This accreditation user guide describes: (1) a set of institutional conditions, policies, and practices that are potentially abusive to students, and (2) a system for collecting, analyzing, and using quantitative data on these conditions, policies, and practices. Possible uses include: (1) setting consumer protection standards and goals that institutions should meet to gain or keep accreditation, and (2) establishing an institutional self-reporting system that could be the basis for periodic self-evaluations and possibly central reporting. The core of this self-reporting system is the Institutional Report Form (IRF), with two separate versions for degree-granting and occupational training institutions. The 13 topics of the IRF are: refund policies and practices; advertising policies and practices; admission practices; instructional staff evaluation practices; disclosure in written documents; student orientation practices; job placement services and follow-up of graduates; recordkeeping practices; maintaining instruction staff stability; representation of current approved or accredited status; financial stability; occupational instruction programs and equipment and facilities. (LBH)