
A free consultation provides institutions with a valuable starting point, offering insights into how the DEAC’s updated standards impact their academic programs and learning resources. In just one session, institutions can receive expert guidance on aligning with accreditation requirements, identifying potential areas for improvement, and gaining practical recommendations for compliance.
Extended Consultations:
For institutions requiring in-depth expertise, extended consultations with tenured library and accreditation professionals provide a comprehensive, tailored approach. These sessions offer:
Deep-dive resource analysis and evaluation
Customized accessibility compliance strategies
Long-term planning for continuous improvement
Curriculum-integrated resource selection and development
Partner with Experts to Enhance Accreditation Readiness
Navigating accreditation updates doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right guidance, institutions can not only meet compliance requirements but also elevate the student learning experience.
SOL in HIGHER ED offers free consultations as well as extended consultation services to help institutions align with DEAC’s revised standards. Learn more or schedule a consultation today!
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