Quality Assurance for a Changing Education Landscape.
The International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education is a private, independent quality-assurance and accreditation organization advancing integrity, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across online, hybrid, technology-enhanced, professional, and emerging models of education.
Independent Quality Assurance. Digital by Design.
The International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education provides voluntary institutional and programmatic accreditation for eligible organizations delivering online, hybrid, distance, professional, faith-based, microcredential, and technology-enhanced education.
Institutions are evaluated against published standards addressing mission, governance, academic quality, qualified personnel, student support, technology, financial integrity, assessment, transparency, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Mission
To advance and validate meaningful digital education through transparent, evidence-based quality assurance centered on integrity, effectiveness, responsible innovation, accountability, and learner success.
Vision
A global education environment in which innovative institutions and learning models can build trust through demonstrated quality, accountability, access, and continuous improvement.
Built for Contemporary Education.
Ten Areas of Institutional Evaluation.
Mission and Purpose
A clearly defined and published mission that reflects educational quality, innovation, and learner success.
Governance and Leadership
Effective governance, ethical leadership, and administrative structures appropriate to institutional mission and scale.
Academic Programs and Curriculum
Clearly structured, outcomes-based programs aligned with mission and responsive to changing knowledge and workforce needs.
Faculty and Staff Qualifications
Appropriate academic preparation, professional experience, development, and performance evaluation.
Student Support Services
Academic advising, technical assistance, and learner resources supporting success, persistence, and completion.
Learning Resources and Technology
Appropriate learning resources, technology tools, systems, and academic materials.
Financial Stability and Integrity
Sound financial operations, transparent budgeting, responsible fiscal management, and ethical business practices.
Assessment and Continuous Improvement
Systematic evaluation of learning outcomes, program effectiveness, and operational practices used to drive improvement.
Integrity and Transparency
Honest, fair operations and accurate public information in marketing, recruitment, and institutional practice.
Commitment to Innovation and Access
Responsible innovation and efforts to expand meaningful access for diverse, underserved, and global learner populations.
A Documented Path from Eligibility to Continuing Compliance.
IACDE’s published evaluation model combines institutional evidence, structured self-evaluation, external peer review, formal Commission consideration, and continuing oversight.
Application Review
Initial screening of eligibility, institutional documentation, and operational readiness.
Candidacy Document Verification
Review of institutional profile, student outcomes, organizational structure, and supporting evidence.
Self-Study Submission
Comprehensive institutional analysis addressing the applicable Core Accreditation Standards.
Peer Review Evaluation
Qualified external evaluators examine evidence and document professional findings against IACDE criteria.
Commission Review & Decision
Formal consideration of the institutional record, evidence, and peer-review findings.
Ongoing Compliance Monitoring
Accredited institutions remain subject to annual reporting, monitoring, and periodic renewal review.
Informed by International Quality-Assurance Principles.
IACDE’s standards and quality-assurance philosophy draw upon recognized international principles concerning independence, institutional effectiveness, learner protection, transparency, evidence-based review, educational access, and continuous improvement.
Reference principles concerning independence, impartial governance, external review, transparency, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement.
Reference principles regarding institutional responsibility for quality, external review, public information, and systematic improvement.
Inform attention to educational access, equity, learner protection, responsible cross-border education, and transparent public information.
Reference concepts related to governance, outcomes, institutional effectiveness, evidence-informed decision-making, and educational improvement.
Reference points concerning mission, evidence-based review, learner outcomes, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Inform learner-centered management, leadership responsibility, resource assurance, monitoring, and systematic organizational improvement.
Important: References to external frameworks describe principles that inform or provide comparison points for IACDE’s own standards. They do not imply endorsement, recognition, certification, membership, or formal affiliation by INQAAHE, UNESCO, OECD, CHEA, ISO, or the organizations responsible for the European Standards and Guidelines.
Clear Roles Support Responsible Decisions.
