We Know Very Little: Accreditation and Historically Black Colleges and Universities

In this article, the authors examine the literature on accreditation in postsecondary education in the United States and, in particular, on accreditation as it influences historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). First, the authors discuss some of the challenges of preparing a literature review on this topic. Second, they explain what accreditation entails in the United States, including a description of accrediting agencies and the accreditation review process. Third, they review both the academic and the more general literature on accreditation in general. Fourth, they review both the academic and the general literature on accreditation as it shapes HBCUs. Finally, they discuss lessons learned from the literature, including both gaps and areas for improvement.