ACCSC Webinar Series:
A Conversation with the Executive Director
July 30, 2013
Dr. Michale S. McComis
Christopher Lambert
Executive Director
Associate Executive Director
Webinar Logistics
• There may be a slight pause between slide transitions
• The slideshow is interactive
• Includes hyperlinks to various websites, forms, and Alerts referenced in
the webinar.
• TEXT heavy slides: Designed to Serve as a Resource for Schools
• Please feel free to ask your questions by typing them into the webinar platform
system.
• Staff will do our very best to answer all questions, either during, or after,
the webinar.
• If you have an “institution specific” question, for example on your credit
hour calculations, engaging with staff offline via email/phone is the best
scenario.
• A copy of the webinar will be made available at www.accsc.org under Events/
Webinars Section
• A copy of the slides will be made available online
• Opportunity to share this information with your staff for ongoing training
and development.
Agenda
• Update on ACCSC Standards and Policies
•
The July 1, 2013 Accreditation Alert
• 2013 Annual Report
•
What Every ACCSC-Accredited Institution Needs to Know
• An update on the Commission’s External Affairs
Activities
• Member Services:
•
The 2013 ACCSC Professional Development Conference
Update on ACCSC Standards and
Policies:
The July 1, 2013 Accreditation Alert
July 1, 2013 Accreditation Alert
Announcements
•
Reminder – Stay Connected to ACCSC Through Social
Media
•
Reminder – ACCSC Graduate Letter Available for
Download
•
Call for Nominations for Nominating Committee
Members
•
New Policy – Independent Third-Party Employment
Verification
Click here to download the July 1, 2013 Alert.
July 1, 2013 Accreditation Alert
•
Reminder – Stay Connected to ACCSC Through Social
Media
Last year the Commission announced that ACCSC had established a Facebook page
and a Twitter account in order to disseminate important information regarding
ACCSC, changes to accreditation policies or standards, and important
announcements.
The intent is to reach a far broader audience – beyond the school managers with
contact information on file with ACCSC
The Commission strongly believes that the more individuals who are knowledgeable
about the ACCSC-accreditation process, the greater the opportunity for institutions
to continuously improve and maintain on-going compliance with accrediting
standards.
Click here to download the July 1, 2013 Alert.
July 1, 2013 Accreditation Alert
Reminder – ACCSC Graduate Letter Available for Download
ACCSC issued a letter that schools may download and distribute to graduates upon
completion of their program of study. The intent of the letter is
1)
2)
to congratulate graduates on the successful completion of their programs of
study and
to encourage graduates to maintain contact with their institutions and to
report on their successes in finding employment, need for employment
assistance, or to provide feedback regarding the education and training
received.
The hope is to assist schools in building on existing connections with graduates for
the purposes of strengthening employment reporting.
The ACCSC Graduation Letter can be downloaded from the ACCSC website or
by clicking here.
July 1, 2013 Accreditation Alert
Call for Nominations for Nominating Committee Members
• ACCSC is seeking the nomination of individuals from its
membership of accredited institutions to stand for election to the
Nominating Committee which plays an important role in vetting
and recommending candidates to stand for election as an ACCSC
Commissioner.
• The Bylaws require the election of one (1) school member
representative each year to the Nominating Committee.
Individuals interested in standing for election to the ACCSC
Nominating Committee should complete the Nomination Form
return it to the Commission office no later than August 1, 2013.
July 1, 2013 Accreditation Alert
New Policy – Independent Third-Party Employment Verification
In 2011 ACCSC began engaging an independent third-party to verify the
employment data submitted by schools selected as part of the annual random
sample of the Annual Reports, which has been a successful monitoring
mechanism.
The Commission has decided to implement an independent third-party
employment verification requirement as part of the initial and renewal of
accreditation process.
The purpose of the requirement is
a) to assess the school’s compliance with Section VII (B)(1)(b), Substantive
Standards, Standards of Accreditation and whether the school has “verifiable”
records of employment and
b) to ensure that the institution’s records can be relied upon in making
decisions about a school’s compliance with the Commission’s student
achievement standards and benchmarks.
