The goals of specialized accreditation: A study of perceived benefits and costs of membership with the National Association of Schools of Music

2018-07-09This quantitative study examined institutional perceptions of the benefits and costs associated with National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) membership/accreditation, while also examining variance in perception based on institution type and regional accreditation status. This study defined various aspects of the accreditation process of post-secondary music schools across the United States. Despite the benefits of accreditation, it remains unclear if the established standards in the accreditation process are fair and consistent for all parties concerned. One must ensure that standards in accreditation are relevant and meet the needs of the member institutions. The original purpose behind accreditation has been forgotten, as the emphasis currently relies on easily quantifiable outcomes. Currently, the evidence indicates that standardization causes constriction rather than creativity, as a focus remains on items that are easily measurable, as opposed to those that are not. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine perceived benefits and costs associated with NASM accreditation. A quantitative approach was employed to explore the monetary and nonmonetary benefits of NASM membership, and open-ended responses were used to support the quantitative results. Findings demonstrated that accreditation was perceived to influence the credibility of the institution. Additionally, accreditation signified the strength of peer evaluation and self-study as important in ensuring quality of education. In addition, the participants also perceived the accreditation process was appropriate in improving institutional effectiveness. Further studies were recommended to understand the different variables that influenced institutions to apply for accreditation