Accreditation Process
ACSE Accreditation Process
The ACSE accreditation process relies on consistent and transparent formative and summative peer review of higher education institutions seeking interdisciplinary space education accreditation. This work is conducted while respecting institutional context, diversity and autonomy. Peer review is emblematic of quality assurance processes adopted by higher education institutions worldwide.
Application
The ACSE initial accreditation process begins when a member institution submits a letter of intent and application. ACSE will review the documents for acceptance criteria within 30 days of receipt. If the acceptance criteria are unmet, ACSE staff will immediately schedule a meeting with the program leadership to discuss the letter and/or application, including any areas to remedy. Once ACSE confirms the acceptance criteria are met, ACSE will appoint a mentor to guide the institution through the 12-to-24-month self-study process. When the self-study is submitted, a site visit is scheduled. The visitor will review the program during the visit, provide feedback to the program and submit a recommendation to the council. The graphic above illustrates the steps:
Self Study
The self-study serves as the evidence-based case a program submits to support that they have met the ACSE accreditation standards and that the program qualifies for ACSE accreditation. A substantive case is made when accuracy, relevancy, quality and utility are the focus. For instance, data evidence presented must include only three years, cohorts or classes of data, even if the program has five years of data. The ACSE self-study template outlines the case and includes narrative and data upload options for quality assurance, continuous improvement and innovation. The completed template must be submitted two months before the site visit. The self-study must be appropriately organized to ensure accessibility and clarity for program stakeholders, the site review team, the Council members and the broader space education community. Thus, jargon, acronyms and abbreviations must be avoided while giving a clear, detailed and contextual understanding of the program and its evidence of meeting ACSE accreditation standards. ACSE encourages programs to take advantage of opportunities for guidance in writing the self-study from the ACSE mentor and various professional development offerings.
If the submitted self-study is deemed unacceptable when reviewed, the ACSE staff or mentor will immediately schedule a meeting with the program leadership to discuss areas to be remedied.
ACSE Site Review – A Peer Review Process
The ACSE peer review process relies on the expertise and professional judgment of space education academic and industry professionals who volunteer their time in supporting program accreditation. Peer review imparts credibility, integrity and trustworthiness to the accreditation process and is a tradition of higher education accreditation processes. Part of peer review includes respecting institutional context, diversity and autonomy, which makes this volunteer work critical to program quality assurance, continuous improvement and innovation.
Reviewers include academic and industry professionals in space education. Participation from across the space ecosystem brings the benefits of varied expertise and perspectives that strengthen the ACSE accreditation process. Representation from industry is especially valued on ACSE site visits, which always include at least one locally selected member. ACSE membership is not a prerequisite for participating as a site visit reviewer.
Accreditation Decision
The Accreditation Council meets biannually (June and December) and as needed to ensure prompt accreditation decisions. When an accreditation decision is to be made, all Council members review the self-study and site visit report, and one Council member presents the case for voting. The program is advised of the decision within 30 days.
Possible decisions include award, renew, deny, revoke and defer. Decisions of award and renew are made when the self-study and site visit report are complete and the evidence supports that the program has met the ACSE accreditation standards. These decisions can be made with suggested actions for future improvement. Award and renew decisions can occur with full accreditation for seven years or provisional accreditation for two years. Provisional accreditation occurs when all standards are met, but provisions are set to address areas of concern that threaten future accreditation. Provisions require action that must be resolved and communicated within two years through the annual report submissions but may require a subsequent site visit. The Council determines if provisions are met. The Council can award full accreditation for the remainder of the seven years, extend the provisional accreditation period, or revoke the provisional accreditation.
Accreditation decisions will be posted on the ACSE website within 30 days of the decision-making meeting. The decision, reason and accreditation expiration date will be displayed on the website in the following format:
Accredited: An accredited decision indicates that the program was found to be compliant with the standards.
