Academic Affairs

1. Numerous laws govern the way a university must operate its academic programs—starting from the time prospective students are considered and admitted. Educational programs and activities must be free from specific forms of discrimination and, in some cases, provide for necessary accommodations. Academic programs must meet standards of program integrity. Moreover, the regulations governing student financial aid impose stringent requirements related to disclosure of information, federal reporting, and the structure of programs and courses.

to be eligible to participate in federal student financial assistance programs administered by the Department of Education under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, an institution of higher education like BYU–Hawaii must be accredited by an authorized accrediting agency. BYU–Hawaii is accredited by the WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) Senior College and University Commission. This accreditation indicates that BYU–Hawaii as a whole meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process.

Various programs and units at BYU–Hawaii also have received accreditation from certain specialized accrediting organizations including, for example, the Social Work program, accredited through the Council on Social Work Education Commission; and, the Teacher Education program, currently accredited through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved through the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

Meeting these requirements and maintaining these accreditations for BYU–Hawaii and its various programs and units allows BYU–Hawaii to fulfill its mission, including its commitment to excellence, and supports BYU–Hawaii's institutional integrity. Therefore, the campus community should be familiar with the numerous requirements imposed by the respective accrediting agencies and their application to BYU–Hawaii.