IACDE distinguishes administrative operations, advisory activity, independent consulting, professional peer review, and formal accreditation decision-making to support fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Accreditation Commission
Formal authority to grant, deny, reaffirm, or withdraw accreditation is vested in the IACDE Accreditation Commission under adopted policies and procedures.
Professional Peer Review
Reviewers are selected according to professional expertise, institutional needs, availability, and conflict-of-interest requirements.
Advisory Independence
Global Advisory Council members contribute perspective and strategic expertise but remain separate from routine institutional accreditation reviews.
Consulting Separation
Independent consultants do not guarantee accreditation and may not participate in reviews where an actual or apparent conflict exists.
Conflict Safeguards
Review participants must disclose relationships or circumstances that could compromise impartiality or professional judgment.
Continuous Standards Review
Standards and policies are periodically reviewed as education, technology, professional practice, and quality-assurance expectations evolve.
Strategic Leadership. Specialized Operations.
Roxanne Kemp, Ph.D.
Dr. Roxanne Kemp is the Founder and President of the International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education.
Her professional background includes accreditation consulting, institutional development, higher-education strategy, and assisting colleges, schools, and emerging educational organizations with academic, administrative, governance, and quality-assurance development.
She provides visionary leadership and strategic direction for IACDE’s mission, accreditation philosophy, standards development, governance priorities, innovation, international relationships, institutional priorities, and long-term growth.
Kevin Kemp, B.S., M.S.
Kevin Kemp serves as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of IACDE, providing leadership across administrative operations, financial oversight, institutional workflows, and organizational systems.
His professional background spans cybersecurity, technology, digital learning, academic program development, institutional operations, and workforce-aligned curriculum development.
He holds graduate preparation in cybersecurity and is continuing his business education through MBA studies at the University of Houston–Clear Lake.
Taneise Polk, M.Ed.
Taneise Polk brings more than a decade of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, learning experience design, educational technology, online learning, accessibility, and quality assurance.
She supports institutional onboarding, self-study coordination, peer-review engagement, accreditation documentation, operational workflows, and IACDE-approved review and training activities.
Her background includes Quality Matters principles and work with Canvas, D2L Brightspace, Blackboard, Moodle, Storyline 360, Rise 360, and Adobe Captivate.
Kimberly Washington, MAOM, MSTPM
Kimberly Washington brings professional experience in compliance, onboarding, recruitment, program and project management, process improvement, organizational support, documentation, reporting, and cross-functional coordination.
She supports institutional onboarding, membership engagement, partnership communications, relationship management, outreach, workshops, trainings, and orientations.
Her people-centered and systems-oriented approach supports responsive institutional engagement throughout the membership and accreditation journey.
Expertise Beyond a Single Office.
IACDE is supported by a multidisciplinary professional community of commissioners, advisors, peer reviewers, educators, institutional leaders, specialists, consultants, and industry professionals serving through clearly defined roles.
International higher-education perspective and strategic professional engagement.
AI strategy, governance, education, integrity, and emerging-technology perspective.
AI literacy, instructional design, curriculum evaluation, workforce enablement, and professional training.
Credibility Is a System, Not a Slogan.
IACDE maintains published standards and policies addressing ethics, due process, conflicts, confidentiality, institutional monitoring, privacy, public disclosure, and accreditation integrity.
Professional expectations for integrity, independence, responsible conduct, confidentiality, and accountability.
Review Policy →Requirements designed to identify, disclose, and manage relationships that could affect objectivity.
Review Policy →A documented process for raising concerns involving accredited institutions or accreditation-related conduct.
Review Policy →Procedures supporting institutional due process and review of eligible accreditation decisions.
Review Policy →Expectations governing secure, confidential, and responsible handling of accreditation information.
Review Policy →Ongoing monitoring, annual reporting, corrective action, and continuous-improvement expectations for accredited institutions.
Review Procedures →Central access to public accreditation standards, policies, procedures, and institutional responsibilities.
View Policy Library →Allows stakeholders to confirm current listed accreditation, candidacy, and institutional status.
