Distance Education Training Council (DETC)
The Distance Education Training Council (DETC) was established in 1926 in order to promote ethical practices and appropriate educational standards in the correspondence-course industry. Its Accrediting Commission was founded in 1955, and is recognized as a national accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The Accrediting Commission articulates standards of educational excellence for distance learning institutions, emphasizing quality assurance, student rights, and continuous institutional improvement via self and peer review. It covers distance degree programs up to and including the professional doctoral degree.
Why DETC Accreditation is ImportantDETC accreditation is beneficial to its member institutions because it provides a framework for self-evaluation and improvement. It also acts as a marker of educational quality for the general public, most importantly for potential students and their future employers. By acting as a resource and by generally promoting educational excellence for member institutions, the DETC's Accrediting Commission is able to nurture the educational experiences of students worldwide.
Core Values of the DETCThe DETC is aligned with seven core values, namely:
- self-regulation
- volunteerism
- respect for institutional uniqueness
- institutional self-improvement
- fairness and transparency of decision-making
- excellence in student services
- responsiveness to the changing global community of distance education
DETC accreditation signifies that an institution is able to meet its stated educational goals for students and offers structured programs and services that enable that to happen. DETC accreditation takes into account whether or not an institution provides an educational experience that benefits its students and graduates.
Important Information for Transfer StudentsStudents who are interested in attending a DETC-accredited institution and then transferring credits to another college or university should first check with the desired transfer school about their credit transfer policies. According to a DETC survey in 2006, among the students who graduated from a DETC-accredited program and tried to transfer credits or degrees, 70% were able to do so; however, not every college or university accepts distance learning credits. University credit transfer policies vary widely, so it is a good idea to plan ahead.
DETC's Accrediting Commission works to promote and nurture the quality of distance education programs, helping to ensure that students who choose distance learning are able to meet their educational goals.
Article References
Distance Education Training CouncilThe U.S. Department of Education, Accreditation
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