ICA recognition of accrediting organizations has three basic purposes:

TO ADVANCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMIC QUALITY.  To confirm that accrediting organizations have standards that advance Christian quality in higher education; that those standards emphasize student achievement and high expectations of teaching and learning, research, and service; an that those students are developed within the framework of institutional mission.

TO DEMONSTRATE ACCOUNTABILITY.  To confirm that accrediting organizations have standards that ensure accountability through consistent, clear, and coherent communication to th public and the higher education community about the results of educational efforts.   Accountabilty also includes a commitment by the accrediting organization to involve the public in accreditation decision making.

TO ENCOURAGE PURPOSEFUL CHANGE AND NEEDED IMPROVEMENT.  To confirm that accrediting organizations have standards that encourage institutions to plan, where needed, for purposeful change and improvement; to develop and sustain activities that anticipate and address chage; to stress student achievement; and to ensure long-range institutional viability.

ICA acknowledges respect and is committed to the enhancement of the mission of accrediting organizations.  ICA has the responsibility to advance, through the recognition process, the quality and public understanding of accreditation and of recognized accrediting organizations.

ICA's prmary responsibility is quality assurance.  Accrediting organizations that seek ICA's recognition must demonstrate the quality and public understanding of accreditation and of recognized accrediting organizations.

ICA's primary responsibility is quality assurance.  Accrediting organizations that seek ICA recognition must demonstrate the quality of their activities and the pertinence and value of their activities to higher education and the public interest.

Applicants for recognition shall supply information to enable ICA to determine whether recognition is warranged and what the scope of recognition shall be, including:

• A clear statement of proposed scope of accredtitation activity;
• A clear statement of the accrediting organization's purposes and why those purposes are in the public interest; and
• A description of the accrediting organization and its activities; the quality, pertinence and value of those activities; and the ways in which those activities serve hight education and the public interest.