Accrediting Bodies Consider New Standards for Distance-Education Programs

By DAN CARNEVALE

The six regional bodies that grant accreditation to colleges and universities in the United States are near agreement on guidelines for evaluating distance education that differ from traditional accrediting standards by focusing on how much students learn.

If enacted, the regional accrediting agencies would use the guidelines to set standards for granting accreditation to distance-education programs and institutions.

Under the guidelines, the regional