About Us

We’re an educational association and a nationally recognized accrediting agency!

The Distance Education and Training Council is a non-profit [501 c 6] educational association located in Washington, D.C.

The Council was founded in 1926 to promote sound educational standards and ethical business practices within the correspondence field. The independent nine-member Accrediting Commission of the DETC was established in 1955; shortly thereafter it gained the approval of the U.S. Department of Education as the "nationally recognized accrediting agency" under terms of Public Law. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) also recognizes the Accrediting Commission.

With its 80-plus years of history and its highly refined and federally recognized accreditation program, DETC offers distance learning institutions the most current, relevant and practical services for the 21st Century.

Mission

The DETC is a voluntary, non-governmental, educational organization that operates a nationally recognized accrediting association, the DETC Accrediting Commission.

The DETC Accrediting Commission defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence in distance education institutions. The Commission is dedicated to fostering quality assurance, protection of the rights of the students and institutional self-improvement through voluntary accreditation via peer evaluation. DETC accreditation aims to instill public confidence in DETC institutions' missions, goals, performances, and resources through rigorous application and peer-developed accreditation standards.

Vision

The DETC aspires to be the preeminent accrediting association for distance education and training institutions worldwide. It aims to be a resource for distance learning institutions, encouraging them to strive for excellence in fulfilling their missions. Through voluntary assessment and high standards for academic quality, DETC intends to stimulate excellence in student services, student learning outcomes and consumer protection, to assure our various publics that its accredited institutions are fulfilling their stated purposes and addressing the public's expectations.

Core Values

DETC is guided by these Core Values:

• Volunteerism
• Self-regulation
• Institutional self-improvement
• Respect for the uniqueness of  institutions  
• Excellence in student services
• Fairness and transparency of decision-making
• Responsiveness to the dynamic, global distance education community

DETC's Specialty Websites

DETC's Corporate Website is intended for employers and corporate partners.

DETC's Military Website is intended for members of the U.S. military community, including counselors and service members.

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