The Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) is a private, voluntary, non-profit and non-stock corporation which was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 1957. PAASCU is a private organization which accredits academic programs which meet commonly accepted standards of quality education. In November 1967, the Bureau of Education (now the Department of Education) officially recognized PAASCU and endorsed its work as an accrediting agency.