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Understanding Accreditation To Choose The Best Online Universities

Understanding accreditation to choose the best online universities

Online education is gaining more acceptance with both employers and academic institutions. Several higher education institutes are now accepting credits from accredited online degree programs. Employers, too, view online degrees from top accredited universities as being on par with traditional on-campus degrees.

Understanding Accreditation To Choose The Best Online Universities
However, it is vital to get your degree from the best online universities accredited by a relevant authority.

Your choice of online school and program must meet several criteria before you enroll in it. One of the most significant factors is accreditation.

What is accreditation?

  • Accreditation is a stamp of approval on a university or college, or on specific programs from universities.
  • The accreditation process is conducted by independent and recognized accrediting agencies to ensure that the institution and its programs meet the highest standards.
  • There are different types of accrediting agencies — national, regional, professional, etc.

What are the types of accreditation?
There are two types of accreditation. These are:

  • Institutional accreditation: This accreditation is approval by a recognized agency for the entire university or college.
  • Program-level accreditation: These are generally granted for career-oriented degrees by relevant expert bodies or professional association. If you are pursuing a degree that needs a license, or if you are enrolled in a professional degree course, you may need this kind of accreditation.

What are the types of accrediting agencies?
There are state, national, regional, and professional accreditation agencies. Recently, many online schools have received state accreditation, which may mean the school is licensed to operate in a specific state.

  • National accreditation agencies: Some examples of national accreditation agencies are Accreditation Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, and Direct Education & Training Council. There are other national accreditation agencies like the Association of Theological Schools that grants accreditation for theological education in the US and Canada.
  • Regional accreditation agencies: Most highly reputed universities like Harvard University, University of Maryland, etc. have regional accreditation. There are a total of six regional accrediting agencies. These are Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools (MSA), Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS), North Central Association of Colleges & Schools (NCA), New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities (NASC), and Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC).
  • Program level accreditation: Professional associations, agencies composed of field experts, etc. grant this type of accreditation. Some examples are the American Psychological Association, American Bar Association, and the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education.

Do the accrediting agencies need to have approval?

  • Yes. To ensure that you are not misled by schools and programs with spurious accreditation, make sure that the accrediting agencies are valid. These agencies need a seal of approval from a supervisory authority.
  • In the country, the institutions that recognize accrediting bodies are the US Department of Education (DoE), and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
  • Be sure to visit the websites of these organizations to verify if the accreditation for a school or program is valid.

What are the steps of the accreditation process?

  • The process begins with a self-review where institutions are expected to provide evidence that they meet high standards in classrooms, in training, in their curriculum, in their facilities, in their faculty, and so on.
  • The accreditation process also involves an on-site inspection by a team of administrators, teachers, and experts in education.
  • Accreditation is not a one time action. It is an ongoing monitoring and review process to ensure that the educational institutions continue to meet the standards set by the accreditation agencies.

What is the value of accreditation?

  • Degrees from accredited universities hold more value than a non-accredited one.
  • You can transfer credits while enrolling in a higher degree course at another university.
  • Accreditation also holds high value while seeking employment with an online degree. Though online degrees are gaining more acceptance from employers now than in the previous decade, employers will not consider degrees from institutions without valid accreditation.
  • While national accreditation is valid, academic institutions do not view these as being on par with the older and more traditional regional accreditation. So, preferably, choose the best online universities accredited by regional accreditors. Regional accreditation generally has more rigorous review processes.
  • For employment, a valid accreditation for the online university or program is enough, especially for accredited online degree programs from reputed universities.
  • Professional accreditation may add another level of validity for employment if you have completed a career-oriented degree program.
  • Online education provides a schedule and learning flexibility for students. Hence, people who are employed or have family commitments choose online programs for higher education.
  • However, before you enroll, make sure that you choose a degree program from one of the best online universities accredited by a valid authority. Also, look for program-level accreditation for career-oriented degrees.

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6 simple benefits of meditation

