简析美国高等教育认证的民间性

认证制度是美国高等教育中颇具特色的一部分，而民间性是该制度的根本特性。认证组织，认证标准的制定，认证程序等方面都体现着民间性，各级政府可以与其合作，但对其没有直接的领导权。美国高等教育认证的民间性形成的基础是高等教育有较充分的自治权，宪法公民基本权利能够真实实现，社会文化对于集体结社的偏好。

An Analysis of Nongovernmental Accreditation of American Higher Education

Accreditation is a special mechanism of American higher education. Its feature of being nongovern- mental is reflected in the founding of accrediting bodies, the setup of accreditation criteria and the process of accreditation. Governments at all levels can cooperate with accrediting organizations but have no authority to interfere directly with their accreditation affairs. The basic elements which contribute to the formation of the nongovernmental accreditation include enough autonomy in higher education, realization of constitutional civil rights and the preference for association in social culture.