qualification as long as it is consistent with their stated mission. Schools can allow whatever they want to count towards research qualification. That is why Harvard and UVU can be accredited by the same accreditor, but have very different research output standards. But there are multiple places in the process where you have to show that you don't discriminate in hiring or promotion, or that you seek out increased diversity in your school. Having evaluated several different programs and their accreditation reports, this is true in other disciplines outside of the business schools where I teach. Academic freedom is much less an issue than diversity, but neither is enough on its own to deny accreditation.