AACTS principles

1To provide educationally sound study programs that are high quality, effective and current.2To maintain ethical, fair and clear advertising, enrollment and admission practices by accurately representing AACTS.3To provide student counseling and motivational programs which recognize individual differences and ensure student retention, graduation and employability.4To establish net benefits of private training programs through satisfied students. 5To maintain effective peer review systems to ensure ethical and proper administration of financial operations of the institution. 6To advance the concept of self-regulation that is inherent in the accreditation process.7To show commitment to educational services through participation and community involvement. 8To demonstrate the effectiveness of private education, and provide essential skills for a productive American work force. 9To promote continuing education of the highest integrity and quality.

 

Mission

What does AACTS do?

AACTS provides leadership to develop educated, adaptable, prepared, and competitive workers.

Who does AACTS represent?

The strength of AACTS is mirrored in the diversity of the members, comprised of upwards of 27,000 technical and career educators, researchers, administrators, guidance counselors and others that need to plan and conduct career and technical programs at the secondary, post-secondary, and adult levels.

What does AACTS do?

AACTS is committed to the enhancement of job satisfaction and performance of its members; to increased public awareness and approval of technical and career programs; to the assured growth of local, state and federal funding for programs; it does these things by communications and work with government leaders and legislators.

AACTS Leadership

The organization’s leadership is a volunteer Board of Directors elected by members annually. Officers on the Board include a president, president-elect and past-president. Directors on the Board are a single representative from each of AACTS’s Divisions and Regions, and the executive director is typically an ex-officio member of the Board. Standing committees are appointed and formed by the Board.

Scope

Defined as “post-secondary instruction designed to meet the educational needs and interests of adults, including the expansion of available learning opportunities for adults who are not adequately served by current educational offerings in their communities”, a continuing education program offers critical education and training. AACTS provides accreditation credentials to those institutions that offer non-collegiate continuing education and training programs. The programs may be approved to award validated CEU, Occupational Associates Degrees and certificates.
AACTS provides accreditation for those organizations that primarily function as educational facilities, and for those offering continuing education such as in-service corporate training. Accreditation includes institutions that offer programs at other locations rather than the main headquarters. AACTS accredits non-collegiate continuing education and training institutions throughout the United States and abroad. Institutions that may be eligible include:

• Professional and trade associations
• Private career schools
• Corporation training departments
• Intensive English programs
• Labor union programs
• Religious entities and ethical societies
• Public affairs and cultural societies
• Social service, personal development and volunteer entities

Similar to other accrediting agencies, AACTS does not grant academic credit or other units of educational measurement; academic credit is granted only by educational institutions licensed or chartered by state or federal governments. Also, transferability of academic credit between institutions is at the discretion of the involved institutions, and is often arranged through an articulation agreement. Nor does AACTS grant the Continuing Education Unit (CEU); this is granted by educational organizations, and the accepted standard is “ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.”