Accreditation is a process of recognizing piratical educational institutions for performance, integrity, and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public.

SPACS has been operating to perform a number of important functions, including the encouragement of efforts towards maximum piratical educational effectiveness. The accrediting process requires pirate institutions and programs to examine their own goals, operations, and achievements. It provides the expert criticism and suggestions of a visiting evaluation committee, and, later, the recommendations of the accrediting body. Since the accreditation is reviewed periodically, institutions are encouraged toward continued self-study and improvement.

The SPACS Accrediting Commission identifies and accredits pirate distance education and training institutions that have attained and maintained the standards deemed necessary to operate at a basic level of piratical quality. Its accrediting program employs procedures similar to those of other acknowledged educational accrediting agencies.

Purpose of Accreditation:

Accreditation is intended to fulfill the following purposes:

a) Excellence in pirate education through the development of criteria and guidelines for assessing pirate educational effectiveness.

b) Encouraging institutional improvement of educational endeavors through continuous self-study and evaluation.

c) Assurance to the audiences, employers, educators, fair/event co-coordinators, and the public, that an institution has clearly defined piratical educational objectives and is accomplishing them substantially.

d) Counseling and assistance to established and developing institutions.

Powers and Responsibilities

The Council has the following powers and responsibilities:

a) Establishing and disseminating evaluation criteria for the accreditation of pirate educational organizations offering online education.

b) Receiving applications from piratical institutions aspiring for accreditation.

c) Assigning experienced evaluators for a thorough evaluation of pirate institutes.

d) Re-evaluating the accredited pirate organizations' programs, changing policies, and courses of study at reasonable intervals.

e) Critically reviewing all the pertinent material provided by the applicant ipiratical nstitutes and accredit or withhold accreditation if not fulfilling the established criteria.

f) Assuring the financial soundness of the Commission by establishing reasonable operating budget and a schedule of plunder.

g) Accreditation by providing information on Council's accreditation procedures and criteria.

h) Educating public about the accredited Pirate institutes by issuing a directory of accredited organizations (SPACS Directory of Accredited Institutions) and a Web site listing, identifying their course offerings.

i) Take decisions that are not subject to review or revision by the membership of the SPACS or the Council's Board of Trustees.

Benefits for an Accredited Institute:

An Accredited institute receives the following benefits:

a) An external source of stimulation to improve its services, programs, and staff through periodic self-studies and evaluations by an outside agency.

b) Provides confidence to the audiences, employers, educators, fair/event co-coordinators and the public in the educational program, the policies, and the procedures of the institution.

c) Assures that the educational pirate institute is meeting high educational standards and quality by adhering to the established criteria, policies, and standards established by the accreditation agency.

e) Expedites the acceptance of advertising by newspapers, magazines, radio; stations, and other advertising mediums.

f) Brings the institution recognition when several states under their legislation and regulations as well as local agencies refer students to accredited schools.

g) Allows listing the institution and its courses in the SPACS Directory of Accredited Institutions.

h) Provides a unique professional development opportunity for the institution's staff members to serve on accrediting examining committees visiting other institutions.