The Independent Third-Party Employment Data Verification
policy will go into effect for all schools that attend an initial
or renewal workshop after January 1, 2014.
• The Commission’s new policy will require that initial and renewal applicants
engage an independent third-party auditor to verify the school’s most
recently reported employment data that will be used for the on-site
evaluation process.
• The Commission, at this time, has identified two independent third-party
employment data verification auditors that the Commission’s has deemed
meet the definition of “independent.”
• If a school chooses to use a different independent third-party employment
verification auditor, that auditor must meet the following tests to be
considered an “Independent” Third-Party.
• The Commission is working earnestly to revise the Initial/Renewal of
Accreditation Applications and Self-Evaluation Report to include this new
requirement and the new forms will be posted to the website in advance of
January 1, 2014.
July 1, 2013 Accreditation Alert
Revisions
• Appendix I – Accreditation Fees, Substantive Standards,
Standards of Accreditation
• Appendix II – Application, Reports, and Forms,
Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation:
Instructions for the Preparation and Submission of
Financial Statements and related Information.
Click here to download the July 1, 2013 Alert.
Appendix I – Accreditation Fees, Substantive Standards,
Standards of Accreditation.
Current ACCSC Fee
New ACCSC Fee
$500
$750
$1,000
$1,000
$500
$750
$250/$375
$1,000
$1,000
$500
Facility Expansion Report
No Fee
$250
Application for a Branch Campus-Part I
$1,000
$1,250
Application for a Branch Campus-Part II
$1,000
$1,250
Application for a New Non-Degree Program
 Related Program
 Unrelated Program
Application for a New Non-Degree Program
– Affiliated Schools
 1st School Related Program
 1st School Unrelated Program
 Affiliated Schools (R/U)
Change of Ownership
Annual Report Processing Fee†
$2,000 Main/$2,000 Branch
No Fee
Transactions $5 million or Less: $3,000
Main /$1,500 branch;
Transactions Greater than $5 million:
$5,000 Main /$1,500 branch
$100.00
Appendix II –Instructions for the Preparation and
Submission of Financial Statements and related Information.
The Commission has made revisions to the Instructions for the Preparation and
Submission of Financial Statements and Related Information. The primary changes
include the following:
• A general reorganization and enhanced codification to aid in the clarity of the
instructions.
• The inclusion of an exception to accept financial statements on a cash-basis of
accounting from public institutions whose oversight authority prepares the
institution’s financial statements on the cash-basis of accounting and when the
financial statements are accepted by all other applicable regulatory agencies with
oversight responsibility in this area.
• The inclusion of language from Section V (E)(1), Rules of Process and Procedure,
Standards of Accreditation, which states that the school must notify ACCSC – in
writing and within 10 calendar days of the event’s occurrence – of any material
event or circumstance that could affect the school’s financial status.
Accreditation SPOTLIGHT
Section V (E), Rules of Process and Procedure,
Standards of Accreditation
Section V, Rules of Process and Procedure,
Standards of Accreditation
Each accredited school and each applicant for initial accreditation must notify
ACCSC of any material event or circumstance that could affect the school’s
operations, policies, staff, curricula, reputation, approval status or authority to
operate as a legal entity, or financial status.
Such notification must be in writing, made within 10 calendar days of the event’s
occurrence, and is in addition to disclosures that are required in the applications for
initial or renewal of accreditation or any substantive change report.
Material events or circumstances necessitating such notification include but are not
limited to:
• Filings of petitions for bankruptcy or reorganization;
• Destruction of the school or a significant part of its facilities;
• Any limitation, sanction (e.g., probationary status), suspension, or revocation of a
school’s license or right to operate;
• Cessation of teaching;
Member Resources SPOTLIGHT
Section II A (5), Substantive Standards,
Standards of Accreditation
Member Resources: Section II (A)(5),
Substantive Standards, Standards of
Accreditation
Each school has an independent Program Advisory Committee for
each occupational program or each group of related occupational
programs
The purpose of the Program Advisory Committee is to review the
established curricula of the program, instructional-related program
materials, equipment and facilities, and student achievement
outcomes as a means to provide the school with an external review
of its programs.
