Glossary of Terms and Definitions
Adapted with permission from National Coordinating Center Accreditation Workgroup Report (2021) and Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (2023).
Access
For purposes of this accreditation process, “access” means full participation with individual support.
Accreditation Action Report
An official record of actions taken by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC) on a program’s status. This report is posted publicly on the website.
Accreditation Decision
Determination made by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council board, based on the 10 Standard Areas, the Self-Study Report, and the Peer Reviewer Report, marking the conclusion of an accreditation review. For more information see https://www.iheacouncil.org/
Accreditation Liaison
A staff member of the IHEAC designated to facilitate and assist programs through the accreditation review process including the Self-Study and site visit.
Accreditation Workgroup
An ad-hoc body of interested professionals, parents, and experts in inclusive higher education convened by the Think College National Coordinating Center to develop recommendations for the program accreditation agency (IHEAC) standards, processes, and practices. For more information about the workgroup see https://thinkcollege.net/projects/ncc/program-accreditation
Annual Report
A program’s yearly update to the IHEAC regarding the context and work of relevant programs. The Annual Report addresses how the quality affirmed in the most recent accreditation decision is being maintained or enhanced and what steps programs are taking toward continuous improvement to address improvement opportunities identified in their Self-Study.
Board Members of the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC)
The decision-making body of the program accreditation agency, the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council. Determines the accreditation status of a program based on an accreditation review. For more information see https://www.iheacouncil.org/
Cohort
A group of college program directors (or representatives) who may decide to participate in a joint monthly check-in call to receive updates, ask questions, and, to the extent desired, provide mutual support and feedback during the accreditation process.
Commendation
Notation that the IHEAC Board may attach to an accreditation action (decision); a commendation is awarded when evidence shows outstanding performance on one or more aspects of a standard or the full standard.
Comment
Notation that the IHEAC Board may attach to an accreditation action (decision); a comment is an observation that gives useful feedback to the program on a finding that is noteworthy but not significant enough to be cited as a commendation or concern.
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE)
From the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705), for individuals with disabilities. (29 U.S.C. §3102 (11)):
Completer
A college student candidate who has successfully finished a program.
Comprehensive Transition Postsecondary Program (CTP)
From the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA):
Concern
Notation that the IHEAC Board may attach to an accreditation action (decision); a concern is a shortcoming in relation to one or more aspects of a standard. Evidence regarding progress in addressing concerns must be presented in the program’s Annual Report.
Continuous operation
The term “continuous operation” means that the principal educational activities of an institution, for which accreditation or reaccreditation is sought, have proceeded as scheduled without interruption. Exceptions may be recognized after the fact when the interruption is caused by forces of nature, civil disorder, or abrupt and unforeseeable change in law or regulation affecting the institution.
Full accreditation
Seven-year award granted by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC) affirming a program meets the standards.
Guidance manual
The guidelines and information that programs must use to prepare and apply for accreditation.
Higher Education Act (HEA) and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA; P.L. 89-329) was legislation signed into United States law on November 8, 1965, in order to provide funding to colleges and universities, financial aid to students, and to create a National Teacher Corp. It has been reauthorized eight times, most recently as the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. (HEOA; P.L. 110-315)
Inclusion
From the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act:
Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC)
A program accreditation agency established in March 2023 as a nonprofit entity with the mission of increasing quality and accrediting programs for students with intellectual disability located at IHEs as defined above. For more information see https://www.iheacouncil.org/
Inclusive Program of Study
An “inclusive program of study” refers to the courses, expectations, and requirements needed for program completion. It must meet the HEA requirements for a Comprehensive Transition Program, including meeting the definition of a student with an intellectual disability. (See Student Services Standard 1.) An individual student’s course of study within the program will be determined through a person-centered plan.
Institution of Higher Education (IHE)
From the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 :
Learning Modules
A set of online modules designed to help program staff and peer reviewers to develop their understanding of the 10 Program Accreditation Standard Areas and the 38 Program Standards.