Provisionally Accredited: Programs receiving a provisionally accredited decision must rectify any identified deficiencies within the time frame provided. The Council will re-review the program at the next meeting following submission of evidence that the deficiencies were rectified. Although programs are allowed two years to address deficiencies, programs are expected to provide evidence of compliance in time for reconsideration at the Council’s next meeting.
Deferred: Programs substantially lacking compliance will be deferred until they demonstrate substantial evidence of compliance with the standards. ACSE will continue to work with deferred programs to provide guidance. A program may resubmit a self-study, including the rectified items, when the issues have been resolved. A new site visit may be required at that time, and additional fees will be assessed.
Denial: Although the Council reserves the right to deny, it is expected that this will rarely occur. ACSE intends to guide programs through the process in a supportive manner so that issues preventing a favorable decision are identified and rectified early. Issues outside the scope of ACSE accreditation authority or outside the scope of influence for the program to resolve could lead to a denial.
A decision of deny is made when the self-study and site visit report are incomplete, and submitted evidence is insufficient to demonstrate that the program meets ACSE accreditation standards. This decision is improbable, as such a case is unlikely to come before the Council. The ACSE mentor will support the program through the preparation process and provide guidance to ensure the program’s self-study is complete.
A decision to revoke could occur when a program does not resolve provisions set with provisional accreditation or if an ACSE-accredited program does not comply with accreditation obligations (e.g., does not submit sufficient annual reports or pay dues and fees).
A decision to defer occurs when the Council requires additional information to make an accreditation decision. In this situation, the Council will set a time for the program to supply the necessary information, and the program is considered unaccredited until a new decision is rendered.
| Decision | Reason | Expiration Date |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited | Fully meets all standards | (7 years) |
| Provisionally Accredited | 1-2 deficiencies to be corrected by the expiration date. | (2 years) |
| Renewed | Renewal term based on deficiencies identified (if any). | (2 - 7 years) |
| Deferred | Multiple deficiencies. Decision is deferred until deficiencies are corrected. | No date |
| Denied | Program substantially does not meet standards | No date |
| Revoked | Unresolved provisional accreditation |
Within 30 days after the Council meets and an accreditation decision is made, the program will be sent a decision package that includes the official accreditation decision (and any provisions) and a media kit with public-reporting information. The accreditation decision is also posted publicly on the ACSE website to inform the public of the program’s accreditation decision (and reasons for any provisions) within 30 days of the Council’s decision.
All ACSE accreditation decisions can be appealed. Appeals must occur in writing within 60 days of a decision. Programs that receive a deny, revoke, or defer decision can resubmit for accreditation one year after the Council’s decision.
Ongoing Requirements
ACSE-accredited institutions should maintain alignment with the ACSE standards as asserted in the initial accreditation documents. Programs should maintain current membership each year and collect data for the Mid-Cycle Review. The Mid-Cycle Review will require the program to provide an update in an abbreviated form. The program’s mentor will provide guidance as to the requirements. No site visit is required, and no Council decisions are made.
After initial accreditation in Year 2 (or beyond):
Year 3 — Maintain Program Standards
Year 4 — Maintain Program Standards and submit Mid-Cycle Report
Year 5 — Maintain Program Standards
Year 6 — Prepare for Reaffirmation Review
Year 7 — Complete Reaffirmation Review
Accreditation Pricing
| Accreditation Pricing | |
|---|---|
| Membership fee ($2,450 applied the first year) | $2,450 |
| Application fee | $2,490 |
| Year 1 Total | $5,350 |
| Year 2 | |
| Membership fee | $2,450 |
| Year 2 Total | $2,450 |
| 3rd Year | |
| Membership fee | $2,450 |
| Site visit deposit | $5,000 |
| Year 3 Total | $7,450 |
After the initial accreditation occurs, programs continue to maintain compliance with ACSE standards, including maintenance of membership in good standing, as follows:
4th Year Annual Membership Fee
5th Year Annual Membership Fee
6th Year Annual Membership Fee
7th Year Annual Membership, Reaffirmation and Site Visit Fees
Each of the fees is invoiced as incurred. Site visit fees are invoiced at the time the site visit is scheduled, and the program reimburses costs incurred by the site visitor. Reaffirmation fees are invoiced when a program is up for reaffirmation.
