Should NAI Develop a Program to Accredit University Curricula?
(Probably Not Just Yet) Sam H. Ham Troy E. Hall Department of Conservation Social Sciences University of Idaho In the United States, accreditation of academic programs focused on professional preparation is typically conferred by organizations that are closely associated with the field. The NAI represents such a body, as do organizations such as the National Recreation and Parks Association, which accredits parks and recreation curricula, and the Society of American Foresters, which accredits forestry and forest management academic programs. Typically, accreditation is conferred to an undergraduate degree program (BA or BS, for example), but accreditation of minors and options (or “emphasis areas”) also occurs. In all cases, accreditation requires an exhaustive review and evaluation of course requirements, number of teaching faculty members, space, facilities, equipment, and financial resources, as well as certain operational factors (such as record keeping, maintenance of confidential
