Accreditation and Quality | FAQs

FAQs about Great Plains IDEA
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  • Are all universities accredited?

    Yes, all Great Plains IDEA member universities are accredited by regional agencies. For our member universities, accrediting agencies are the North Central Association of College and Schools (NCA), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), or the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

  • What are the credentials of the faculty?

    Faculty teaching Great Plains IDEA courses meet qualifications to teach at their universities. Member universities assign top professors for Great Plains IDEA academic programs to teach courses that highlight their specialties.  Great Plains IDEA has also adopted a set of Principles of Effective Online Teaching to guide instructors in providing a high-quality academic experience.

    To read about individual faculty achievements and research interests, visit the Great Plains IDEA Directory or scroll to the bottom of any program page for a list of teaching faculty.

  • How do multiple universities offer degrees together?

    You choose a member university as a home university. The home university is where you are admitted, enroll, pay tuition, and receive a degree. Courses are taught online by faculty at the home university or by faculty at other member universities.

    You access coursework through the online Learning Management System (LMS) of the teaching university. At the end of the semester, instructors report grades to your home university for your official transcript. The course appears on the transcript as a home university course rather than a transfer course.

  • Does the online format provide the same quality education offered by a traditional campus?

    Accrediting agencies hold Great Plains IDEA online degree programs to the same institutional and instructional standards of traditional on-campus programs. ­

    Listen to Sherri Jones, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences at University of Nebraska--Lincoln, talk about the quality of education students receive through Great Plains IDEA.

  • Will my diploma say “online degree”?

    No, your diploma will not have the words “online degree” anywhere on it. However, some transcripts indicate if classes are taken online. Check with your home university registrar’s office for more information.

  • How is confidential information, like grades, shared between multiple universities?

    ExpanSIS is the online, secure database Great Plains IDEA universities use to house and share student information. Campus coordinators use ExpanSIS to share course information, manage enrollment, and exchange grades.