COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

What is the Aviation Accreditation Board International?

The Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) is a nonprofit 501 © (3) organization
that meets twice a year and sets standards for all aerospace programs taught in colleges
and universities around the United States and around the world.

Designed by educators, industry and the FAA, it judges the quality of aviation education
courses. Programs that meet AABI standards are accredited for a five-year period.

Members of AABI are educators, customers, employees, regulators, manufacturers, research
firms, and advocates. Ultimately, they are the people who teach and hire aspiring
aviation industry professionals.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation ensures that professional programs achieve and maintain a level of performance,
integrity, and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community
and public they serve.

In the United States, this recognition is extended primarily through non-governmental,
voluntary, institutional, or professional associations. These groups establish criteria
for accreditation, arrange site visits, evaluate those institutions and professional
programs seeking accreditation, and publicly designate those programs that meet the
criteria.

Accreditation, which applies to institutions or programs, is distinguished from certification
and licensure, which apply to individuals. Although accreditation is basically a private,
voluntary process, accrediting decisions are used as a consideration in many formal
actions by governmental funding agencies, scholarship commissions, foundations, employers,
counselors, and potential students.

Accrediting bodies have, therefore, come to be viewed as quasi-public entities with
important responsibilities to the many groups who interact with the educational community.

There are two types of accreditation:

Institutional accreditation is granted by regional and national accrediting commissions
of schools and colleges, which collectively serve most of the institutions chartered
or licensed in the United States. These commissions and associations accredit the
institution as a whole.
Specialized accreditation of professional and occupational schools and programs is
granted by commissions on accreditation established by national professional organizations.

Each of these groups has its own distinct definition of eligibility, criteria for
accreditation, and operating procedures. However, all have undertaken accreditation
activities primarily to ensure that the members of the profession or occupation have
received the highest level of educational preparation possible.

The Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) is a specialized accrediting
organization comprised of representatives from all segments of the aviation field.

What are the Benefits of Membership?

• Participate in the improvement of America’s aviation education infrastructure
• Network with representatives from every aspect of the aviation industry and develop
  important new contacts
• Provide and collect valuable feedback through AABI contacts
• Build your resume and enhance your marketability
• Gain greater industry insight and develop an expertise in aviation career planning
• Offer your students a clear path to their career goals
• Justify future resources for your career counseling programs
• Improve opportunities for scholarships
• Build parental confidence

What are the Steps to Accreditation?

Current fees associated with accreditation**:

• Application (includes one program): $3,500.00
• Additional fee per program: $600.00
• Self-Study Report (review and approval process): $300.00 + $250.00/each additional
  program
• Visit Fee to be paid prior to Visit (includes one program): $2,500.00
• Additional fee per program: $250.00
• Charge for each off-campus location to be visited: $225.00
• Deposit for team travel expenses: $3,500.00
• Interim Report Fee (not involving a visit): $400.00

**Please refer to AABI Form 203 for additional non-traditional delivery and multi-location
fees.

Process:

1. The institution must be a member of AABI to be eligible for accreditation.
2. The institution submits an application (Form 202), application fee, one copy of school
   catalog (or link), one copy of the aviation program curriculum, and one copy of the
   course descriptions for all aviation courses. All documents are to be submitted electronically
   (flash drive or CD-ROM).  Email submissions are not allowed.
3. The president reviews application documents and submits copies to Accreditation Committee
   chair, assistant chair and Accreditation Committee Reviewers (ACRs) for review.
4. The Accreditation Committee chair determines the institution’s status (admission to
   candidate status, or denied).
5. The chair of the Accreditation Committee notifies President of the decision regarding
   candidate status.
6. The president notifies the institution, by letter, advising of status. If approved
   for candidate status, enclose Form 201 (Accreditation Criteria Manual) and Form 204
   (Outline for a Self-Study Report). If denied, advise institution of reasons for denial.
7. The institution completes a Self-Study Report (SSR). The SSR should be completed in
   one academic year. There are additional fees for SSR submission extension requests.
8. The institution submits one hard copy of the SSR to the AABI office, as well as one
   electronic copy on flash drive or CD-ROM.  Email submissions are not allowed. One
   copy will be sent to the president, Accreditation Committee chair and assistant chair
   and ACRs . If the institution has had a catalog change at any time since submission
   of their application, an electronic copy of the new catalog should also be submitted.
9. A copy of the SSR (and new catalog, if applicable) are sent to the Accreditation Committee
   chair, assistant chair and ACRs for review.
10. The Accreditation Committee chair advises the President if the SSR is complete.

