Accreditation
Sterling College is a private, independent college with a 501c3 status accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The College and its programs in outdoor education are accredited by the Association for Experiential Education. Sterling College is a member of the Association of Vermont Independent Colleges, the Work Colleges Consortium, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
AEE
Sterling College is accredited by the Association for Experiential Education (AEE). Sterling is committed to AEE accreditation as a means to ensure excellence and industry best standards for all aspects of the ministry. Other universities and organizations that have AEE-accredited outdoor programs include Harvard, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Indiana University, University of New Hampshire, and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Accreditation by the AEE means that SROM meets the highest standards for safety, risk management, instructor training, and programming in the field of outdoor adventure education.
NECHE
Sterling College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Inc.).Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process. An accredited college of university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact: New England Commission of Higher Education, 3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514 (781)425-7785 Email: info@neche.org
KENTUCKY COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
The Wendell Berry Farming Program of Sterling College is firmly rooted and located in Kentucky; this Kentucky instructional site is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, and the College is licensed to operate in Kentucky by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.
The Council on Postsecondary Education coordinates change and improvement in Kentucky’s postsecondary education system as directed by the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997.
Established as part of the education reforms set forth in the Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, the Council on Postsecondary Education is Kentucky’s statewide postsecondary and adult education coordinating agency. The Governor appoints the Council members, which include 13 citizens, one faculty member and one student member; the Commissioner of Education is an ex-officio member. A supporting state agency is attached to the Governor’s Office and run by the President, who is appointed by Council membership.