ABSTRACT
For well over 100 years, assessing the quality of an institution and its curricular offerings has been the responsibility of the regional accrediting agencies. Regardless of the type of institution, curriculum, or pedagogical approach, all are expected to meet established guidelines to ensure the quality of student learning. The decision by some community colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs has brought into question whether the addition of these programs has changed the mission significantly enough to affect the accreditation status of the institution and trigger a qualitative review. Accrediting bodies generally have established standards that require that a certain proportion of the discipline course hours in each major field of study be taught by faculty members holding the terminal degree, usually the earned doctorate, in the discipline. Additional emphasis on library and other learning resources and on student and academic support services are typically required when an associate's degree granting institution begins to offer baccalaureate degree programming.
