Official Standards & Policy

NASPAA Accreditation is guided by several official documents:

• NASPAA Accreditation Standards – adopted in 2009, the current set of Standards against which programs are evaluated. These Standards were amended in 2019; implementation guidance is forthcoming for the 2019 NASPAA Standards.

• Self-Study Instructions – the template for the Self-Study Report, as well as resources for conforming to the Standards (Bases of Judgment, Glossary, Examples). Last updated November 2017.

• Site Visit Manual – detailed information about Site Visits: what to expect and how to prepare for both site visitors and programs.

• Peer Review and Accreditation Policies and Procedures – the official rules and processes guiding COPRA, site visit teams, and programs.

These documents are supplemented by:

• COPRA Policy Statements – a window into the Commission’s decision-making, updated after each accreditation cohort.

• Self-Study Instructions Summary of Changes – a full listing of the streamlining edits in the Self-Study Instructions (edited November 14, 2017).