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Accreditation
AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY EARNS ACCREDITATION
FROM SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOL
The Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) announced that Ave Maria University (AMU) has officially been awarded “accredited membership” status and is now an accredited member of the COC. This distinction signifies that AMU meets the requirements and standards for accreditation published in the Principles of Accreditation and has been judged by its peers as worthy of membership in the Commission and Association. Membership will provide opportunities for the university to continue to grow and be eligible to further enhance and expand its programs to better serve its current and future students. SACS membership covers both the campus in Ave Maria, Fla., and the branch Latin American Campus in San Marcos, Nicaragua.
SACS membership will directly benefit AMU students, especially those planning on entering post-graduate programs. Though AMU has been accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) since 2008, some graduate programs accept only alumni of regionally accredited schools. SACS is one of six regional accrediting associations that accredit institutions of higher education in the United States. Membership also will impact university funding and makes AMU eligible to receive additional foundation grants and increased federal and state resources, which would allow the institution to improve and expand programs for students.
SACS membership will directly benefit AMU students, especially those planning on entering post-graduate programs. Though AMU has been accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) since 2008, some graduate programs accept only alumni of regionally accredited schools. SACS is one of six regional accrediting associations that accredit institutions of higher education in the United States. Membership also will impact university funding and makes AMU eligible to receive additional foundation grants and increased federal and state resources, which would allow the institution to improve and expand programs for students.
As a SACS university member, AMU will strive for continuous improvement in order to maintain accreditation. Members are reevaluated on a regular basis to ensure accreditation criteria continue to be met.
AMU first applied to SACS for membership in August 2003, prior to its first year of operation. The institution voluntarily withdrew the application in 2004 when it decided to launch new masters and doctoral programs in Theology, an action that constituted a substantive institutional change which is not allowed during the application process. Reapplication was further deferred due to AMU’s official acquisition of the San Marcos, Nicaragua campus, which required additional revisions to the application process. Subsequent to the completion of the multi-year acquisition process, the university was eligible to reapply for accreditation as a larger and reconfigured international institution of higher education. The revised application was submitted in May 2007 and updated in 2008 and again in 2009 prior to the visitation of the accreditation committee.
AMU first applied to SACS for membership in August 2003, prior to its first year of operation. The institution voluntarily withdrew the application in 2004 when it decided to launch new masters and doctoral programs in Theology, an action that constituted a substantive institutional change which is not allowed during the application process. Reapplication was further deferred due to AMU’s official acquisition of the San Marcos, Nicaragua campus, which required additional revisions to the application process. Subsequent to the completion of the multi-year acquisition process, the university was eligible to reapply for accreditation as a larger and reconfigured international institution of higher education. The revised application was submitted in May 2007 and updated in 2008 and again in 2009 prior to the visitation of the accreditation committee.
The American Academy for Liberal Education (A.A.L.E)
AMU achieved AALE accredited status in the summer of 2008. AALE is a national accreditation agency for undergraduate liberal arts institutions and programs, and is authorized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to accredit institutions and approve their eligibility for participation in federal financial
Ave Maria University -- including its Nicaraguan campus, Ave Maria University Latin American Campus is pre-accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education, located at 1710 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. The Academy's telephone number and email address are (202) 452-8611 and info@aale.org , respectively.
The American Academy for Liberal Education (A.A.L.E.) is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education as a national institutional accrediting agency for the accreditation of institutions of higher education that offer liberal arts degrees at the baccalaureate level.
A.A.L.E accreditation fully enables institutions to establish eligibility to participate in the Federal student financial assistance programs administered by the Department under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended, as well as in student financial assistance programs established under other Federal legislation which require accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
While many schools do accept transfer credits from Ave Maria University Latin American Campus, students should be aware that accreditation with A.A.L.E. cannot guarantee transferability of credits to other colleges or universities in the United States. For more information, please contact the Records Office or the Admissions Office or visits Avemaria's News .
Ave Maria University -- including its Nicaraguan campus, Ave Maria University Latin American Campus is pre-accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education, located at 1710 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. The Academy's telephone number and email address are (202) 452-8611 and info@aale.org , respectively.
The American Academy for Liberal Education (A.A.L.E.) is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education as a national institutional accrediting agency for the accreditation of institutions of higher education that offer liberal arts degrees at the baccalaureate level.
A.A.L.E accreditation fully enables institutions to establish eligibility to participate in the Federal student financial assistance programs administered by the Department under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended, as well as in student financial assistance programs established under other Federal legislation which require accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
While many schools do accept transfer credits from Ave Maria University Latin American Campus, students should be aware that accreditation with A.A.L.E. cannot guarantee transferability of credits to other colleges or universities in the United States. For more information, please contact the Records Office or the Admissions Office or visits Avemaria's News .
National Advisory Board of Universities (CNU)
On October 22nd, 2010 Ave Maria University Latin American Campus announced its integration as a member of the National Advisory Board of Universities, (CNU) by its Spanish acronym, which is the regulatory entity that creates and coordinates the national politics for higher education. CNU membership will benefit AMU-LAC students especially those planning to study in the European market or transfer to a national institution.
