Accreditation Purpose and Value

1. AccreditationPurpose and Value Michale S. McComis, Ed.D., ACCSC Melissa Wade, Chair, COMTA

2. Accreditation Overview As a starting point, tell us about your schools. 3 Strengths of your school/program 3 Challenges to operating your school

3. Accreditation: Purpose and Value Accreditation Overview

4. Accreditation Overview • The Regulation of Education in the U.S. is a Decentralized System • The Triad – Federal, State, and Accreditation Oversight • Federal Level • Higher Education Act of 1965 – Established Federal Financial Assistance • U.S. Department of Education Established in 1970s • Provides Student Funding – Grants and Subsidized Loans • Provides Recognition of Accreditation Agencies as Reliable Authorities • State Level • Licensure • Consumer Protection Regulations • Institutional Funding (Public Institutions) • Student Funding • Accreditation • Voluntary • Institutional and Specialized • Institutional Accreditation Required for Access to Federal Student Financial Aid • Accrediting Agency Must be Recognized by Federal Government

5. Postsecondary Education Oversight in the United States Federal Government The Regulatory Triad Information Sharing Cooperation Overlap Conflicts Duplication State Government Accreditation

6. Accreditation Overview Accreditation Defined A process to evaluate and recognize an institution for meeting peer developed standards established for the purpose of promoting quality education

7. Accreditation Overview Key Components of Accreditation: • Institutional or programmatic in nature • Each accrediting agency sets its own standards in conjunction with its members • Standard are developed and institutions are assessed in a peer review process • Program objectives are set by the institution • Self-evaluation is the foundation for assessment • Institutional success is measured by the success of meeting institutional objectives (e.g., student success) • Efforts toward continuous improvement essential • Vocational accreditors require student learning/competency/ achievement assessment – although not in uniform ways

8. Accreditation Overview Key Components of Accreditation: • Verify that an institution or program meets established standards • Create goals for self-improvement of weaker programs and stimulating a general raising of standards among educational institutions • Involve the faculty and staff comprehensively in institutional evaluation and planning • Assist prospective students in identifying acceptable institutions • Establish criteria for professional certification and licensure and for upgrading courses offering such preparation • Help to identify institutions and programs for the investment of public and private funds • Provide one of several considerations used as a basis for determining eligibility for Federal assistance.

9. Accreditation Overview Accreditation is not: • Governmental • Although credible agencies are recognized as meeting USDE regulations • A police force • A “Rubber Stamp” • Easy • In order to have value the process of accreditation must challenge institutions to show success

10. Accreditation Overview Types of Accreditation • Regional or • National • Institutional or • Programmatic

11. Higher Education Accreditation in the United States - Institutional NWCCU NEASC MSCHE NCA WASC Regional in Scope SACS

12. Higher Education Accreditation in the United States - Institutional ACCSC National in Scope ACICS ACCET ABHES COE DETC NACCAS COMTA

13. Accreditation in the United States –Programmatic Midwife Programmatic Accrediting Agencies Sample Areas Oriental Medicine Healthcare Mgmt Cosmetology Dental Pharmacy Art / Design Nursing Dietetics English Dance Family Therapy Occ. Therapy Allied Health Massage Therapy Music Optometric Liberal Educ. Anesthesiology Theater Law Osteopathic National In Scope Not Required for Federal Funding Chiropractic Teaching Physical Ther Nursing Public Health Medicine Podiatric Naturopathy Engineering Funeral Science Business Radiology Psychology Forestry Veterinary Planning Montessori Ed. Physician Assist. SLP / Audiology Religion Culinary Arts Library Sci. Rec. & Park Construction Consumer Sci. Clinical Lab. Industrial Tech. Woman’s Health Social Work Aviation

14. Accreditation Overview The Accrediting Process (Generally) • Standards: The accrediting agency, in collaboration with educational institutions, establishes standards. • Self-study: The institution or program seeking accreditation prepares an in-depth self-evaluation study that measures its performance against the standards established by the accrediting agency. • On-site Evaluation: A team selected by the accrediting agency visits the institution or program to determine first-hand if the applicant meets the established standards. • Grant of Accreditation: Upon being satisfied that the applicant meets its standards, the accrediting agency grants accreditation status and lists the institution or program in an official publication with other similarly accredited institutions or programs. • Monitoring: The accrediting agency monitors each accredited institution or program throughout the period of accreditation granted to verify that it continues to meet the agency's standards. • Re-evaluation: The accrediting agency periodically reevaluates each institution or program that it lists to ascertain whether continuation of its accredited status is warranted.

15. Accreditation Overview Licensure, Certification, and Accreditation Each has a different meaning, process, and oversight • License – Typically given to a school by a state governmental agency to operate a business/school and to confer postsecondary credentials in the state. • Accreditation – A peer review non-governmental process whereby a school’s operations and success are evaluated against established standards of practice. • Employment Certification / License – A credential typically given to a graduate after certain conditions are met as established by a governing board (e.g., a passing score on an exam or a prescribed number of internship hours are fulfilled).

