Depends on which agency is doing the accrediting. Back in the 1970s I was asked to evaluate the LSU computer science program for a state accrediting agency. I don't recall if the ACM or other professional organizations also accredit. I was a founding member of the New Orleans chapter of the AIEEE computer branch, whatever it called itself, but I have long ago forgotten most of that alphabet soup.
Accreditation is normally regional for colleges and universities. Around here it is, or at least used to be when I was teaching, the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities. There are other such organizations in, for instance, New England. Seminaries and other special interest schools may be accredited by national organizations. The service academies are chartered by the federal government, which is a bit different. I am a graduate of the Naval Academy. Generally speaking accreditation is important for the university as a guarantee that it is not a diploma mill, but graduate schools are well aware of the reputation of most programs of any size. Better regarded graduate programs tend to be much more interested in a prospective student's past performance and evident potential than whether or not a program is accredited. For instance, the Tulane chemistry department did not bother to seek accreditation by the American Chemical Society. I recall when the new facility at the old Bon Marche shopping center location opened, the recruiter said to this group that he had a stack of applications with MS certification, many more than he could consider, but was ready to hire anyone with evidence of competence in Linux, regardless of paper credentials. When I taught in graduate programs and we could not tell from the applications and letters how strong an applicant was, we would pick up the phone and call someone we either knew or knew of by repute in his department and ask. I used to get such calls about our seniors from places like MIT and CalTech, from people I knew in professional groups. We also kept track of who could be trusted to give us very accurate evaluations, and which tended to praise everyone who passed as great. It was very amusing once or twice to get a call someone I knew asking if so and so was really so good and I had to answer that I had not written on behalf of his application. Choppy At 02:08 PM 3/31/05 -0600, BB wrote: >Brad Bendily wrote: > >>>x LSU is regionally accredited the last I heard. I was told this is the case >>>for the majority of universities, including those in and out of the state. >>> >> >>Most universities are accredited. If they don't get accreditation then >>they won't be eligible for certain funds. I'm not sure if those are state >>or federal funds. >> >>However, each department is/can also be accredited. >>I have also heard that LSU's computer science department is not >>accredited. I don't really think accreditation means a whole lot in the >>business world, but if a student is planning to get their >>masters or PHD that next school might balk at a no accreditation >>departmental status.
