The World Online Education Accrediting Commission (WOEAC) was founded to promote sound educational standards and ethical business practices within online universities. Recently WOEAC has emerged as a leader in distance learning accreditation. It has accredited members all over the world. With its highly refined and recognized accreditation program, WOEAC offers distance learning institutions the most current, relevant and practical services for the 21st century.

The World Online Education Accrediting Commission (WOEAC) has been the standard-setting Accrediting Commission for correspondence study and distance education institutions. Its purpose was, and still is, "to foster and preserve high quality, educationally sound and widely accepted distance education and independent learning institutions."

The WOEAC Accrediting Commission performs the institutional accrediting functions of the WOEAC. Its member institutions offer more than 500 different academic, vocational, and non-vocational courses by mail or through telecommunications. These courses make use of specially written learning texts and quite often include audio-visual training devices, job enhancing materials, tools, computers, and other equipment. Course length ranges from a few weeks to over four years of study.

Although most distance study institutions teach students entirely "at distance," some institutions offer courses which feature a combination of distance study and resident training. WOEAC conducts a continuing professional development program for distance study educators. Seminars and conferences devoted to distance education are held each year and are open to any individual with an interest in distance education.

The mission of the WOEAC is to foster and preserve high quality, educationally sound and widely accepted distance education and independent learning institutions. It works to ensure that WOEAC accredited distance learning remains an effective method of education and training for learners of all ages. WOEAC promotes institutional self-improvement, ensures academic quality and aids its members in the quest for acceptance and excellence.

The goals of the WOEAC are to:

(1) serve the members of the Council and to promote the interest and general welfare of the distance education and independent learning fields;

(2) establish standards for the operation and conduct of distance education institutions and to provide suitable accreditation for organizations meeting these standards;

(3) promote the adoption of sound educational standards and ethical business practices in the distance education and independent learning fields;

(4) work with public and private agencies at all levels in the development and exchange of information helpful to the advancement of distance education and independent learning fields;

(5) co-operate with local, state and federal authorities in the maintenance of high standards and sound policies in the fields of distance education and independent learning;

(6) conduct and promote research for the advancement of distance education and independent learning; and

(7) undertake any activity necessary for the accomplishment of these goals, consistent with the public interest and the interests of the distance education and independent learning fields.

Membership in the Agency shall be limited to institutions that offer instruction, assessment, and student services in the distance education field and are accredited by the WOEAC Accrediting Commission. The WOEAC Accrediting Commission may also accredit independent learning institutions and establish associate membership category groups.