Accreditation Basics and How Do I Get There? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Accreditation Basics and How Do I Get There? 2008 AACS Spring Management Conference
Scottsdale, Arizona
March 30-31, 2008 Prepared by: Joanne Rose-Johnson, President
Educational Advisors Inc.
joanne@edadvisors.com | www.edadvisors.com
Presenters :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Presenters Joann Zakarin, President, Advanced Training, and COE Commissioner
Phillip Stewart, Chairman, NACCAS
Dr. Paul Bott, Paul Bott Associates, and Vice-Chairman, ACCSCT
Objectives :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Objectives Overview of Accreditation – What it is, Why Become Accredited, How to become Accredited
Overviews of COE, NACCAS and ACCSCT
Introduction to the Self-Evaluation Report
Social Responsibility of being an Accredited Institution
Traps that schools fall into while going through accreditation
What is Accreditation? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. What is Accreditation? Accreditation is a process of assisting private career schools and colleges to become stronger and better institutions by setting standards of educational quality.
It is a self-analysis and continuous improvement which through voluntary association with others helps educational institutions improve the quality of their programs.
The process is voluntary and is an earned status.
Why would an institution want to become accredited? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Why would an institution want to become accredited? Signifies a level of meeting standards of educational quality
Provides access to students for federally funded financial aid.
Recognition by other academic institutions and employers.
What are the Main Attributes of Accreditation? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. What are the Main Attributes of Accreditation? Voluntary Process
Schools agree voluntarily to meet the standards and participate in the process
Self-Analysis
Critical Component
Requires honest assessment of strengths and weaknesses
Peer Review
Continuous Monitoring
:©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Accreditation is a threshold requirement for eligibility for Federal Student Aid programs Accreditation
and Federal Student Aid
Steps to Federal Student Aid Eligibility :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Steps to Federal Student Aid Eligibility State Approval (Licensure)
Accreditation
Institutional Eligibility for Federal Student Aid (Separate Process)
What is the process to become accredited? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. What is the process to become accredited? Determine the accrediting agency best suited for your institution
Review agency standards to determine eligibility
ProcessofAccreditation :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. ProcessofAccreditation
How do I know which agency is right for my institution? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. How do I know which agency is right for my institution? Considerations
Recognition
Institutional/Program
Eligibility Requirements
Scope
Geographic
Subject Matter
Membership
Resources
Staffing
Website
Materials
Responsiveness
:©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. The institution should review the agency’s scope of recognition by the DOE to determine what agency best serves their academic profile. Example: An institution offering only cosmetology programs would likely find a best fit with NACCAS, COE or ACCSCT.
Evaluate current programs and plans for future expansion.
Accreditation Organizations“Big 7” :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Accreditation Organizations“Big 7” ABHES – www.abhes.org
ACCET – www.accet.org
ACCSCT – www.accsct.org
ACICS – www.acics.org
COE – www.council.org
DETC – www.detc.org
NACCAS – www.naccas.org
Slide 14 :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. While each agency has established their own set of guidelines and procedures, all follow standards consistent with quality, improvement and accountability as set forth by the United States Department of Education. While each agency’s standards may be stated differently, they all focus on the following areas:
Slide 15 :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Institutional Mission and Objectives
Management and Administrative Capability, Operations
Financial Structure and Soundness
Admissions and Recruitment Policies and Practices
Educational Programs, Equipment, Faculty (Qualifications), Professional Development, Instructional Space and Facilities
Institutional Effectiveness and Planning
Outcomes (Retention, Placement, Licensure Rates)
Constituent Input (Students, Graduates, Employers, Advisory Boards)
What is the Cost of Accreditation? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. What is the Cost of Accreditation? Approximate Agency Costs:
Accreditation Workshop $500 (does not include travel and associated costs)
Pre-Application $500- $1200
Application $500- $1300
Visit fee $5000 ++
Additional Costs:
Manpower Costs
Outside Specialist Costs (Attorneys, CPAs, Accreditation Consultants)
Audits/Reviews of Financial Statements
Facility/Educational Resources/Curriculum Improvement Costs
How should I plan for accreditation? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. How should I plan for accreditation? Planning and Expectations
Understand your mission and goals for growth and development.
Accreditation is part of the journey not the whole journey
Get Educated
Plan, Plan, Plan
Document, Document, Document
Research Accreditation Carefully :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Research Accreditation Carefully Start with the Standards
Complete Internal Compliance Study
Anticipate changes and costs (faculty, personnel, resource materials).
Develop a Plan and Timeline
Consider eligibility requirements such as
In scope
2 years in operation as a licensed institution
At least one graduate from the longest program
Two years of reviewed financial statements demonstrating soundness
How long does the process take? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. How long does the process take? Anywhere from 12-18 months
Factors:
Knowledge of Process
Quality of Submissions
Flexibility
Follow Up
Willingness to Change
Financials
Where do schools run into obstacles? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. Where do schools run into obstacles? Unclear Mission
Weak or improperly prepared financial statements
Poor planning
Lack of follow-up
Lack of involvement
How Should I Plan for Accreditation? :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. How Should I Plan for Accreditation? DO
Do the Process Well
(Staff Training) DOCUMENT
If “it” isn’t documented,
“it” did not occur DEMONSTRATE
Prepare to Demonstrate Performance
(Student Outcomes)
COECouncil on Occupational Education :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. COECouncil on Occupational Education Targeted postsecondary institutional accredited members include:
Public technical education institutions
Private non-profit and for-profit job preparation (vocational) schools
Job Corps Centers
Military technical training centers
National defense schools
Federal agency institutions
Corporate and Industry training units
Approves programs through the associate degree level.
Next Accreditation Workshop: July 10-11, 2008
San Antonio, TX
Slide 23 :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. A national agency for the institutional accreditation of postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences.
Next accreditation workshop: May 9-10, 2008 - Las Vegas, NV NACCAS National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
ACCSCT Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. ACCSCT Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology Accredits schools with programs up to masters degrees. School must be able to demonstrate that students have been training at the institution for at least two consecutive years, and that the longest program offered at the time of application has had a graduating class.
Institutions may apply for accreditation if their primary objective is vocational training. Eligible institutions must be postsecondary, proprietary (or nonprofit) institutions that are licensed by the state in which they are located.
Next Accreditation Workshop: July 10-11, 2008 – Arlington, VA
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: :©2008 Educational Advisors Inc. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Educational Advisors Inc.
(562) 436-3900 – joanne@edadvisors.com
www.edadvisors.com
ACCSCT
(703) 247-4212 – www.accsct.org
COE
(770) 396-3898 – www.council.org
NACCAS
(703) 600-7600 – www.naccas.org