Accreditation Timeline
Year 1
- Become a member.
- Institutions can become members to initiate the accreditation process and obtain benefits offered to members only.
- Login credentials are provided.
- Apply for accreditation.
- Member institutions can begin the process by creating a letter of intent, using the sample as a guide.
- Submit the letter of intent and application with the initial application fee.
- The letter of intent and application are evaluated for qualifications necessary for the program to enter the accreditation process.
- A decision is released to the program in 14–21 days.
- Programs are notified of acceptance by email.
- ACSE mentor is assigned.
- ACSE mentors:
- Maintain consistent and regular communication with program liaisons as they prepare for their self-study and site visit.
- Become well-acquainted with the program and institutional context through regular communication with the program.
- Serve as the main point of ACSE contact to support accreditation.
- Sign a confidentiality agreement.
- After acceptance, the program begins to compile the self-study narrative and evidence necessary to support alignment with ACSE standards.
- Programs should review each standard, provide a narrative describing how the program aligns with the standard and include evidence within the body of the document or as an appendix to support claims made in the narrative.
- Programs continue to work with the assigned ACSE mentor throughout the process to prepare the final self-study.
Year 2
- Continue to work with the assigned mentor to create self-study.
- From the date the program’s letter of intent and application were accepted, the program will have one year to complete and submit the self-study.
- Once the program submits the self-study, the review process will begin.
- An ACSE staff member will review the self-study for completeness.
- ACSE may contact the program with questions and/or requests for clarification.
- Once the program addresses all ACSE questions and/or requests for clarification, the site visitor selection process begins.
- ACSE provides a list of potential, trained site visitors to the program.
- The program identifies any potential site visitors who may have a conflict of interest.
- ACSE selects site visitors from the remaining list.
- ACSE and the program coordinate the site visit.
- Post-site visit:
- The site visit team compiles a report within two weeks after the visit concludes and provides an opportunity for the program to respond with factual corrections within two weeks from receipt of the report.
- The site visit team makes a recommendation to the Council.
- ACSE reviews site visit team recommendations and votes on a decision at the next biannual meeting. Decisions include:
- Full accreditation for the full time frame of seven years
- Approved with provisions and a re-review in one year
- Declined
- Programs are advised of decisions 30 days after the council Concurrently, ACSE will inform the public of the program’s accreditation status (and reasons for provisions or decline) within 30 days of the Council decision by posting the decision on the ACSE website.
After the accreditation decision is received, the program maintains compliance with the standards. See Ongoing Requirements for details.
International Programs
Capacity and Competence
ACSE is committed to accrediting international programs and maintains the capacity and competence to accredit international institutions. This includes having the necessary resources, expertise and infrastructure to conduct accreditation evaluations effectively and ethically on a global scale. ACSE maintains a dedicated team with the expertise and qualifications to effectively carry out international accreditation activities.
Notification and Guidance
When an international program applies for accreditation, the Council notifies the appropriate international authorities of its intent and seeks guidance regarding the accrediting organization’s current and proposed activities. ACSE will establish formal communication channels with relevant international authorities and agencies to ensure a transparent and collaborative approach to accreditation in the relevant international jurisdiction.
Substantially Comparable
ACSE is committed to applying accreditation standards that are substantially comparable to those used for U.S. institutions and programs, where applicable. In cases where modifications to standards are necessary to accommodate international contexts, ACSE will make information about these modifications publicly available. This includes providing clear documentation and explanations of any deviations from U.S. standards.
ACSE will regularly review its accreditation standards to ensure they align with international best practices and are substantially comparable to U.S. standards.
