The nature and scope of an educational institution are defined in its legal charter and in formal statements of mission and objectives prepared by the institution. The accreditation of an institution is in part an affirmation that the institution has established conditions and procedures under which its purposes can be realized and appears in fact to be accomplishing those purposes. The accreditation of an institution applies to those units and activities reviewed at the time of evaluation and included in the institutional report which is a part of each accreditation process required by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
Educational institutions are, or course, constantly changing.
Most changes, such as developing new majors or concentrations, changing personnel, and adding and dropping courses, fall within the nature and scope of the institution and do not affect its accredited status. They are, however, one reason for the periodic reexamination required of all accredited institutions. Other changes, however, affect significantly the nature of the institution, its mission and objectives, its educational program, and the allocation of its resources. Such substantive changes initiated subsequent to the most recent evaluation are not automatically included in the institution's accreditation. While the decision to modify an institution is an institutional prerogative and responsibility, accreditation is that of the Commission.