Definitions

The NAST Handbook, published annually in electronic form, includes NAST standards for non-degree-granting, community college, baccalaureate, and graduate programs in theatre, as well as the Association’s constitution, bylaws, code of ethics, and rules of practice and procedure. When applicable, new or amended standards that have been ratified by the NAST Membership and/or the Board of Directors are available as addenda to the Handbook. Further information.

An Institution of Postsecondary Education is an entity whose main objective is the offering of educational degrees and/or programs to individuals who have completed secondary school or its equivalent. Such an institution 1) is chartered or licensed within a state, 2) has stated educational objectives appropriate to the postsecondary level, 3) is under the legal control of some type of board, and 4) has a faculty with appropriate qualifications for offering postsecondary instruction.

Institutional Accreditation is a status accorded an institution of postsecondary education that embraces the whole institution as it defines itself and therefore includes all areas and activities except discipline specific curricular content. Normally, institutional accreditation testifies to 1) the appropriateness of the objectives of the institution; 2) the advocacy of its organization, program, and resources, both material and human, when viewed against its objectives and generally accepted accrediting standards; and 3) evidence of the accomplishment of institutional objectives in reasonable measure. Moreover, the criteria of eligibility provide that degree programs, however specialized, must rest upon a base of liberal or general studies required of all or most students. However, accreditation of the institution as a whole is not, and should not be interpreted as being equivalent to specialized accreditation of a part or program of the institution and should not be represented as such. The Commissions of the six regional accrediting associations accredit a variety of institutions within their geographic regions. Also, several national accrediting bodies provide institutional accreditation for special-purpose institutions throughout the United States. And, finally, specialized accrediting bodies, when they accredit single-purpose institutions, provide institutional as well as programmatic accreditation. Further information.

Institutional Autonomy is the principle whereby standards are applied with profound respect for the rights and responsibilities of institutions and programs to identify, designate, and control 1) their missions, goals, and objectives; 2) artistic, educational, and philosophical principles and methodologies used to pursue functions implicit in their various missions, goals, and objectives; 3) specific repertories, texts, and other teaching materials utilized for study and presentation; 4) agendas and areas of study pursued through scholarship, research, criticism, and policy development; 5) specific personnel choices, staffing configurations, and other operational decisions; and 6) content and methodologies of tests, evaluations, and assessments.

Institutional Integrity is the outwardly displayed ability of an entity to set and adhere to a code of values marked by traits such as reasonable conduct, enactment and consistent use of fair and orderly procedures, honesty in all proceedings, respect for human beings, and means of ensuring that it is providing the educational services it says it is providing to the public.

A Joint Visit occurs when an accrediting association conducts a regular evaluation process at the same time as another association, but cooperates with that association in the appointment of a single evaluation team, the scheduling of a single visitation and, under certain conditions, the writing of a coordinated evaluation report to the institution. Reporting responsibilities of team members may be shared between the two associations. Joint evaluations do not lead to joint accreditation. Separate accreditation action is taken by each association; given the difference among associations, dissimilar results could issue from a joint evaluation. Further information.

Licensure is a process by which an agency of government grants permission to 1) persons meeting predetermined qualifications to engage in a given occupation and/or to use a particular title, and 2) institutions to perform specified functions. NAST does not license individuals or institutions.

Membership may be granted to baccalaureate and/or graduate degree-granting institutions, community colleges, and postsecondary non-degree-granting institutions meeting all of the standards of the Association. Institutions approved for Membership are granted five-year periods of accreditation. At the end of five years, such institutions are expected to apply for renewal of Membership. Institutions approved for renewal of Membership are granted ten-year periods of accreditation. Further information.

A theatre unit is a college, school, division, department, or program within a postsecondary institution or a freestanding, independent, school of theatre.

On-site evaluation consists of an on-site visit to an institution or disciplinary unit by a team of trained evaluators. The on-site review follows the completion of the self-study and the submission of the self-study report to the accrediting body and evaluators. The visit enables the evaluation team to determine the accuracy and completeness of the self-study and to provide additional information and/or confirmation of existing information to the Commission on Accreditation. Further information.

Plan Approval is the procedure for official NAST Commission review of a new curriculum that is under development at a member or applicant institution. NAST rules require that Plan Approval be sought before students are admitted into the program. The status of curricular programs that have successfully completed the Plan Approval process are listed in italics in the NAST Directory List. Further information.

There is a great deal of public interest in the proper operation of institutions of postsecondary education largely because institutional activities result in the education and training of individuals who will take responsible positions in society. Since accrediting bodies provide judgments about institutional educational quality and institutional integrity, there is public interest in the activities of accrediting bodies as well as institutions. To ensure the inclusion of the public’s interest, representatives of the public are members of accrediting Commissions and the Board of Directors. Further information.

Self-Regulation/Peer Review is based on the recognition that most human activities work best when participation and consensus are foundational principles of decision-making. Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental activity, and an advocate for institutional autonomy that plays a major role in preserving the self-regulatory quality of American postsecondary education. Other dimensions of self-regulation in postsecondary education include the maintaining of guidelines for, and institutional commitment to, good practice and ethical behavior.

A Self-Study is a process that normally produces comprehensive written analysis of the educational resources and effectiveness of a theatre institution or unit in relation to its educational objectives. Further information.

Specialized accreditation is a status granted by a Commission to a unit, or in the case of a single-purpose entity, an institution which has 1) successfully completed the evaluative process including the preparation of a self-study and an on-site review by a team of evaluators 2) been reviewed by a Commission, and 3) demonstrated compliance with appropriate standards and guidelines. The focus of specialized accreditation is on the effectiveness with which the unit meets its objectives in relation to the standards and guidelines of the Association. Specialized accreditation of a single-purpose institution in some cases may be considered institutional accreditation.

Third-Party Comment is information provided by one or more individuals who are not speaking or writing officially on behalf of or otherwise officially representing an institution, or who are acting in any capacity on behalf of NAST with regard to that same institution. The third-party comment process is open only for designated periods during the course of comprehensive NAST accreditation reviews. Further information.