In the face of increasing federal pressure to demonstrate the value of education and impose standard measures of quality, how can institutions of higher education preserve their autonomy? How does faculty participation in the assessment process help preserve academic freedom and the system of peer review that is at the heart of regional accreditation?

A proponent of the regional accreditation system, Dr. Eaton will offer her views on the history and purpose of accreditation and on the urgent issues facing accreditation today. She will explain the key role of faculty and the entire higher education community in supporting regional accreditation to help ensure academic freedom and institutional autonomy for colleges and universities.

Dr. Judith S. Eaton is president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the largest institutional higher education membership organization in the United States. She has served as CHEA’s President since shortly after its founding in 1996.

A national advocate and institutional voice for academic quality through accreditation, CHEA is an association of 3,000 degree-granting colleges and universities and recognizes approximately 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations. CHEA serves as an outspoken advocate and a comprehensive source of information on accreditation and its value to society. The CHEA International Quality Group provides as an international forum to address issues related to accreditation and quality assurance around the world.

Prior to her work at CHEA, Dr. Eaton served as chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, as president of the Council for Aid to Education, the Community College of Philadelphia and the Community College of Southern Nevada and as vice president of the American Council on Education. She has held teaching positions at Columbia University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. Dr. Eaton has authored numerous books and articles on higher education and accreditation-related topics and addresses accreditation and quality assurance at conferences and meetings in the United States and internationally.