Accreditation and Associations

SMUS is accredited by Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS), the national accrediting body for Canadian independent schools.

How is SMUS accredited?

CAIS logo

St. Michaels University School was the first boarding school in Western Canada to be accredited by Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS), the national accrediting body of Canadian independent schools.

SMUS was first accredited in 2000 when CAIS was known as the Canadian Educational Standards Institute (CESI). SMUS completed subsequent accreditation evaluations in 2008 and 2018, a demanding process that CAIS requires its accredited schools to undertake to maintain the designation.

It was noted by the CAIS Evaluation Committee in 2018 that our accreditation submission was a new benchmark for independent schools.

The full evaluation is a two-part process. First, a self-evaluation requires the school to examine its practices rigorously in key areas, which cover everything from the learning environment and curriculum to the school’s financial and operational capabilities.

The second part of the evaluation is a peer review, which is conducted by a visiting team of colleagues from independent schools across Canada. Made up of individuals in roles including heads of school, finance directors, academic directors and other specialists, the Visiting Committee spends several days observing classes and talking to faculty, staff, parents and students. The committee issues a report and makes a series of recommendations that will help the school in its goal of continuous improvement.

Read more about accreditation:

Associations

SMUS is a member of the following organizations: