ACCSC Webinar Series: A Conversation with the Executive DirectorJuly 17, 2012

Dr. Michale S. McComis

Executive Director

Christopher LambertDirector of External

Affairs

• There may be a slight pause between slide transitions• This webinar is interactive (online links)

• 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• Yes, a copy of the slides will be made available online as

well.• Provide this information to your staff for ongoing training

and development.

 

Webinar Logistics

• An update on the Commission’s Membership Services Activities• New Website• Student Corner• ACCSC Graduation Letter

• Social Media: ACCSC Launches Facebook / Twitter Pages

• Expanding Our Team: Director of Member Services / Volunteer Coordinator / Institutional Review Assistant

• Revisions to the Standards of Accreditation• Student Achievement Rates: Placement• Catalog Disclosures: Definition of a Credit Hour

Agenda

• An Overview of the 6th Annual Professional Development Conference• September 10-12, 2012 – San Diego, California

• 2012 ACCSC Annual Report: Portal is LIVE

• ACCSC: On the Road…

• Online Member Forum

---------------------------------

 

Agenda

New Website

• One of ACCSC’s areas of focus has been on the Commission’s use of its website and other media in order to ensure transparency and effective communication with member institutions and others interested in the ACCSC-accreditation process. As part of this effort, the Commission recently undertook a comprehensive overhaul of its website, both in terms of content and design. 

• The result is one that the Commission believes enhances access to and understanding of information regarding ACCSC accreditation.

 

New Website

ACCSC has 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)to congratulate graduates on the successful completion of their programs of study and

1)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.

Graduation Letter

• Why is accreditation important?

• What is the value of attending an ACCSC-accredited institution?

Fundamental MessageWhen you attend an ACCSC-accredited institution, you are

attending a school that has undergone a rigorous process that evaluates educational quality.

Student Corner

Social Media

• In addition, the Commission has established a Facebook page and a Twitter account in order to disseminate important information regarding ACCSC accreditation.

• The intent is to reach a far broader audience when announcing new or revised standards or policies, Commission actions, and training and professional development opportunities.

• 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.

 

Social Media

Expanding Our Team

New Positions

Director of Member Services•Develop and conduct broad-based programs that will enhance the value of membership using electronic and other media (e.g., webinars, workshops, etc.).•Communicate and report on membership success stories and activities.

Volunteer Coordinator•Recruit qualified individuals to serve as volunteers for onsite evaluations; •Develop and conduct initial and on-going volunteer training;•Oversee the scheduling processes for volunteers;

Institutional Review and Development Assistant•Administrative support for the IRD Department

• Branches, Program Approvals, Changes of Ownership, Name, Location, etc.

Building Our Bench

Accreditation Coordinator(s)•Allison Price

 

Expanding Our Team

Revisions to the Standards of Accreditation

June 29, 2012 Accreditation Alert

Revisions to the Catalog Checklist

Credit Hour Resources

• April 13, 2012 Accreditation Alert• Read about the Commission’s Definition of a Credit Hour• Read about the program approval process• Read about the approval process for avocational/continuing education

programs.• Under Accreditation / Accreditation Alerts at www.accsc.org.

• April 30, 2012 Webinar• Hear from ACCSC’s Executive Director as he explains the Commission’s

Definition of a Credit Hour, the approval process, expectations, and some interesting questions from the membership.• Under Events / Webinars at www.accsc.org

• Contact ACCSC• Engage with the Commission’s staff regarding any questions you have with

respect to the application of the Commission’s Definition of a Credit Hour.

• As stated in the May 10, 2010 Accreditation Alert, the Commission, established a benchmark employment rate of 70% based on Annual Report data from 2006 through 2008 and indicated its understanding that economic conditions could impede the ability of some programs in attaining that benchmark in the post 2008 economy.

• The Commission has now reviewed data reported for the period 2009 through 2011 and found that while graduation rates have not changed significantly, the data show a marked decrease in reported employment rates, which has affected the average employment rate for this period.

• As such, the Commission has not made changes to the graduation rate benchmarks, but has acted to modify the employment rate benchmark to 66% in alignment with the data collected for this three-year period of time.

• The 66% rate is in effect for all Graduation and Employment Charts that use a July 2012 Report Date or later.

 

Student Achievement Rates

• Please be advised that the Commission intends to revisit the employment data in 2013 and may return the benchmark employment rate to 70% or establish some other appropriate rate.

• Moreover, in adjusting the Commission’s benchmark employment rate to 66%, the Commission will also accordingly adjust its tolerance for programs that report below-benchmark rates.

• While the Commission will continue to provide institutions with opportunities to demonstrate successful student achievement and improvement in this area, the Commission will take decisive action to direct institutions to cease enrollment or to revoke approval for those programs that do not demonstrate successful student achievement.

 

Student Achievement Rates

2012 Professional Development Conference

September 10-12, 2012Omni San Diego HotelSan Diego, California

Visit www.accsc.org for more information.

Registration is LIVE for the 2012 ACCSC Professional Development Conference

2012 ACCSC Annual Report

The electronic submission of the 2012 ACCSC Annual Report is required for all ACCSC-accredited institutions (Main School and Branch) that received accreditation prior to July 1, 2012 and is due on or before November 6, 2012.

Should you need assistance, please contact the Commission office at (703) 247-4212 and ask to speak with a member of our 2012 Annual Report Support Team or by sending an e-mail.

 

2012 ACCSC Annual Report

On the Road…

• July 25-26, 2012 – Aventura Florida• Educational Breakout Session with Dr. Michale McComis

• “Accreditation: A Blueprint for Institutional Success”• Thursday, July 26, 2012• 10:30 am – 11:30 am

 

Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and CollegesAnnual Conference

Accreditation Workshop – San Francisco• July 19-20, 2012 – San Francisco, California

• Michale McComis, Chris Lambert, Kris Pritchard, Michelle Ragnetti

Pennsylvania Association of Private School AdministratorsAnnual Conference

• July 25-26, 2012 – Cranberry (Pittsburgh!), Pennsylvania• Chris Lambert

Online Member Forum:Questions & Answers

ACCSC Webinar Series: A Conversation with the Executive DirectorJuly 17, 2012

Dr. Michale S. McComis

Executive Director

Christopher LambertDirector of External

Affairs