Accreditation: Higher Education's Michelin Star

If you have ever had the pleasure of eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you know that from the moment you step through the door, there are undeniable differences from other dining experiences. While every restaurant strives to provide good customer service, a pleasant atmosphere, and delicious food, a Michelin-starred restaurant elevates these goals to an art form. Consistency, attention to detail, and a relentless pursuit of perfection define each aspect of your visit. A Michelin Star represents a public declaration that everything about the restaurant meets high standards of service and food excellence—all the time. And this requires a cohesive team effort. A restaurant’s entire operation must support this decision because it impacts everything.

You might not readily jump to this comparison, but a restaurant deciding to pursue a Michelin Star is, in many ways, similar to an institution deciding to pursue accreditation. Both are voluntary yet rigorous processes that organizations can undergo to set themselves apart. Neither process is about a single moment of brilliance; instead, they both require a comprehensive, ongoing commitment to quality and improvement. In both cases, the entire team—from chefs to educators, from service staff to administrators—must work cohesively to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by their industry and their evaluators. The ultimate reward, whether it's a Michelin Star or accredited status, serves as a public acknowledgment that the institution or restaurant not only meets, but consistently surpasses, the expectations of its stakeholders.

In higher education, it can be tempting for institutions to take their accreditation for granted. Once they’ve achieved initial accreditation, instead of using it to drive excellence, many focus on simply maintaining the status quo. Too often accreditation is seen as a one-time obstacle standing between an institution and access to federal financial aid. Instead, accreditation should be viewed as the academic equivalent of a Michelin Star—a recognition of excellence that signifies not just a moment of achievement but a continuous commitment to providing quality support services and programs that change the trajectory of students’ lives.

The Quest for a Michelin Star

In the world of television, few shows capture the intensity and passion of the culinary arts like The Bear. The series follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, a highly skilled chef who returns to Chicago to take over his family’s modest sandwich shop, “The Beef.” Carmy left home to go to culinary school in Paris and staged in Copenhagen before moving to New York where he worked his way up to the sous chef in a three-Michelin-starred restaurant. Despite his impressive accomplishments, Carmy faces a unique challenge back at The Beef. The longtime employees, many of whom have known him since childhood, struggle to respect his vision and the accolades he’s earned, clinging instead to the pride they take in The Beef’s long-standing reputation. He could have simply continued the status quo, serving up delicious Italian beef sandwiches to satisfied regulars. But Carmy had a vision—one shaped by his experiences and the things he learned in the world of fine dining. He wanted to elevate The Beef, transforming it into “The Bear,” a place of excellence, known for its uncompromising quality and attention to detail. Carmy’s journey parallels that of any higher education institution seeking accreditation. The desire to elevate an institution's status, to be recognized for excellence, and to serve students in the best possible way mirrors Carmy's determination to transform The Beef into a restaurant worthy of the highest accolades.

Quality and Atmosphere: The Hallmarks of Excellence

When people choose a Michelin-starred restaurant, they’re not just looking for a meal; they expect an unparalleled experience. The quality of the food, the ambiance, and the impeccable service all contribute to this immersive feeling. Similarly, when students and faculty choose a higher education institution, they’re not just looking for a place to study; they want an environment that fosters learning, growth, and success. Accreditation plays a crucial role in this, serving as a benchmark for institutions looking to create a holistic experience where every detail, from academic advising to campus culture, is designed to support student achievement.

To receive a Michelin Star, Carmy dedicates himself to sourcing the finest ingredients, refining recipes, and ensuring that every dish is flawless. This meticulous, if not aggravating, attention to detail is also what accreditation demands of higher education institutions. It's about going beyond the basics to create an environment where students can thrive. Just as a restaurant must constantly innovate and improve to maintain its Michelin Star, an institution must engage in continuous self-assessment and improvement to ensure it meets the highest standards of academic excellence.

Anticipating Needs: The Art of Support

A hallmark of the Michelin-starred experience is the staff’s ability to anticipate and meet the needs of their patrons without them even asking. In The Bear, Carmy sends Richie to stage at Ever, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and learn how to run the front-of-house. Richie is inspired by the attention to detail required to create a dining experience where every guest feels cared for. This approach—requiring a deep understanding of the guests' needs and a commitment to service—is something Richie is determined to bring back to The Bear.

