Site Visitor Training Information

1. Site Visitor Training Information

2. Overview • Accreditation Board: General Information • Accreditation Process • Accreditation Standards • Roles and Responsibilities of a Site Visitor By the time you finish this training, you should be able to: • Define accreditation. • Identify the steps required to become a Site Visitor. • Describe the accreditation process. • Articulate the role and responsibilities of a Site Visitor.

3. Mission The mission of the ABAI Accreditation Board is to establish and implement standards for the accreditation of educational programs in behavior analysis.

4. Number of Accredited Programs

5. Number of Accredited Programs by Degree Type

6. The ABAI Accreditation Board The ABAI Accreditation Board is the governance body responsible for the accreditation of post-secondary training programs in behavior analysis at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

7. Board Members and Staff Voting Members • Sharon Brush, Community Representative (2015–2020) • Claudia L. Dozier (2015–2019) • Mitch Fryling (2015–2021) • Michael Perone, Coordinator of the Board (2015–2020) • Jonathon Pinkston (2015–2019) Non-Voting Members • Per Holth, ABAI Council Liaison (2019–2021) • Maria E. Malott, ABAI Council Liaison (2015–2021) Staff • Jenna Mrljak, ABAI Education Manager

8. The ABAI Accreditation Board Comprehensive Accreditation Standards • The ABAI Accreditation Board’s accreditation process is designed to encourage, support, and recognize exemplary training of behavior scientists and scientist-practitioners in the experimental and theoretical foundations of behavior analysis and in ethical and evidence-based practice, and to promote continuous improvement through voluntary accreditation.

9. The ABAI Accreditation Board Relationship with ABAI • The ABAI Accreditation Board operates as a board of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and carries out its responsibilities in a manner consistent with the ABAI bylaws and articles of incorporation.

10. Participants in the Accreditation Process

11. Accreditation* • Aims to assure academic quality and accountability, and to encourage improvement. • Is a collegial process based on self- and peer review for quality assurance, accountability, and improvement of academic quality in higher education. • Is a status granted by a recognized accrediting body to higher education programs that voluntarily submit a self-study and open their training to peer review. *Council for Higher Education Accreditation (2010). Recognition of accrediting organizations: Policy and procedures. Retrieved from http://www.chea.org/pdf/Recognition_Policy-June_28_2010-FINAL.pdf

12. Site Visitor Qualifications Individuals interested in applying to become an ABAI Accreditation Board Site Visitor must meet one or more of the following qualifications*: • Faculty member in an ABAI accredited program; • ABAI Fellow with a university or college affiliation; • Current or past Full Member of the ABAI Executive Council with a university affiliation. *When bilingual site visitors are needed for non-U.S. site visits, Site Visitors must be senior behavior analysts at universities who are Full members of ABAI. If needed, a professional translator will be provided at the expense of the program.

13. Site Visitor Application Process Applicants must complete the following steps before being approved as a site visitor: • Submit a résumé or CV to the ABAI Education Manager. • Review the required Site Visitor Training Manual. • Review the guidelines for Site Visits. • Submit a Site Visitor attestation form. • Complete the Conflict of Interest form when requested, per program.

14. Accreditation Process • After the Site Visit • Sharing the Site Visit Report • Response to the Site Visit Report • Document Submission to the ABAI Accreditation Board Members • Accreditation Decision(s) • Notification of Accreditation Decision(s) • Public Disclosure of Accreditation Status • Eligibility Letter • Self-Study Submission • Site Visitor Invitations • Site Visit Team Formation • Scheduling the Site Visit • Preparation for the Site Visit • During the Site Visit

15. Accreditation Process 1. Eligibility Letter 2. Self-Study Submission 3. Site Visitor Invitations 4. Site Visit Team Formation 5. Scheduling the Site Visit 6. Preparation for the Site Visit • Program Director submits a letter requesting a preliminary review to determine eligibility for accreditation. Domestic Programs • Must be housed in a public or private institution authorized to confer degrees • Institution must be accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Ed. or CHEA • Must have at least one graduate

