| by Christopher C. Walck, Associate
Chief Executive Officer/Director of Accreditation
In my last article we reviewed Standard I, Criterion
5 that requires a school to obtain feedback from current
students, graduates, and employers of graduates, as
well as compiling the school's completion, licensure,
and placement rates. The information obtained is required
to be assessed by the school's staff and advisory committee.
Once the school has completed this requirement, a school
needs to develop a written plan for improvement, as
required by Standard I, Criterion 6.
Criterion 6 states:
The institution must use its evaluations of effectiveness
obtained in Criterion 5 for formulating and implementing
plans to maintain and improve educational programs and
student support services.
What are the major reasons a school receives a limitation
under Criterion 6?
-
The school has not developed a written plan for
improvement.
-
The school has developed a written plan for improvement,
however, the plan does not correlate with the assessment
of the school's feedback or outcome rates obtained
in Criterion 5.
-
The school has developed a written plan for improvement,
however there is no documentation that the school
has implemented the plan.
How detailed does my improvement plan need to be and
what does it need to cover?
The improvement plan needs to show that the school
and its advisory committee have considered the feedback
received from current students, graduates, and employers
of graduates, as well as the school's outcome rates.
If the school has received positive comments on its
surveys, and all of the school's rates meet or exceed
NACCAS' thresholds, the plan may simply indicate that
the school is meeting its objectives and that no plans
for improvement will be taken at this time.
On the other hand, if the school has received suggestions
for improvement on its surveys, or if the school's rates
fall below or near the Commission's thresholds, then
the school's plan should demonstrate that the school
and its advisory Committee have reviewed and addressed
these areas of concern. If the school decides not to
address any of the concerns cited, the school should
document why the issue(s) will not be addressed.
Please note that a school is not required to adopt
changes to each area of concern. However, on those areas
of concern not addressed by the school there should
be documentation in the form of either staff or advisory
Committee minutes to show why no action will be taken
regarding the issue.
When developing your plan for improvement, if you have
any questions, please contact the NACCAS accreditation
staff for assistance.
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