In higher education, this level of service can easily be overlooked. However, students need support throughout their educational journey. In seeking and maintaining accreditation, it’s vital that institutions meet the academic needs of their students but, even more importantly, that they also anticipate and proactively address the support systems essential to their success. This could be through academic advising, mental health services, or career counseling. Just as a Michelin-starred restaurant anticipates the needs of its diners, an accredited institution must anticipate and address the diverse needs of its students by looking for opportunities to proactively remove obstacles.

Continuous Refinement: The Path to Perfection

Achieving a Michelin Star is one thing; maintaining it is another. It requires continuous refinement, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Carmy is constantly tweaking the menu, refining the processes, and pushing his team to do better. Similarly, accreditation is not a one-time achievement. It requires institutions to continually assess and improve their programs, services, and operations to ensure they meet the evolving needs of students and the demands of the educational landscape.

This process of continuous refinement is essential for maintaining accreditation. It involves regular reviews, assessments, and updates that keep the institution aligned with its mission. Just as Carmy never settles for "good enough," an accredited institution must always strive for better, ensuring that it not only meets but exceeds the expectations of its students, faculty, and stakeholders. Most people believe the hardest part is the initial achievement, but it’s not. The real challenge is relentlessly pushing yourself to be better tomorrow than you were yesterday.?

Finding Top-Quality Staff: Building a Dream Team

No Michelin-starred restaurant achieves its status without a top-notch team. Carmy understands that to achieve the level of excellence he envisions; he needs a team that shares his passion. He invests in his staff, pushing them to grow and excel in their roles. He sends his team members, who have always done things the same way, to other restaurants to learn new skills and hone their existing ones. Carmy knows that a Michelin Star cannot be achieved without a cohesive, skilled team that shares his vision for The Bear.

In the same way, for a higher education institution to achieve and maintain accreditation, it must assemble a team of faculty, administrators, and staff who are equally committed to its mission and goals. Recruiting, developing, and retaining quality and experienced staff is essential for accreditation. Faculty and staff must be aligned with the institution's mission and values, ensuring that everyone works together towards the common goal of providing an excellent educational experience for students. Just as The Bear relies on its team to grow and succeed, a higher education institution’s leadership, faculty, and staff all play a critical role in achieving and maintaining accreditation.

Cultivating Buy-In: The Key to Success

Carmy faces numerous challenges, not least of which is getting his team to buy into his vision for transitioning from The Beef to The Bear. He knows that without their wholehearted support, his dream of turning the restaurant into something exceptional will never be realized. The success of The Bear hinges not just on the quality of the food, but on the passion, talent, and unique personalities of its staff. Their buy-in is essential because it’s their dedication and creativity that will ultimately shape the restaurant’s identity and elevate it to the level of excellence Carmy envisions. The same is true for higher education institutions seeking accreditation. Cultivating buy-in from faculty, staff, and students is essential to the success of the accreditation process.

Achieving this buy-in is more than just issuing mandates. It requires clear communication, collaboration, and a shared understanding of the institution's goals. It's about making sure that everyone involved understands the importance of accreditation and how it benefits the institution and its students. When everyone is on the same page and committed to the process, the institution is much more likely to succeed in its accreditation efforts.?

Higher Education’s Michelin Star

Accreditation stands as a recognition of excellence, a commitment to quality, and a badge of honor that signifies an institution's dedication to providing the best education to its students. The pursuit of it is as grueling as it is rewarding, requiring a united team effort to create something extraordinary. Just as a Michelin-starred restaurant strives for perfection in every dish, higher education institutions must pursue excellence in every aspect of their operations. But unlike creating a memorable meal, these institutions are in the business of changing lives. By focusing on exceptional quality, anticipating students’ needs, continuously refining processes, and fostering collaborative autonomy, institutions can achieve and maintain accreditation—setting themselves apart as true leaders in education and transforming lives in the process.

Every second counts…