The following applies to all Institutions (initial accreditation and reaffirmations:

1. The central office notifies the institution of three possible dates for a Team visit.
   A list of Visiting Team members is sent to the institution, which has the option of
   striking up to five members for reasons of conflict of interest.
2. When the institution responds, a chair for the Visiting Team is selected. The central
   office, in consultation with the chair of the Visiting Team selects the Visiting Team
   members. Team members are selected. The president notifies the institution of the
   date of the visit and the Visiting Team Members and sends Form 206 (Information and
   Procedures for the Visiting Team), Form 207 (Typical Schedule for a Visiting Team),
   Form 208 (Evidence Guide) and Form 201 (Criteria Manual). All Team members also receive
   a copy of the SSR.  The chair will receive a copy of the application and, if this
   is a reaffirmation, the chair is also sent the previous Visiting Team Report and interim
   report(s) if applicable.
3. The central office sends the Visiting Team members a travel expense report (with explanation
   of travel procedures) as well as Form 214 (Team Member Assessment of the Performance
   of the Visiting Team Chairperson) to team members and Form 215 (Chairperson’s Assessment
   of the Performance of the Visiting Team Member) to Team Chair, to be completed and
   returned to the AABI Central Office within 10 days of the completion of the visit.
   AABI pays the expenses of the Visiting Team, to include honorariums for each team
   member, from the deposit paid by the institution prior to the visit.  The institution
   is invoiced for any amount exceeding the deposit or reimbursed for any un-used deposit.
4. The central office sends the Visiting Team chair a Form 210 (Visiting Team Recommendation
   to the Accreditation Committee and Board of Trustees) for each program evaluated.
5. The Visiting Team chair corresponds with the institution to work out a detailed schedule
   of the visit. A timetable worksheet, including board action, is prepared by the central
   office. Copies are sent to the Team and institution.
6. The Visiting Team members conduct the visit. A staff liaison or other designated AABI
   observer may participate if deemed necessary by the Visiting Team chair or president.
7. After the visit, the chair of the Accreditation Committee and the central office receive
   the Visiting Team first draft report from the Team chair for review. Their comments
   are sent to the Team chair, who will incorporate their comments into a second draft
   of the report.
8. The chair of the Visiting Team completes a Form 215 (Chairperson’s Assessment of the
   Performance of the Visiting Team Members). The other Visiting Team members must complete
   a Form 214 (Team Members Assessment of the Performance of Visiting Team Chairperson).
   These are returned to the AABI Central Office to be filed in the Visiting Team member’s
   files.
9. The chair of the Visiting Team sends the second draft of the Visiting Team report
   to the president (or equivalent) of the institution for review and correction of factual
   errors only.
10. The institution’s point of contact reviews the second draft and sends comments and
    draft back to the chair of the Visiting Team. A final Visiting Team Report is completed
    by the chair of the Visiting Team and sent to chair of the Accreditation Committee
    and president, along with Form(s) 210 (to the central office only).
11. The president sends the final Visiting Team Report to the institution for their response
    to any recommendations and, if desired, to suggestions.
12. The institution submits their institutional response to the final Visiting Team Report
    to the president.  The response must be signed by the president (or equivalent) of
    the institution.
13. Thirty days prior to AABI’s next meeting, the central office sends the final Visiting
    Team Report and the institution’s response to the Board of Trustees and all members
    of Accreditation Committee. The completed Form(s) 210 is/are submitted to the Accreditation
    Committee Chair.
14. The Accreditation Committee reviews the Visiting Team Report and the institutional
    response. The Accreditation chair prepares for the Board of Trustees a summary to
    be presented to the Board.
15. The Board acts on the report and makes its decision.
16. If accredited, an official Board Action Letter is sent to the institution by the president
    within 30 days of the action.