Off-Site Review
A series of virtual meetings conducted by the Peer Review Team based on team members’ individual reading of the program’s Self-Study. The off-site review includes a list of clarifying questions for the program to address prior to or at the beginning of the site visit.
Peer Review
The peer review segment of the accreditation cycle includes off-site and on-site reviews and culminates in a Peer Reviewer Report submitted electronically to the IHEAC.
Peer Reviewer
A trained volunteer who serves as a peer reviewer on a Peer Review Team in off-site and on-site components of the accreditation review process. The reviewer has relevant experience (in a role such as a past or current program director or other as appropriate to the programs seeking accreditation) and familiarity with the program and its completers.
Peer Review Team
A group consisting of trained peer reviewers who conduct a review. Teams include reviewers who fill the role of a team lead and a local practitioner nominated by the program. The size of the team is based on the size and complexity of the program(s) under review. A typical team consists of 3–5 individuals.
Peer Review Team Report
Report authored by reviewers summarizing the team’s findings during the site visit. The team shares a draft of the report with the program for factual review and correction; the final report is shared with both the program and the IHEAC Board.
Peer Reviewer-in-training
A prospective member of the Peer Review Team who observes a team’s work throughout an accreditation review. Like any site visit observer, this individual participates only with the permission of the host program.
Person-Centered Planning (PCP)
Person-centered planning is used to develop and monitor the attainment of student goals based on the student’s vision for their future. The student-focused plan is developed at the beginning of their educational experience and is updated throughout their postsecondary education. 
Students control who participates in their planning activities and students’ interests, preferences, desires, and short and long-term goals are evident in: 
• Course selection
• Career development experiences
• Campus activities
• Social connections
• Housing
• Student planning involves family input when desired by the student.
A student-focused process is used (e.g., STAR, PATH, Lifecourse) and documented.
Pre-accreditation
Accreditation activities that are conducted by the program prior to officially applying to the IHEAC to become accredited.
Pre-accreditation Tools
Tools that programs complete as a self-assessment prior to applying to become accredited.
Provisional Accreditation
Three-year accreditation term granted by the IHEAC Board that affirms a program provisionally meets all 10 standard areas.
Program
A set of academic courses and experiences required by an accredited university or college that leads to a university-approved credential.
Program Specification Table
A standard format for reporting a program’s specific enrollment and student completion information. This table is included in the Accreditation Proposal, Self-Study, Peer Review Report, Annual Report, and Accreditation Action Report. A template for the table is available on the IHEAC website along with sample entries.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal definition of SAP:
Self-Study Report
Self-study document presenting evidence that a program meets the standards. The report includes an overview of the program’s scope and context, evidence to support the claim that each of the 10 standard areas is met, and designated appendices.
Site visit liaison
An IHEAC staff member assigned to a particular review to support the Peer Review Team and program throughout the process. The site visit liaison observes the virtual off-site review meetings and the exit meeting (conducted at the end of the site visit) for consistency.
Site visit observer
An individual granted permission by a program to attend the on-site review.
Standards
A list of 10 Program Standard Areas (38 Program Standards) that programs use to demonstrate the quality of their program. The full list of the program standards along with the guidance and evidence required may be found in Section 3 of this guide.
Student with an intellectual disability
From HEOA:
Student with ID not identified in K–12
The HEOA regulations, under Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1088, 1099c, 1141) PART 668—STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL PROVISIONS, §668.233 Student eligibility, describe the responsibility of the institution in determining if the student is, or was, eligible for special education and related services under IDEA, and how to determine if the student has an intellectual disability if the student was not so identified under IDEA:
In the discussion section of the regulations, further clarification is provided:
Third-party comment
Feedback collected from the public and various stakeholders about a program 4–6 months prior to the site visit that becomes part of the program’s accreditation review.
Training Modules
Online professional learning provided to prepare volunteers consistently for the Peer Reviewer role.
Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID)
From the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008:
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