16. Accreditation Process 1. Eligibility Letter 2. Self-Study Submission 3. Site Visitor Invitations 4. Site Visit Team Formation 5. Scheduling the Site Visit 6. Preparation for the Site Visit Non-Domestic Programs • Determined by the ABAI Accreditation Board on a case-by-case basis and upon a showing that the program falls within the scope of the ABAI Accreditation Board’s activities • Program has legal authority to confer higher education degrees • Accreditation will be beneficial to the programs and their students • Commitment by program administrators to remain current on changes to accreditation standards and policies and to participate in continuing professional development opportunities afforded by the ABAI Accreditation Board. • Must have at least one graduate

17. Accreditation Process 1. Eligibility Letter 2. Self-Study Submission 3. Site Visitor Invitations 4. Site Visit Team Formation 5. Scheduling the Site Visit 6. Preparation for the Site Visit • Eligible training program submits a self-study and application fee(s) to the Education Manager. • Education Manager verifies all content is included.

18. Accreditation Process 1. Eligibility Letter 2. Self-Study Submission 3. Site Visitor Invitations 4. Site Visit Team Formation 5. Scheduling the Site Visit 6. Preparation for the Site Visit • The Education Manager identifies and invites at least two Site Visitors to serve on the site visit team. • Assignments are based on geographic location, experience, last site visit, conflicts of interest, etc. • Site Visitors must sign a conflict of interest form.

19. Accreditation Process 1. Eligibility Letter 2. Self-Study Submission 3. Site Visitor Invitations 4. Site Visit Team Formation 5. Scheduling the Site Visit 6. Preparation for the Site Visit • The Education Manager submits a roster of the proposed site visit team and a site visit quote to the program administrator. • Program administrators may object to one or more of the proposed Site Visitors on the basis of a conflict of interest by notifying the Education Manager within three business days of receiving the roster.

20. Accreditation Process 1. Eligibility Letter 2. Self-Study Submission 3. Site Visitor Invitations 4. Site Visit Team Formation 5. Scheduling the Site Visit 6. Preparation for the Site Visit • The Education Manager puts the program administrator and site visit team in contact with one another to schedule a mutually agreed upon date for the site visit. • Site visits generally last two full days. • All communications between program administrators and the site visit team must include the Education Manager. • If site visit dates cannot be decided an updated roster of potential Site Visitors is put together.

21. Accreditation Process 1. Eligibility Letter 2. Self-Study Submission 3. Site Visitor Invitations 4. Site Visit Team Formation 5. Scheduling the Site Visit 6. Preparation for the Site Visit • Site Visitors are expected to make their own arrangements for travel after confirming the site visit schedule with the program administrator. • Site Visitors have a responsibility to select the most reasonable travel option available and may not be reimbursed the full cost of their travel if they choose a more expensive option. • Site Visitors are reimbursed by the ABAI Accreditation Board following submission of all applicable receipts and approval of the site visit report.

22. Accreditation Process 1. Eligibility Letter 2. Self-Study Submission 3. Site Visitor Invitations 4. Site Visit Team Formation 5. Scheduling the Site Visit 6. Preparation for the Site Visit Site Visitors are responsible for: • Studying the policy and procedure documents provided by the ABAI Accreditation Board, including the Guidelines for Site Visits document and policies on confidentiality, conflict of interest, and document retention. • Reviewing the self-study report to gain a general understanding of the program applying for accreditation. • Identifying points in the self-study report requiring clarification and formulating questions and review tasks for addressing these topics. • Participating in any meetings with other Site Visitors as needed. • Responding in a timely manner to any queries related to their role.

23. Accreditation Process 7. During the Site Visit 8. After the Site Visit 9. Sharing the Site Visit Report 10. Response to the Site Visit Report • Document Submission to the ABAI Accreditation Board Members Site Visitors are responsible for: • Verifying the representations in the self-study report. • Collecting data by interviewing, observing, and reviewing documentation as appropriate. • Meeting with the other Site Visitor(s) periodically to discuss preliminary findings. • Conferring with the program administration to allow the opportunity for additional information and/or clarification regarding issues and concerns identified by the Site Visitors.

