The Impact of Specialized Accreditation on Program Quality: Aviation Students’ Perspectives

Quality assurance of academic programs has traditionally been through accreditation. Specialized accreditation is a means for specific academic fields to ensure quality. In the field of aviation, the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) is the sole accrediting agency for collegiate aviation programs. Currently 25 percent of the institutions that offer four year non-engineering aviation degrees have one or more of their programs accredited by AABI. The purpose of this study was to examine if students’ perceptions of quality differ between accredited and non-accredited programs using the quality dimensions of curriculum, faculty, environment, facilities and equipment, student outcomes and overall satisfaction. Students currently enrolled in four year aviation degree programs from 22 institutions participated in the study. The findings indicated that significant differences in students’ perceptions of quality exist in favor of accredited programs for curriculum, and facilities and equipment, as well as for several measures of faculty quality. Additionally, students in accredited programs perceived that their degree was preparing them well for their intended career to a significantly greater extent than students in non-accredited programs. Results of this study have implications for administrators and faculty seeking to improve the quality of their programs.