Program Advisory Committees must be comprised of appropriately
qualified representatives external to the institution (i.e., nonschool
employees) who can provide a meaningful review of the school’s
programs and supporting resources and materials.
Member Resources: Section II (A)(5)(d),
Substantive Standards, Standards of
Accreditation
At least two regularly scheduled meetings must be conducted
annually, one of which must be held at the school.
Written and detailed minutes of each meeting must be maintained
and include a description of all members in attendance (i.e., titles
and affiliations); the date, time, and location of the meeting; and a
comprehensive and clear description of the review of and
commentary made by the school representatives and the
Program Advisory Committee members.
Taking Effective
Minutes
Taking Effective Minutes
The staff assigned to take the minutes should have a strong understanding of the
program in question and not simply an administrative staff person with no real
understanding of the program (terminology/acronyms, etc.)
Otherwise, the minutes might not accurately reflect the Advisory Boards review
and commentary.
• Did you get the SRC and TLCS from the RTSR regarding the PACR from Q3 that has
been scheduled for the CM?
• What?
Advisory Board meeting minutes serve as the official record of the review and
commentary on the school’s program, objectives, equipment, etc.
•Accordingly, this document is evaluated by the accrediting body in order to
determine compliance with applicable accreditation standards.
•It is crucial that these minutes accurately reflect the substantive nature of the
Advisory Boards review.
Taking Effective Minutes
At a minimum, the minutes from any Advisory Board meeting, whether face to
face, or via telecommunications, must demonstrate a review and commentary of
all required areas, and must show an exchange of ideas and perspectives.
• Incorporate the required elements from Section II (A)(5), Substantive Standards,
Standards of Accreditation onto the agenda
Too often, the minutes are vague and unclear and do not afford the Commission
with an opportunity to evaluate the school’s efforts in this regard.
Avoid Generalizations:
Equipment is in good shape, facilities are clean, graduate employment is strong,
curriculum is comprehensive.
Respectfully Submitted,
Beyond compliance, it makes sense, given all of the effort, time, and energy that
went into recruiting Advisory Board members, scheduling meetings, and ensuring
a strong turn-out, that the minutes accurately reflect the Advisory Board’s review.
Track 4 - CAREER SERVICES
August 1, 2013
9:15 am – 10:30 am
Session 1: “Creating Effective Advisory Boards” The opportunity to obtain input,
feedback, and ideas from employers with a vested interest in the success of
graduates is a crucial component to the growth and improvement of any
postsecondary institution.
This session will discuss how Advisory Committees can play a critical role in
helping an institution structure and improve their program offerings and services
by ensuring that the established curriculum, program objectives, and equipment
stay relevant to today’s dynamic workplace.
Member Resources
Webinar: Maximizing Program Advisory
Committees
Slides
Understanding the Role of Program Advisory Committees
Identifying and Recruiting PAC Members
Planning for a Successful Meeting
Maintaining and Improving Program Advisory Committee
Effectiveness
• Retaining, Rewarding, and Recognizing Members
• How to Respond to a Commission Action
•
•
•
•
2013 ACCSC Annual Report:
What Every ACCSC Accredited
Institution Should Know
2013 ACCSC Annual Report:
What Every ACCSC Accredited Institution Should Know
The electronic submission of the 2013 ACCSC Annual Report is required
for all ACCSC-accredited institutions (Main School and Branch) that
received accreditation prior to July 1, 2013 and is due on or before
October 30, 2013.
Passwords utilized by institutions to access the 2012 Annual Report are
still in effect and should be used to access the 2013 Annual Report.
• Passwords for schools completing the Annual Report for the first time
in 2013 were emailed in early July.
It is important to note that failure to submit a complete Annual Report
by the October 30, 2013 due date will result in a $500.00 late fee
assessment and may result in a Commission action such as a Show Cause
Order or other action as afforded to the Commission under ACCSC's
Rules.
