International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education
The International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education (IACDE) is a global quality assurance organization dedicated to advancing excellence, integrity, innovation, and accountability in online, hybrid, and technology-enhanced education.
Through a streamlined digital accreditation process, IACDE serves institutions, training providers, professional academies, faith-based organizations, and other innovative education providers committed to academic quality, responsible operations, and meaningful learner outcomes.
Our Foundation
What We Stand For
Mission
IACDE exists to uplift and validate institutions that deliver meaningful, high-quality education through virtual and hybrid formats. We provide a rigorous, transparent accreditation process that recognizes academic excellence, technological advancement, and outcomes that truly serve today’s learners—whether they are earning degrees, professional credentials, or faith-based qualifications.
Vision
We envision a future where digital education is not an alternative, but a global standard for quality learning. IACDE seeks to be the leading accreditor of virtual institutions and programs, empowering providers who are redefining access, flexibility, and success in education across borders and communities.
Core Values
Our work is grounded in six core values: Integrity, Innovation, Student Success, Global Collaboration, Continuous Improvement, and Digital Trust. These principles guide our peer review processes, support services, and ongoing commitment to helping institutions grow. We believe that excellence in online education must be as accountable and learner-focused as any traditional model.
Scope of Accreditation
IACDE offers both Institutional Accreditation and Programmatic Accreditation Distinctions to a diverse range of digital learning providers. This includes fully online universities and colleges, hybrid schools, continuing education programs, coaching academies, faith-based institutions, and global providers offering competency-based or microcredential learning. Our recognized Distinctions—such as IACDE-MGT (Management), IACDE-CYB (Cybersecurity), and IACDE-MDV (Ministry & Divinity)—allow institutions to showcase specialized excellence and align with global workforce and community needs.
Governance and Quality
Assurance Framework
Governance and Oversight
IACDE maintains a governance structure designed to promote integrity, transparency, and accountability throughout the accreditation process. Strategic and standards oversight is provided by IACDE leadership, while administrative operations are coordinated through the Office of the Executive Director.
Accreditation reviews are supported by qualified peer reviewers and subject-matter specialists, with decisions guided by institutional evidence, IACDE standards, professional findings, and established policies.
Commitment to Continuous Standards Improvement
IACDE is committed to maintaining accreditation standards that reflect the highest levels of academic, operational, and technological quality.
Our standards are reviewed and updated periodically to align with best practices, emerging innovations, and the evolving needs of students, educators, and institutions in the global digital landscape.
Peer Review Model
Qualified professionals are selected according to their expertise, availability, institutional needs, and conflict-of-interest requirements. Through IACDE’s structured review process, peer reviewers evaluate institutional evidence against applicable standards and provide documented professional findings and recommendations.
Peer-review findings become part of the institutional accreditation record and support IACDE’s established accreditation review and decision-making process.
Recognition and Collaboration
IACDE values collaboration with educational organizations, professional associations, quality-assurance networks, and international partners that share our commitment to advancing excellence in digital education.
Through responsible partnerships and professional engagement, we seek to strengthen institutional quality, expand global dialogue, and support innovation across diverse learning environments.
Recognition & Transparency
At the International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education (IACDE), we believe credibility is built through transparency, documented standards, professional peer review, ethical practice, and continuous improvement. As an emerging accrediting organization, our quality assurance approach is designed to support the evolving needs of digital, hybrid, and technology-enhanced institutions.
Our quality assurance practices are informed by internationally recognized principles and frameworks, including:
- INQAAHE Guidelines of Good Practice
- The European Standards and Guidelines (ESG)
- UNESCO guidance related to cross-border education
- Established principles of institutional integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement
Our quality assurance model—the IACDE Core Standards Framework—is grounded in ten defined areas of evaluation addressing academic quality, ethical operations, institutional effectiveness, student support, technology, governance, and continuous improvement across online, hybrid, microcredential, professional, and faith-based learning environments.
IACDE is a private, independent accrediting organization and is not currently recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). IACDE accreditation should not be represented as equivalent to accreditation recognized by either organization. Acceptance of accreditation, academic credit, degrees, certificates, or other credentials may vary by institution, employer, licensing authority, government agency, or jurisdiction.
As IACDE continues to grow, we remain committed to responsible collaboration with educational organizations, professional associations, quality assurance networks, and international partners that share our commitment to advancing trust, innovation, and excellence in digitally delivered education.
Guiding Excellence in Digital Education
Leadership & Administration
IACDE maintains a streamlined leadership structure supported by professional peer reviewers, strategic consultants, advisors, subject-matter specialists, and technology-enabled administrative systems.
Founder & President
Roxanne Kemp, PhD
Dr. Roxanne Kemp is the Founder and President of the International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education.
She provides visionary leadership and strategic direction for IACDE’s mission, accreditation philosophy, standards development, governance priorities, innovation, international relationships, and long-term growth.
Her leadership focuses primarily on organizational vision, quality assurance philosophy, strategic development, standards oversight, institutional priorities, and the future direction of the Commission.
Executive Director
Kevin Kemp, M.S.
Kevin Kemp serves as Executive Director of IACDE and coordinates the Commission’s administrative and operational functions.
The Office of the Executive Director supports institutional communications, accreditation workflows, records administration, scheduling, financial administration, reviewer coordination, organizational systems, and other routine administrative functions required to support IACDE’s work.
Working with IACDE leadership and its broader professional community, the Executive Director supports the efficient implementation of the Commission’s accreditation activities and organizational initiatives.
Our Professional Community
IACDE is supported by a multidisciplinary professional community of educators, institutional leaders, administrators, industry professionals, advisors, consultants, and subject-matter specialists. These professionals serve through distinct roles according to their expertise, appointments, availability, and responsibilities, strengthening IACDE’s commitment to quality, integrity, innovation, and global engagement.
Founding Strategic Consultants
IACDE’s Founding Strategic Consultants represent members of our founding professional community whose early leadership, expertise, service, and support contributed to the development of the Commission.
They remain connected to IACDE in a flexible strategic and consultative capacity without routine administrative responsibilities. As their availability permits, they may contribute professional insight, institutional feedback, research, special-project support, educational initiatives, peer-review expertise, conference participation, or other professional guidance.
Accreditation Peer Review Network
The IACDE Accreditation Peer Review Network brings together qualified educators, administrators, institutional leaders, industry professionals, and subject-matter specialists who may be selected to participate in institutional and programmatic accreditation reviews.
Reviewers are selected according to professional expertise, institutional needs, availability, and conflict-of-interest requirements. Their professional evaluations and recommendations help strengthen the integrity and quality of IACDE’s accreditation review process.
Independent Professional Consultant Network
The IACDE Independent Professional Consultant Network connects institutions with qualified professionals who may offer optional consulting services in areas such as accreditation readiness, institutional development, curriculum, governance, compliance, technology, student services, strategic planning, and organizational growth.
Consultants operate independently and are not acting on behalf of IACDE when providing private consulting services. Consulting is optional, separately arranged between the consultant and institution, and does not guarantee or influence accreditation.
Professionals who have provided substantive consulting services to an institution may not participate in that institution’s accreditation review when the relationship creates an actual or apparent conflict of interest.
Global Advisory Council
The IACDE Global Advisory Council brings together accomplished professionals who contribute international perspective, thought leadership, specialized expertise, and strategic guidance.
Council members serve in an advisory capacity and remain separate from IACDE’s routine administrative operations and individual institutional accreditation reviews.
