Academic quality improvement program: using quality improvement as tool for the accreditation of nursing education.

In this article, the authors discuss an innovative approach to accreditation in higher education. Using a process known as the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), colleges and universities prepare for accreditation in a process that parallels other continuous quality improvement models. The AQIP moves away from traditional static accreditation processes and requires educational institutions to engage in a continuous effort that mirrors the Plan-Do-Check-Act model used today in many health care organizations. Beginning with a systems portfolio that is based on self-assessment, colleges and universities then use peer feedback to improve system-wide processes that affect their educational outcomes. The article reviews the AQIP model and outlines one college of nursing's experience.