Is PrintED ® Accreditation Right for You?

1. Is PrintED® Accreditation Right for You? Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF)

2. By the time you leave this session you will: • Know the essential components of PrintED and how to develop and maintain a successful program • Determine whether PrintED accreditation would be beneficial for you and your students

3. PrintEDHistory • 1986: Printing Industries Association of Georgia (PIAG) developed PrintED • 1990: Printing Industries of America, Inc. (PIA) adopted PrintED as a national accreditation program • 2000: Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF) assumed management of PrintED

4. PrintEDBenefits To the student… “I am currently attending Rochester Institute of Technology. PrintED prepared me for college and gave me a head start over other students. Kimberly Rosenthal, Student Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY “The base knowledge I gained from the PrintED program helped me to pursue my degree in Graphic Communications Management. I still use the information I gained from this class today.” Amanda Cook, Student Murray State University, Murray, KY

5. PrintED Benefits To the educator… “PrintED provides focus and reward for the student whether he/she goes directly into the printing industry after graduation or pursues further education. Either way, PrintED is a win/win situation.” Doug Thomas Carrollton High School, Carrollton, GA “PrintED graduates are provided with a profile of accomplishments to present to a prospective employer.” Pat Lawrence Indian Capital Technical Center, Muskogee, OK

6. PrintED Benefits To the employer… “From an employer’s standpoint, knowing that a student is a graduate of a PrintED program is a helpful tool in gauging their proficiency.” George Milligan, Graphic Designer Infinity Printing, Danbury, CT “We at AmPrint are fortunate to have a great technical school in our area. We give PrintED graduates the edge when it comes to job applications.” Jim Roberts, President AmPrint, Holliston, MA

7. PrintEDAreas of Accreditation • CORE AREA • Introduction to Graphic Communications • BASIC AREAS • Digital File Preparation • Offset Press Operations • Digital File Output • Binding and Finishing • Digital Production Printing • ADVANCED AREAS • Digital File Preparation • Offset Press Operations

8. PrintED Standards In order for a program to become accredited, it must meet the following six standards in at least two areas of accreditation: • Instructional Staff • Facility, Equipment, and Safety • Instruction • Purpose • Administration • Program Budget

9. PrintED Competencies • Form basis for instruction • Consist of more than 400 tasks • Developed by educators and industry • Revised in November 2006 • Digital Production Printing competencies developed in May 2007

10. Readiness Checklist • Do I meet all of the qualifications in the instructor portion of the application? • Is there a curriculum in place? • Is there a method in place to assess student progress and is it regularly updated? • Are the equipment and tools used in your program of the type and quality found in the graphic communications industry? • Is the current budget sufficient to ensure that both the program and students have sufficient equipment and consumables? • Does the program have an active Advisory Committee that meets at least once a year?

11. PrintED Accreditation Process • Instructor requests application packet from GAERF. • Instructor submits completed application forms/$1800 fee to GAERF. • GAERF forwards the instructor the Instructor Data Form. • Instructor completes the Instructor Data Form and submits it to GAERF. An Evaluation Team Leader (ETL) will evaluate and score the document. • If the instructor meets the minimum requirements, an ETL will contact the instructor and arrange to conduct an on-site facility inspection, and provide face-to-face instruction on the assembly and organization of binders that document that the program is meeting PrintED standards.

12. PrintED Accreditation Process (continued) • Instructor completes Standards 2-6, communicating with the ETL on a monthly basis. • The instructor and at least two members of the program’s Advisory Committee conduct a self-evaluation of the program with materials provided by GAERF. • ETL recommends a final evaluation. • Instructor forms a Final Evaluation Team comprised of local industry professionals. • Final Evaluation Team completes an on-site final evaluation. • If requirements are met, GAERF awards accreditation, valid for five years, with an Annual Status Report due at the end of each academic year.

13. Annual Status Reports • Applicant and accredited programs • Tracks the continuing education of the instructor • Tracks graduates of the program

14. Educational Package • Pre-assessmentsadministered by the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) • Curriculum aligned with the PrintED competencies available from various companies. • Certification examinations offered by the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF), and administered by NOCTI.

16. Reaccreditation • An accredited program is required to be reaccredited every five years. • The accredited program must submit a Reaccreditation Application along with a $1000 fee. • The instructor and at least two members of the program’s Advisory Committee must conduct a self-evaluation of the program by using official forms provided by GAERF. • An on-site evaluation is conducted by an evaluation team made up of industry professionals in a process that is similar to the initial accreditation process. • If reaccreditation is recommended, the program will be reaccredited for five years, with an Annual Status Report due at the end of each academic year.

17. Accreditation of Additional Areas • An accredited program may become accredited in additional areas at any time. • The process is similar to the program’s initial accreditation procedure. • An Add-An-Area Application is submitted to GAERF along with a $1000 fee.* This includes: • Application • On site visit by ETL • Brass Plate *If the additional area is added at the time of the reaccreditation, there is no additional fee.

18. Contact Information Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation Eileen Cassidy, Director 1899 Preston White Drive Reston, VA 20191-4367 Phone: (703) 264-7200 Toll Free: (866) 381-9839 Fax: (703) 620-3165 E-mail: gaerf@npes.org Web site: www.gaerf.org