24. Accreditation Process 7. During the Site Visit 8. After the Site Visit 9. Sharing the Site Visit Report 10. Response to the Site Visit Report • Document Submission to the ABAI Accreditation Board Members Site Visitors are responsible for: • Conducting an exit briefing and providing a brief summary of strengths and weaknesses under each of the standards of accreditation to the program faculty, and other administrators as appropriate. • Meeting with the other site visitor(s) to achieve consensus on findings and ratings pertinent to the standards of accreditation. • Drafting a site visit report that contains pertinent facts that outline areas where the program has met, has not met, or has exceeded the standards. • Conducting the site visit in all respects in accordance with the Guidelines for Site Visits and other policies and procedures of the ABAI Accreditation Board.

25. Accreditation Process 7. During the Site Visit 8. After the Site Visit 9. Sharing the Site Visit Report 10. Response to the Site Visit Report 11. Document Submission to the ABAI Accreditation Board Members • The site visit team reaches consensus and submits a site visit report to the Education Manager within 30 days. • The Education Manager verifies the site visit report fits the ABAI Accreditation Board’s reporting template and, if necessary, requests modifications from the site visit team before approving. • The Education Manager sends a survey to each member of the site visit team. • Site Visitors are reimbursed for travel, lodging and per diem* after submitting the approved site visit report and all applicable receipts (e.g., flight, hotel). *Per diem is determined using the (meals) rates published on the U.S. Department of State website at the time of travel, per location of the site visit.

26. Accreditation Process 7. During the Site Visit 8. After the Site Visit 9. Sharing the Site Visit Report 10. Response to the Site Visit Report 11. Document Submission to the ABAI Accreditation Board Member • The Education Manager sends the site visit report to the program administrator within 30 days of the visit.

27. Accreditation Process 7. During the Site Visit 8. After the Site Visit 9. Sharing the Site Visit Report 10. Response to the Site Visit Report 11. Document Submission to the ABAI Accreditation Board Member The program administrator acknowledges receipt of the report and sends a written response back to the Education Manager within 30 days of receiving the site visit report. • The program administrator’s written response should include • any comments regarding the site visit report, • a narrative description of its plans to address any concerns raised in the report about compliance with standards and policies, • documentation of corrective action where required, and • a response to any recommendations for improvements to the program. • Upon written request from the program administrator and upon good cause shown, the Education Manager may extend the period for responding an additional thirty days.

28. Accreditation Process 7. During the Site Visit 8. After the Site Visit 9. Sharing the Site Visit Report 10. Response to the Site Visit Report 11. Document Submission to the ABAI Accreditation Board Member The Education Manager shares the site visit report and the program administrator’s response with the ABAI Accreditation Board Members and assigns a primary and secondary reader responsible for presenting the report at the next board meeting.

29. Accreditation Process 12. Accreditation Decision(s) 13. Notification of Accreditation Decision(s) 14. Public Disclosure of Accreditation Status The ABAI Accreditation Board Members make an accreditation decision based on the site visit report and the program administrator’s response. • Accreditation Board Members may vote to • grant accreditation or re-accreditation, • grant provisional accreditation, • defer their decision, • deny accreditation, or • withdraw accreditation.

30. Accreditation Process 12. Accreditation Decision(s) 13. Notification of Accreditation Decision(s) 14. Public Disclosure of Accreditation Status The Education Manager notifies the program administrator and the site visit team of the ABAI Accreditation Board’s decision. • Program administrators have the option, at their expense, to appeal the board’s decision.

31. Accreditation Process 12. Accreditation Decision(s) 13. Notification of Accreditation Decision(s) 14. Public Disclosure of Accreditation Status The Education Manager sends the program administrator the annual report form in preparation for the following year, all applicable accreditation seals, and the ABAI Accreditation Board’s policy on public disclosure of accreditation status.

