Accreditation is a system for recognizing educational institutions and professional programs for performance, integrity and quality. This recognition is extended primarily through nongovernmental, voluntary associations. These accreditors establish criteria for accreditation, arrange site visits, evaluate institutions and professional programs, and confer accreditation.

Although accreditation is basically a private, voluntary process, it is often a consideration in decision making by governmental funding agencies, scholarship commissions, foundations, employers, and potential students.

Mission

The Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) ensures high quality education for future urban planners.

Core Values

The PAB embraces the following five core values:

• Stewardship: preserving and enhancing the knowledge base of the urban planning profession with which the Board has been entrusted.
• Collaboration: building and sustaining a bridge between the academic and practitioner com­munities.
• Communication: fostering awareness of urban planning education and its environment.
• Integrity: maintaining a commitment to fairness, transparency, and consistency.
• Leadership: maintaining currency with regard to state-of-the-art accreditation practice and instructional innovation.

Functions

In order to accomplish its mission, the PAB:

• Accredits graduate and undergraduate planning programs in North America.
• Mentors programs to further academic excellence in professional education.
• Collects and provides data on the state of planning education (student profiles, performance, placement, effectiveness, etc.).
• Strengthens professional education in partnership with its sponsors: the ACSP (Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning), the AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners), and APA (the American Planning Association).

PAB, founded in 1984, is proud to be officially recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). PAB is currenlty undergoing a re-recognition process, the final decision for which is expected in late 2011. At its meeting on January 24, 2011 the CHEA Board of Directors reviewed the recommendation of the CHEA Committee on Recognition regarding the eligibility application submitted by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). The board of directors determined that PAB is eligible to undertake a recognition review. PAB will complete a self-evaluation providing evidence that it meets the CHEA recognition standards. CHEA requires an observation visit to a decision-making meeting of the accrediting organization to observe decision-making activities as these related to CHEA eligibility and recognition standards. The CHEA Committee on Recognition will review the self-evaluation, the report of the observation visit and any third-party requests for comment and make a recommendation to the CHEA Board of Directors. The CHEA Board of Directors will make the final determination of recognition status.

PAB is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) and adheres to the ASPA Code of Good Practice.