Accreditation is a voluntary evaluation process of self- and peer-review. The accreditation process seeks to ensure that accredited programs meet appropriate standards of quality and integrity and can be expected to continue to do so. ALA, through the COA, protects the interests of prospective students, employers, and the general public and provides guidance for educators to ensure that accredited programs meet the ALA Accreditation Standards. (Adapted from the 2015 Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies). ALA’s Accreditation FAQs provide additional information on the accreditation review process.