NECHE Recognition of Non-Credit Providers
The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) has been accrediting institutions since 1885. In 2025 the Commission voted to expand its work to include the recognition of high-quality non-credit providers.
The Commission recognizes that there is increasing interest in non-credit programming from students and there are a growing number of non-credit providers. NECHE’s Recognition process will provide quality assurance to students, employers, and the public.
Recognition is open to NECHE member institutions, non-NECHE higher ed institutions, and third-party providers that offer high-quality, non-credit programming.
Non-Credit Programming
NECHE defines non-credit programming as a course, series of courses, or program that provides knowledge in a subject matter area that may lead to the award of a certificate, badge, or, in some cases, licensure. Non-credit programming has industry and employer relevance and may, in some cases, transfer to credit-bearing programs. For the purposes of this Framework, non-credit programming does not include courses offered exclusively for personal enrichment (i.e. baking, home & garden, arts & crafts, spiritual enrichment).
Non-Credit Programming Quality Assurance Framework
To guide the recognition process, NECHE has developed the Non-Credit Quality Assurance Framework. The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) Quality Assurance Framework (See Appendix I) is intended to articulate the dimensions of quality identified for non-credit programming. Its purpose is to both assure the quality of non-credit programming offered by an institution as well as provide aspirational guidance for continuous improvement. The Framework consists of two sets of markers related to:
1) characteristics of high-quality non-credit programming, and
2) organizational commitment to offering non-credit programming.
Non-Credit Recognition Process
NECHE will recognize organizations that it determines, through the evaluation process, offer high-quality non-credit programming as defined by the Quality Assurance Framework markers. Organizations can be higher education institutions (NECHE members or non-NECHE members) as well as other no-for-profit and for-profit organizations.
Organizations will be required to demonstrate, through a data-informed narrative and a peer evaluation visit, their ability to meet or progress towards meeting each of the quality markers.
Recognition will be granted for a five-year period. The process to gain recognition will include an Application Phase and a Candidate Phase.
NECHE will begin accepting applications in Spring 2026 for its first cohort of organizations that will go through the recognition process in Fall 2026-Spring 2027.
Peer Evaluation will be central to the Recognition process. NECHE is currently seeking peer evaluators to serve on visiting teams.
