French Broad River Academy receives accreditation

From the Association for Experiential Education:

Boulder, Colorado – After more than 18 months of in-depth internal and external assessment and review, the French Broad River Academy has been granted accredited status by the Accreditation Council of the Association for Experiential Education (AEE). This accreditation, which is valid for three years and renewable thereafter, is based on compliance with AEE standards addressing philosophical, educational & ethical principles, program governance, program oversight and management of activities, human resources (faculty and staff selection, hiring, training and supervision), transportation, equipment, nutrition and hygiene, venue selection and appropriateness, international considerations, environment and culture, and land and water based technical activities. Attaining accredited status through the AEE accreditation program is solid evidence of an organization’s commitment to quality and safety, belief in professional standards, and allocation of resources toward continued excellence and improvement. Programs that achieve AEE accreditation can be confident that they meet or exceed recognized industry standards.

“AEE is truly proud to add French Broad River Academy to our growing list of accredited programs,” said Shawn Tierney, AEE director of accreditation. “The integrity of the organization and the quality of their programming is exceptional. Knowing that FBRA meets the highest standards in the field of experiential education should give tremendous confidence to their students, parents, faculty, staff, and supporters.”

“The accreditation process has ultimately made FBRA a safer organization, which is our number one goal and priority,” according to FBRA Director Will Yeiser. “We are delighted to be associated with such a professional organization and we look forward to continuing to build our relationship with AEE.”

The French Broad River Academy is an independent, all-male middle school that provides its students with a challenging and compelling educational experience by engaging them with the French Broad River. The river and its surrounding watershed are the basis of study and inquiry, the focus of conservation efforts, and a resource for recreation.

Our mission is to build character and integrity in young men for a lifetime of learning and service. We prepare students for success in high school, college, and the increasingly competitive world beyond by combining a rigorous academic curriculum with relevant, purposeful learning experiences on the French Broad River, its surrounding watershed, and international field experiences.

Our vision and aspiration for our students is to produce academically prepared students and global citizens, strong in their commitment to service, who will bring compassion and confidence into the classroom, the community, and their lives.

The Association for Experiential Education is a professional membership association based in Boulder, Colorado. The mission of AEE is to develop and promote experiential education. While AEE was founded in the mid-1970s, its accreditation arm came into being in the early 1990s. Since then, the AEE accreditation program’s standards-based evaluation process by objective, independent reviewers has become the industry accepted level of professional evaluation for experiential education programs.

For more information about AEE accreditation please contact Shawn Tierney, AEE Director of Accreditation at (303) 440-8844 x 16 or accreditation@aee.org

For more information about the French Broad River Academy, please visit our website at www.fbriveracademy.org or contact our office manager at 828.348.4320.