Complaint Process
ACSE is committed to promptly responding to all public concerns and complaints regarding an ACSE-accredited program/institution or ACSE itself. Complaints must be related to the unethical application of or noncompliance with ACSE standards, policies or procedures for ACSE to act. In general, ACSE expects individuals within an institution to attempt to resolve a matter directly with the program/institution before formally submitting a complaint to ACSE. Complaints from students, faculty, staff, higher education institutions, state/federal agencies or the public against the program/institution or ACSE must be detailed by the complainant and submitted fully through the online ACSE Complaint Form or by printing the form and mailing or submitting it as an email attachment. Complainants will be notified within 10 business days of receipt of the complaint form.
The complaint must be investigated to determine if it 1) falls under ACSE purview and requires further investigation or 2) does not fall under ACSE purview.
If a complaint is determined to be unrelated to ACSE standards, policies or procedures, the ACSE executive director will notify the complainant in writing within 10 business days of the decision, and the matter is considered resolved. The determination of the ACSE executive director is final. ACSE does not act upon any complaints submitted with defamatory, hostile or profane language. Where a complainant has threatened or filed legal action against the program/institution involved, ACSE will hold complaints in abeyance pending resolution of the legal issues, and the complainant will be notified about this practice in writing within 10 business days. ACSE does not seek legal compensation or damages on an individual’s behalf.
If a program/institution-related complaint is determined to be related to ACSE standards, policies or procedures, the matter will be submitted to the program/institution for response. A response from the program/institution must occur within 30 days of receipt. The complainant also will be notified of the status of their complaint when the program/institution is notified. Complainant anonymity will be maintained, and confidentiality of the matter will be preserved to the extent that any such information is not necessary to resolve the complaint. Upon receipt of a response from the program/institution, the ACSE executive director may request additional information.
If, after an investigation, there is insufficient evidence of unethical application or noncompliance with ACSE standards, policies or procedures, the ACSE executive director will notify the complainant and program/institution within 10 days in writing of that fact, and the matter is considered resolved. The decision of the ACSE executive director is final.
If there is sufficient evidence of unethical application or noncompliance, the ACSE executive director will notify the complainant and program/institution within 10 days in writing of that fact, and the complaint and all relevant documentation will be forwarded to the ACSE Board chair immediately. The ACSE Board chair can request further investigation of the matter, which may include further determining the facts of the matter, the validity of the complaint and the purported resolution. The investigation may take up to 90 days. If, based on the complaint and investigation, ACSE finds an institution has engaged in unethical application or noncompliance, the ACSE Board may 1) authorize a focused visit to further examine documents and interview personnel on this matter to determine if any adverse action will be taken against the program/ institution, 2) aid the program/institution in resolving the matter and/or 3) immediately revoke program accreditation status.
If a complaint is determined to be related to unethical application or noncompliance with ACSE standards, policies or procedures by ACSE personnel, the matter will be submitted to the Space Foundation Board for investigation. The complainant also will be notified about how their complaint is proceeding when the Space Foundation is notified. The investigation will include determining the facts of the matter and the validity of the complaint. The investigation may take up to 90 days. Complainant anonymity will be maintained, and confidentiality of the case will be preserved to the extent that any such information is not necessary to resolve the complaint. If, based on the investigation, ACSE is found to have engaged in unethical or noncompliant conduct, further action will occur, such as staff removal or immediate changes to policies and procedures. Once a resolution is reached, the Space Foundation Board will notify the complainant within 10 days.
All complaints and their resolutions brought to ACSE will be kept on file in perpetuity. A record of complaints regarding a specific program/institution or ACSE will be held for consideration to determine if a pattern of unethical or noncompliant conduct exists. If a pattern is found, programs/institutions will be required to address the pattern directly with the ACSE Board. If a pattern is seen with ACSE, the pattern must be addressed directly with the Space Foundation Board.
ACSE Self-Evaluation and Review Cycle
ACSE reviews its standards and procedures annually in conjunction with academic and industry advisors, with the goal of maintaining currency in the space industry and continuous improvement. ACSE publishes revisions to the ACSE Standards and Handbook each academic year.