by Christopher C. Walck, Associate Chief Executive Officer/Director of Accreditation

The first article addressing the most frequently cited Criterion for 2003 concerns Criteria 5, 6, and 7 of Standard I. The three criteria have been linked together since each builds upon the other to complete an overall evaluation of the school and its educational programs.

First, Standard I, Criterion 5 requires a school to evaluate the effectiveness of its programs based on a review of the school's completion, placement, and licensure rates and comments and suggestions regularly solicited from current students, graduates, and employers of graduates.

Why do schools receive a limitation under criterion 5?

• The school does not evaluate both its outcome rates and feedback yearly.
  
• The school does not conduct surveys of its current students, graduates, or employers of graduates.
  
• The school may collect the rates and feedback, however, they do not assess the information. Or if the school does in fact assess its rates and feedback, the school does not document the outcome of the meeting(s).

Second, Standard I, Criterion 6 is the next step in the process of evaluation that requires the school to develop a written plan based on the evaluation of its outcome rates, and feedback from relevant constituencies.

Why do schools receive a limitation under Criterion 6?

• If a school receives a limitation under Criterion 5, the school will also receive a limitation under Criterion 6. In order to develop an improvement plan the school must have obtained feedback from current students, graduates, and employers of graduates; compiled its completion, licensure, and placement rates; and assessed the information. If any part of Criterion 5 is not completed, a school's plan for improvement would be incomplete.
  
• If the school does not develop or implement a plan for improvement a limitation will be cited.

Third, Standard I, Criterion 7 is the final step in the process of the evaluation of a school and its educational programs by having an independent third party review and comment on the school. Criterion 7 requires a school to form an advisory committee, have an advisory meeting at least once a year, and to review the school's curriculum; facilities, supplies, and equipment; outcome rates; and student support services.

Why do schools receive a limitation under criterion 7?

• Frequently, schools will have an established advisory committee, however the committee has not met within the last year.
  
• The advisory committee may not be comprised of industry representatives and employers from each of the fields for which training is provided by the school.
  
• The advisory committee may have met, but not discussed all of the areas required under items a-d.

As you can see, these criteria build upon each other.

What resources does NACCAS have to help me in complying with these criteria?

• The Standards and Policies Committee has developed guidelines to assist schools in complying with Criteria 5 and 7, as follows: Guidelines for Assessing Follow-Up Surveys and Outcome Rates (Criterion 5 – page 216 of the 2004 NACCAS Handbook) and Advisory Committee Guidelines (Criterion 7 – page 215 of the 2004 NACCAS Handbook).
  
• You can contact the NACCAS office and speak with an Accreditation Specialist, come to the NACCAS office in Alexandria, Virginia and meet with an Accreditation Specialist, or you can e-mail us, (a directory of staff e-mail addresses is located on our web-site at www.naccas.org or in the front of the NACCAS Handbook).
  
• You can request a consultation session at an Accreditation Workshop with either the Commissioner Consultant or a NACCAS staff person.

Always remember, we are only a telephone call or e-mail away if you have questions or need help.