University United Methodist Preschool has been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (N.A.E.Y.C.) since 1990.

In 2006, N.A.E.Y.C.'s guidelines changed so as to make it nearly impossible for many part-day, non-profit preschool programs to complete and maintain their accreditation process. This is the conclusion as a result of a four-month study by the local preschools directors' group. This group concluded that the new guidelines have been written for full-time day care for profit programs.

While University United Methodist Preschool greatly respects the educational research of N.A.E.Y.C., this preschool, along with others in Chapel Hill, has temporarily withdrawn from the N.A.E.Y.C. accreditation process. UUMP will continue to follow N.A.E.Y.C.’s 1998 guidelines under which it was accredited in 2003 and will remain committed to quality care and education of young children.