16. Accreditation: Purpose and Value The Value of Accreditation

17. Accreditation Value Value to the School • Improvement in the quality of the institution/program through the process • Establish goals and benchmarks in relation to peer institutions • Benefits in state licensure for students and the institution • Marketing/competitive advantage • Financial Aid Opportunities

18. A Student Centered Approach to Institutional Assessment School As a Whole: Leadership, Management, & Administrative Capacity Employer / Market Needs Program Objectives & Length Student Success Education Resources Recruitment Faculty Qualifications Admissions Student Progress Community Input and Validation On-going Assessment and Evaluation Student Services

19. Accreditation Value Value to the Student • Access to greater financial aid opportunities (e.g., Federal Title IV student financial aid) • Improved educational quality and consistency • Value of external validation and the need for assessments and improvements • Opportunity to register grievances with third party

20. Accreditation Value Value to the Graduate • Exemptions to licensure requirements in certain states • Advantages when seeking reciprocity and transfer of credits • Seal of approval regarding the quality of the institution or program

21. Accreditation Value Value to the Employment Community • Opportunity to engage with schools more directly (i.e., Program Advisory Committees) • Consistency in skills among graduates • Recruiting opportunities with the institution • Assurance that curriculum and equipment is current and industry- appropriate.

22. Accreditation Value Value to the MT Industry • Improves the quality of graduates and therapists • Greater recognition as a health-care profession • Brings a level of consistency to the massage therapy/bodywork profession in lieu of a national standard

23. Accreditation: Purpose and Value Choosing the Right Agency

24. Choosing an Agency Which agency is best for your school / program • Philosophy • Mission / Vision / Values • Service • Process and the Standards • Timeline • Cost

25. Choosing an Agency Short-term goals • Average length of accreditation process • Actual process involved and workload • Cost verses benefits • Initial fees and annual sustaining/membership fees • User fees • Audited financial statements • Infrastructure additions (i.e., more staff)

26. Choosing an Agency Long-term goals • Create a long term positive and collegial relationship with the agency • Importance of informed decision • Contact each agency and talk to the staff • Ask a lot of questions about the agency and the process • Does your school/program “fit” and will you be happy? • Does the agency offer sufficient support services? • Will your school always be a single program operation?

27. Choosing an Agency External factors to consider • Current and potential competition • Institutional licensing issues in your state • Certification/licensing issues for your graduates

28. Accreditation: Purpose and Value Important Aspects of the Accreditation Process

29. Accreditation Process • Do your homework • Choose your agency • Once you start, do not look back • Once you start, do not stop • It will seem hard (it is) • It will be worth it (it really is!)

30. Accreditation Process Sample Accreditation Process • Attend Accreditation Workshop • Submit Application for Accreditation • Submit Self-Evaluation Report • Undergo Orientation on-site evaluation • Make revisions • Undergo Full-Team on-site evaluation • Receive Team Summary Report • Respond to Team Summary Report • Review at next available Commission meeting • Average time to complete the process 18-24 months • Sample direct cost for initial applicant - $9,900

31. Accreditation Process School Perspective • Workload and delegation – it can be daunting to think about • Get everyone involved! • Importance of documentation • Say what you do and do what you say • Your school will be better

32. Accreditation Process Commission Perspective • Importance of the self-evaluation process (be honest) • Importance of continuous institutional improvement efforts (not a one-time showing) • A school must demonstrate compliance with standards • Team evaluations and the institutions response • Commission deliberations and decisions

33. Accreditation Process Once accredited – Now What? • Staying accredited • Continuous compliance / improvement efforts • Substantive changes • Annual Reporting • Annual Dues • Access to Title IV funding • Preparation for growth and enhanced scrutiny

34. Accreditation: Purpose and Value The Higher Education Act and Title IV Federal Student Financial Aid

35. Federal Financial Aid If you think accreditation is hard…

36. Federal Financial Aid Applying for and obtaining federal funding • Financial ratios • Eligibility and certification process • Administrative capability

37. Federal Financial Aid Title IV and other funding sources • Grants, Loans and Federal Work study • State programs and Veteran’s benefits • Alternative funding sources

38. Federal Financial Aid Title IV eligibility advantages • Funding for students • Marketing and competitive advantages • Potential increase in student enrollment

39. Federal Financial Aid Title IV eligibility disadvantages • Heightened scrutiny • Costs of administering Title IV • Liabilities of not administering Title IV correctly

40. Federal Financial Aid The Higher Education Act • Overview of upcoming and proposed changes • Negotiated Rulemaking • Potential impact on Title IV institutions • Potential impact on non-Title IV institutions

41. Accreditation: Purpose and Value Issues Impacting the Massage Therapy/ Bodywork Profession

42. Issues for MT/BW National standardization of licensing and testing requirements • Nursing and Acupuncture issues • Other industries facing standardization • Competing tests for massage therapists

43. Issues for MT/BW National standardization of curriculum requirements • Potential impact of the Body of Knowledge • Fragmented standards among states • Unlicensed states and licensing by county

44. Issues for MT/BW State licensing boards deferring to / relying upon accreditation • Licensing of institutions – “Licensure by Means of Accreditation” • Licensing of practitioners • Advantages and disadvantages for the industry

45. AccreditationPurpose and Value Michale S. McComis, Ed.D., ACCSC Melissa Wade, Chair, COMTA