Verify Status →Trust Requires Clear Disclosure.
IACDE is a private, independent accrediting organization providing voluntary, non-regulatory quality assurance. Its accreditation framework uses published standards, institutional evidence, professional peer review, formal decision-making, and continuing compliance.
Accreditation does not replace governmental authorization, professional licensure, regulatory approval, or an institution’s obligation to comply with the laws and requirements of jurisdictions in which it operates.
IACDE believes stakeholders should be able to review its standards, understand its authority, examine public policies, and verify participating institutional status.
Clear Answers. Public Information.
These frequently asked questions address IACDE’s authority, standards, process, recognition, institutional eligibility, fees, global alignment, and public verification.
What is IACDE?
The International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education is a private, independent accreditation and quality-assurance organization serving eligible online, hybrid, distance, professional, faith-based, and technology-enhanced education providers.
What is IACDE’s legal authority?
IACDE is legally organized as the International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education, LLC in the State of New Mexico, United States.
Accreditation is voluntary and non-regulatory. Additional information is available on the Authority & Legal Basis page .
Is IACDE recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education?
No. IACDE is not currently recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education.
IACDE is an independent private accrediting organization and publishes this status so institutions and stakeholders can make informed decisions.
What global frameworks inform IACDE’s standards?
IACDE’s public quality-assurance materials reference principles associated with INQAAHE, the European Standards and Guidelines, UNESCO, OECD, CHEA international quality principles, and ISO 21001.
These references describe alignment or comparison with quality-assurance principles and do not represent endorsement, formal recognition, certification, or affiliation by those organizations.
What does IACDE evaluate?
IACDE’s Core Standards Framework contains ten evaluation areas covering mission and purpose; governance and leadership; academic programs; faculty and staff qualifications; student support; learning resources and technology; financial stability; assessment and improvement; integrity and transparency; and innovation and access.
What types of accreditation does IACDE offer?
IACDE provides institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation distinctions for eligible education providers. The applicable scope depends upon the institution, programs, educational model, and evidence submitted.
Who may apply?
Eligible organizations should demonstrate legitimate educational operations, appropriate governance, transparent policies, responsible institutional practices, and readiness to provide evidence addressing applicable IACDE standards.
Current application guidance is available through the Get Accredited page .
How does the accreditation process work?
The published evaluation process includes application review, candidacy document verification, institutional self-study, peer-review evaluation, Commission review and decision, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
Who conducts peer review?
Qualified educators, administrators, institutional leaders, industry professionals, and subject-matter specialists may be selected according to relevant expertise, institutional needs, availability, and conflict-of-interest requirements.
Learn more through the Accreditation Peer Review Network .
Who makes accreditation decisions?
Formal authority to grant, deny, reaffirm, or withdraw accreditation is vested in the IACDE Accreditation Commission as described in IACDE’s policies and procedures.
Does consulting guarantee accreditation?
No. Consulting is separate from accreditation decision-making and cannot guarantee an accreditation outcome.
Professionals who have provided substantive consulting services may not participate in a review when that relationship creates an actual or apparent conflict of interest.
How long does accreditation take?
Timing depends upon institutional readiness, the completeness of documentation, the scope of review, response times, peer-review scheduling, and whether additional evidence or corrective action is required.
Where can institutions find current fees?
Current fees and reporting requirements are maintained on IACDE’s dedicated fee-schedule page so that pricing information can remain current.
Review the current Accreditation Fee Schedule .
What happens after full accreditation?
Accredited institutions remain responsible for continuing compliance with applicable standards, reporting requirements, annual monitoring, notification of significant changes, and periodic renewal or reaffirmation review.
Can the public verify accreditation status?
Yes. IACDE maintains a public directory identifying participating institutions and their listed status.
Candidate Status, membership, and full accreditation are distinct classifications and should not be represented interchangeably.
Use the IACDE Directory to confirm current status.
Examine the framework before you begin.
Review IACDE’s standards and policies, verify institutional status, or explore the accreditation process.