2013 ACCSC Annual Report:
What Every ACCSC Accredited Institution Should Know
• New for 2013: ACCSC established a $100 AR processing fee to cover
costs associated with processing and analyzing Annual Report data and
conducting an annual independent third-party employment data
verification audit of a random sample of Annual Reports.
• The Annual Report fee will be part of the annual sustaining fees.
• Schools should take the time to update the school director name and
the official correspondence names and e-mail addresses in the School
Info tab since ACCSC will send official correspondence, these e-mail
addresses.
• These updates can be done throughout the year (beyond October
2013)
• Plus, don’t forget to sign up for our Twitter & Facebook accounts.
2013 ACCSC Annual Report:
What Every ACCSC Accredited Institution Should Know
• Keep in mind, the programs listed in the Annual Report reflect the
names, clock hours and credit hours as of June 30, 2013. Any
modifications after this time will be reflected in next year’s Annual
Report.
• In order to submit to successfully complete the Annual Report, the
total number of students enrolled as of June 30, 2013 in the combined
Program Enrollment Summaries must equal the total enrollments as of
June 30, 2013 in the Annual Report section.
• Therefore, it might be better to complete the Program Enrollment
Summaries first and come back to the Annual Report section.
For additional assistance or information, please contact the Commission
office at (703) 247-4212 and ask to speak with a member of our 2013
Annual Report Support Team or by sending an e-mail.
External Affairs Update
• Testimony in Front of the House
Subcommittee on Higher Education and
Workforce Training
• Negotiated Rulemaking: Gainful
Employment
• ACCSC On the Road
House Subcommittee on Higher Education and
Workforce Training Hearing
• “Keeping College Within Reach: Discussing Program Quality Through
Accreditation”
“…expectations of accreditors by the federal government are changing,
such that accreditors are subject to far greater federal oversight than at any
time in the past.”
MACRO ISSUES
•
•
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•
•
•
Outcomes
Accreditation Areas of Focus
Transparency
Transfer of Credit
Credit Hour Definition and Clock Hour Conversion
Changing Accreditors
MICRO ISSUES
• Appeals Process
• Substantive Change
Negotiated Rulemaking: Gainful Employment
On June 12, 2013, the Department published a notice in the
Federal Register announcing our intention to establish a
negotiated rulemaking committee to prepare proposed regulations
to establish standards for programs that prepare students for
gainful employment in a recognized occupation.
Only July 9, 2013, the national institutional accreditation community,
in order to fairly represent the interests and responsibilities of
accreditation, nominated
negotiators:
• Primary Negotiator: Dr. Michale McComis,ACCSC
• Secondary Negotiator: Dr.Albert Gray, ACICS
…we strongly believe that they will fairly represent the interests and
responsibilities of accrediting agencies in the essential collaborative
approach of the negotiated rule-making process.
ACCSC On-the-Road
• Pennsylvania Association of Private School
Administrators Annual Conference
• August 1, 2013 Educational Breakout Session:
Creating Effective Advisory Boards
• California Association of Private Postsecondary
Schools Annual Conference (Oct 9-11)
• Accreditor’s Panel
• Career Colleges and Schools of Texas Annual
Conference (Oct 2-4)
• Best Practices in Accreditation Session
• Member Forum
Focus on Member Services
• The 2013 Professional Development
Conference
Focus on Member Services
Professional Development Conference
September 11-13, 2013
Gaylord National – Washington. DC
Program is FINAL
• Focus on Best Practices of High Performing Institutions
• Student Services, Career Services, Enriching Curriculum, Employment
Verification
• Hear Directly from the Leadership at ACCSC
• Preparing for a ACCSC Visit, Preparing an Effective Response for
Commission Consideration, Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
• Key Note Speaker
• Dr. David Longanecker, Western Interstate Commission on Higher
Education
• Award Ceremony / Networking Reception
• Recognition of Graduate of the Year, Commitment to Education,
Community Service, Schools of Distinction, and Schools of Excellence
Online Member Forum:
Questions & Answers
ACCSC Webinar Series:
A Conversation with the Executive Director
July 30, 2013
Dr. Michale S. McComis
Christopher Lambert
Executive Director
Associate Executive Director