A habitual process, mediation helps to train the mind to be more focussed by redirecting thoughts. Many people use meditation techniques to increase self-awareness. Some people use mediation as a way to alleviate stress and increase concentration levels. Whatever be the purpose of mediation, the process comes with a lot of benefits. Here are some of the well-known benefits of mediation and how it affects the brain. Improves sleep cycle Nearly everyone suffers from insomnia once in a while. Some experience a persistent lack of sleep. The reasons for a disrupted sleep cycle can be severe stress, anxiety, and worrying. Often racing thoughts and severe emotional distress can also cause insomnia. Medication helps in dealing with insomnia. However, by focusing all thoughts, meditation can be beneficial in controlling racing and runaway thoughts. Moreover, it will release the tension and help the mind and body relax, leading to improved sleep quality. Those who meditate often have better REM sleep and tend to fall asleep in a shorter time. Reduced perception of pain Everyone’s brain perceives pain with different intensities. However, when one is extremely stressed out or anxious, one’s perception of pain may be higher than usual. Pain receptors are directly linked to the emotional state of mind. When one incorporates regular meditation in their everyday routines, it can be effective in controlling pain sensations. With mindfulness meditation, pain can be alleviated. Moreover, the quality of life also improves. Those who suffer from chronic pain may find meditation useful as it lowers the risk of depression. Those who meditate have been known to develop higher tolerance towards physical pain. Improved concentration levels Mindfulness meditation increases the ability to focus on the present. It is similar to weight-lifting, but for the brain. This can improve concentration levels required for the other tasks in everyday life. According to research, mindfulness is linked to one’s ability to process new information. It gives a boost to emotional regulation, memory, and learning ability. Moreover, this can help in reversing patterns of worrying and wandering minds. All of this can give more clarity, allowing greater decision-making capability. Meta-awareness and attention can be trained through mindfulness meditation and focused-attention meditation. Lower risk of age-associated memory loss With meditation, there is improvement in attention. In addition, there is improved clarity of thought. A form of meditation that involves repeating a chant or mantra has been known to improve neuropsychological performance. Along with chanting, the meditating process also involves repetitive motions of the fingers. This helps to focus thoughts. Moreover, different forms of meditation have been known to boost memory, attention, and mental agility, especially in older adults. Along with slowing down age-related memory loss, meditating can help to control stress that is often a major contributor to memory loss. Better management of depression and anxiety Dwelling on anxious thoughts is one of the major factors contributing to depression. With mindfulness meditation, the mind can be trained to focus on the present. Practicing mindfulness over a longer duration can alleviate anxiety. It also helps in easing symptoms of depression. In many cases, meditation is often a part of comprehensive mental health treatment plans. From correcting troubled sleeping patterns, appetite loss, and moodiness, mindfulness-based mediation can go a long way in making it easier to manage anxiety and depression. Better self-esteem Mindfulness and meditation encourage a person to slow down. These practices help to follow deeper self-reflection. Along the way, a person gains the ability to discover positive attributes about themselves. A person is able to examine their feelings, emotions, and thoughts without any judgment. This boosts self-awareness. It also helps in improving social anxiety symptoms. All of these help in gaining a better sense of self-esteem.
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Tibetan prayer beads

Important things to know about prayer beads

If you have been practicing meditation or yoga for a long time, you probably have come across prayer beads. You can find these Buddhist beads, alternatively referred to as Tibetan prayer beads, in sculptures or paintings of Buddha where he is seen holding these beads. Although it is quite a common sight, few actually know about Tibetan prayer beads. This article elucidates on some important points related to prayer beads. Prayer beads have been used across the globe for thousands of years. They play a vital role in various cultures and countries for meditation purposes. Some records claim that beads were first noticed in Nepal and India. They have been used across different religions, such as Catholicism and Hinduism, among others. Advantages of prayer beads Prayer beads can help you with various aspects of meditation, a practice that provides numerous health benefits. Meditation can contribute to lowering blood pressure, improving sleep, and reducing stress levels. However, many people face difficulties while meditating, particularly at the start. This is when prayer beads prove to be useful, as they keep you focused while meditating. The constant movement of your fingers around the beads helps in grounding you. When you touch each bead, you say a chant so you can keep a count of the number of times you have repeated the chant. Composition of prayer beads Traditionally, they consist of 108 beads along with a guru bead, which has a tassel and is bigger than all the other beads. How significant is the number of beads Usually, traditional Tibetan prayer beads have 108 beads. This number is considered sacred in Buddhism and Hinduism. However, if you feel that 108 is a lot, you can purchase a necklace with 27 or 54 beads. Some necklaces have beads of different shapes after the 27 th bead. So, you can keep track of your repetitions efficiently. Such prayer beads also allow for shorter meditation periods. How can you use prayer beads for meditation? Breath control and repetition of the chant are two key starting points while using prayer beads during meditation. It is advisable to focus on your breathing while meditating. You can use prayer beads for managing your breath by: Holding the prayer beads in one hand Allowing the beads to drape around your fingers so that you may move them with ease Inhaling and exhaling one full breath Moving the fingers to the next bead; breath in and out once for each bead Concluding at the guru bead to finish 108 breaths Moving your fingers in the other direction until you again reach the guru bead if you wish to do another round. While following these steps, you may repeat a chant, which can be a sound, word, or phrase to be aware of during meditation.
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Buy bean bag chairs to relax in style

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Natural Remedies for Depression

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