New policy report by the EveryLibrary Institute urges stronger library representation in higher education accreditation
The EveryLibrary Institute NFP has released a new policy report titled Institutional Accreditation and the Academic Library: A Strategy for Engagement and Representation to address a critical problem facing higher education: the growing marginalization of academic libraries within regional accreditation standards.
As federal policies shift under Executive Order 14279 and accreditors revise their standards to remain in compliance, many academic libraries are finding that their role in student success, institutional quality, and educational equity is no longer clearly articulated in the frameworks that govern eligibility for federal financial aid. In some cases, references to libraries and librarians have been generalized, weakened or removed altogether.
This lack of clear and consistent language leaves academic libraries vulnerable to misinterpretation by campus leadership, peer reviewers, and policymakers. Without a strong presence in accreditation standards, academic libraries risk being undervalued, underfunded, or sidelined in long-term institutional planning.
To help library leaders, consortia, systems, and professional associations proactively engage with the accreditation process, the EveryLibrary Institute’s new report provides detailed, actionable insights into how the seven U.S. regional institutional accrediting agencies review and revise their standards.
The report outlines:
• How each agency structures its review process, including timelines, committees, stakeholder feedback, and board decision-making.
• When and how academic library stakeholders can participate in standards reviews, provide input, or influence future revisions.
• The risks posed by ambiguous or absent references to libraries in current accreditation standards, and strategies for restoring clarity and recognition.
• Guidance for aligning library advocacy with federal policy mandates and institutional priorities.
“This report was written to equip academic library stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to act at the systems level,” said John Chrastka, Executive Director of the EveryLibrary Institute. “Whether through statewide consortia, multi-campus systems, or academic library associations, our goal is to help strengthen library representation and ensure that accreditation continues to reflect the central role of academic libraries in higher education.”
The report is available for free download and reuse under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 license at: https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/institutional_accreditation_acade….
The EveryLibrary Institute NFP is a 501(c)(3) research, training, and policy organization focused on the future of libraries and librarianship. The Institute produces original research, develops resources to support library funding and governance, and partners with academic, public, and school libraries to advance the role of libraries in American civic life.