The issue has become quite controversial. Some say that a student should only pursue an accredited degree. Others maintain that formal accreditation is not so important as licensure and a school's basic integrity. Still others hold that the accreditation process has become a hinderance to the excellence and innovation students must expect from a quality education. This Web site exists to provide information about nontraditional, sometimes unconventional options for learning.
Accreditation is a process by which institutions evaluate and measure their effectiveness.
Accreditation often also facilitates credit transfer. We recognize that the accreditation process sometimes instills an exclusionary sense of elitism in many institutions, accompanied by an insularity which resists change and stifles flexibility. We recognize that many schools and learning programs are flourishing outside the limitations of formal accreditation. We observe that many profound innovations, especially in the area of lifelong learning and distance education, are taking place outside the traditional higher education institutions. Therefore, we support accreditation to the extent that it benefits Virtual Students.