Navigating Academic Program Accreditation

Abstract

Accreditation is critical to improving the status of an academic program, increasing student enrollment, improving student skills and learning environments, reducing attrition rates, and providing more funding opportunities. Each accreditation body has its standards for the accreditation of academic programs. As such, the NCAAA plays a central role in managing the accreditation of academic programs offered in Saudi universities. In this book chapter, the authors adopted a mixed methods design where a focused literature review was conducted and uncovered program accreditation standards adopted by the NCAAA. Second, the authors used qualitative research with an autoethnography approach and described the procedures for program accreditation, including meeting eligibility criteria, completing self-assessment scales, preparing self-study reports (SSR), managing accreditation visits, and addressing review panel recommendations. This chapter discussed the key strategies that academic programs should adopt to achieve academic accreditation in Saudi Arabia.