32. Accreditation Standards • Mission • Curriculum • Outcomes Assessment • Administration • Resources • Faculty • Student Services • Public Disclosure • Degree Programs

33. Accreditation Standards • Mission • The program has a mission which is its specific purpose for existing • Curriculum • The program implements a clear and coherent curriculum plan that provides the means whereby all students can demonstrate substantial understanding and competence in areas pertinent to the program’s mission, and recognize the value of life-long learning.

34. Accreditation Standards • Outcomes Assessment • Essential to the accreditation review process are the outcomes of the program’s training efforts. Fair and reasonable outcomes assessment protects the interests of the program and the public. The program’s overall outcomes are assessed in the context of various outcome measures. • Administration • The program is an integral part of its sponsoring institution and it is governed by its faculty as led by a qualified core member of the faculty.

35. Accreditation Standards • Resources • The program has fiscal, physical, and learning resources adequate to fulfill its mission. • Faculty • Program faculty are sufficient in number and quality to fulfill the program’s mission. • Student Services • Students enrolled in the program have the academic credentials, experience, and skills necessary to successfully complete the program in a timely fashion. Policies and procedures facilitate completion of the program.

36. Accreditation Standards • Public Disclosure • The program demonstrates its commitment to public disclosure by providing written materials and other communications that appropriately represent it to the relevant parties. • Degree Programs • Programs are accredited at the doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s level. Each program has objectives appropriate to its level as well as requirements for instruction in specific content areas. In each area the scope of training is expressed in terms of hours of contact with the instructor. Programs are allowed flexibility in terms of how they achieve the prescribed contact hours.

38. Accreditation Standards

39. Site Visit Report • Site Visitors begin completing the report (together) during the visit. • The report provides details to the Accreditation Board on site-visit observations and representation of standards from the self-study. • Contains: • Title • Introduction • Substantive Standards • Summary and Recommendations

40. Site Visit Report • Title • Program name and degree(s) offered • University name • Site visitors and their affiliations • Dates of the visit

41. Site Visit Report • Introduction • Provide a brief overview of the site visit process, including: • Advance preparation by the team, including the review of the Self-Study Report • Time on campus • Tenor of the visit including cooperation received from faculty and administrators • Documents and evidence reviewed on-site • List of Interviewees: faculty, administrators, students, others

42. Site Visit Report • Introduction • Provide a brief description of the program and its history: • The program’s mission statement • When the program was started • The program’s administrative structure (e.g., the academic department that houses the program; if the program is a consortium, a summary of the participants in the consortium) • Record of ABAI accreditation or attempts at accreditation • Other information that helps put the application for accreditation/reaccreditation in context.

43. Site Visit Report • Substantive Standards • Begin this section with the heading “Adherence to Substantive Standards of Accreditation.” Then repeat each standard and: • Summarize the evidence regarding the program’s adherence to the standard and; • Offer a judgment about whether the standard is met.

44. Site Visit Report Example of site visit report template: Site visitors make a judgement as to whether each standard is met and provides relevant evidence.

45. Site Visit Report Example of site visit report template: Site visitors make a judgement as to whether each standard is met and provides relevant evidence.

46. Site Visit Report Example of description for an unmet standard. 0

47. Site Visit Report Example of decision for an unmet standard.

48. Site Visit Report Example of description for a met standard. 0

49. Site Visit Report Example of a decision for a met standard.

50. Site Visit Report • Summary and Recommendations • Quality And Consistency With Accreditation Standards • Include a general comment concerning the extent to which the program is aligned with the ABAI Accreditation Board’s standards and is effectively accomplishing its mission. Note any areas requiring the attention and focus of the program. Describe the evidence reviewed to reach the conclusions contained within the report. • Commendations • Note areas that exceed the expectations of the Standards in specific aspects of the program including student achievement, program design, faculty, administration, space and facilities, special recognition. • Recommendations • Note areas that are meeting standards, but would benefit from additional attention, focus or modification. • Requiring Improvement • Describe in detail any aspects of the program that are not meeting the standards and require modification.