Accreditation Assures Quality

In the United States, accreditation is a non-governmental, peer-review process that assures the quality of the postsecondary education students receive. Educational institutions or programs volunteer to undergo this review periodically to determine if certain criteria are being met.

(NOTE: Outside the United States, accreditation is not necessarily voluntary nor non-governmental. Please visit the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (www.unesco.org) for more information on the world's postsecondary education systems and their quality assurance mechanisms.)

It is important to understand, however, that accreditation is not a ranking system. It is simply assurance that a program or institution meets established quality standards.

The Society of American Foresters is responsible for the accreditation of postsecondary degree-granting programs. SAF accredits specific curriculum, not degrees, departments, colleges, or institutions.

SAF is recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation.