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Preparing for Accreditation Template for Success. AMTA 2011 Schools Summit February 17-18, 2011 San Francisco, California. Preparing for Accreditation Template for Success. Perspective Recordkeeping Documenting Best Practices Documenting Required Practices. Accreditation Perspective.
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Preparing for Accreditation Template for Success AMTA 2011 Schools Summit February 17-18, 2011 San Francisco, California
Preparing for AccreditationTemplate for Success Perspective Recordkeeping Documenting Best Practices Documenting Required Practices
Accreditation Perspective School success is dependent upon the quality of: • Education Administration • Quality of Teaching and Faculty Development • Student Employment Outcomes
the process… • The accreditation process is designed as a means to assist schools to become stronger and better by meeting standards of educational quality • As a school director’s tool, accreditation allows for the opportunity of introspective analysis and constructive change • The process should assess and enhance the educational quality of the school, ensure consistency in operation • Promote self-evaluation and improvement • Provides public accountability • Allows for a unique partnership with other accredited schools with annual meetings to foster innovation and creativity.
Institutional accreditation… • Differs from Programmatic • Programmatic Accreditation: COMTA www.comta.org ABHES (www.abhes.org) NACCAS (www.naccass.org) COE (www.council.org)
Review Accreditation Standards National Accreditation • ACCET www.accet.org • ACCSC www.accsc.org • ACICS www.acics.org • COMTA www.comta.org Regional Accreditation
Suggestions • Stay current by reviewing all accreditation updates/alerts • Review the website often for workshops and conferences • Become a reviewer when appropriate
Recordkeeping • DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, AND WHEN FINISHED, DOCUMENT SOME MORE! • Show evidence you do what you say you do! • Demonstrate you meet and exceed the requirements
Key Areas • CURRICULUM • Review Licensing “prescription” • Incorporate MBOK • Create a competency chart showing program competencies, course expected learning outcomes mapped to syllabi, lesson plans, and assessments • Choose the highest standard to which you must comply • Syllabi with all required fields • Course Lesson plans for consistency of delivery
2. FACULTY • Have a faculty development plan • Offer faculty growth opportunities on campus: in-services focusing on instruction techniques, faculty meetings • Emphasize curriculum integration and revisions • Offer professional growth opportunities: CE, advanced certifications • Conduct regular classroom observations • Student course surveys with feedback to instructors • Regular performance assessment
3. ADMISSIONS/MARKETING • Keep a binder of Advertisements to demonstrate compliance • Follow your catalog and audit student files for required paperwork (EA, Application, etc) • Demonstrate ongoing training for admissions representatives; be transparent • Review all marketing materials for compliance, especially your website
4. PROGRAM ADVISORY BOARD • Purpose of the Advisory Board is to align expected employment outcomes with program outcomes • 8-12 employers meet twice annually • Comprised of employers, practitioners, educators, regulators, and other appropriate representatives. (many schools invite legislators) • Review the curriculum, instructional materials, equipment and facility, along with student achievement.
5. INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS PLAN • a/k/a Institutional Assessment and Improvement Plan, or Strategic Plan • Examine your school management team and leverage strengths • Demonstrate the ability to manage growth or other goals in your plan • Do you have a mission and vision? Be sure it is shared • A living document reviewed monthly
CON’T • Do you have the plan, the resources, the budget, and patience to reach your goals? • Review your administrative capacity and growth including: (a) addition of longer programs (b) addition of unrelated programs (c) facilities (d) participation in Federal Title IV programs
6. Student Success = School Success • Career Services (a) Employment verification is key (b) Gainful Employment – new focus on ability to pay back school loans with salary • Retention/Graduation Rates • Academic Policies – document you follow SAP policy as well as others stated in catalog (most states and accreditors have a list of mandatory policies for full disclosure in your catalog) • Student Resource Center/Library
7. CATALOG • Consult your state regulations, there may be a required checklist for catalog contents • Accreditation standards provide catalog requirements • Choose the more stringent requirement of the two • Follow your own policies. Remember, DOCUMENT!
QUESTIONS Questions Accreditation – the right thing to do!