| How large will the team be for the probation visit? |
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The Board of Examiners team for your visit should be the same size as your previous continuing accreditation visit unless you have added a degree level or off-campus programs since that visit. The size of the team will be determined by the guidelines in the Handbook for Accreditation Visits. |
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| Can we schedule our probation visit earlier than our NCATE action letter indicated? |
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| Yes, if you have addressed all of the areas for improvement from the previous visit, you may schedule the visit earlier than indicated in the NCATE action letter. Remember that the BOE team will be looking for evidence that you continue to meet the standards that you met last time. To change the semester of your visit, contact Marva Atwater or ncate@ncate.org. |
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| Will our probation visit be like our previous continuing visit? |
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| No, the procedures for a probation visit are the same as a regular continuing visit. The only difference is the BOE team does not receive a copy of your previous NCATE action report that identifies the areas for improvement that were cited at the last visit. The team will look for evidence that all standards are being met and should not focus on the previous areas for improvement. You should plan to host a previsit with the team chair and appropriate state representatives (e.g., the state consultant and state team co-chair). The institutional report should include an overview of the institution and address the indicators of the conceptual framework and the elements of all six standards. The BOE team will prepare a BOE report that provides its observations on the conceptual framework and the six standards. |
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| How does the transition plan affect the probation visit? |
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| NCATE’s transition plan requires that assessment systems be fully implemented by fall 2005 visits. Therefore, you will be expected to be implementing your assessment system at a different level than at your previous visit. You should be collecting, aggregating, and analyzing the data from the multiple assessments used to determine that candidates are performing at the levels expected to meet professional, state, and institutional standards. |
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| Do we need to submit program reports again for our probation visit? |
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| You may be required to submit some program reports for national review if your state partnership requires program submission. Program reports must be submitted the semester before the visit (on February 1 or September 15) for all programs that were not nationally recognized as part of the previous visit. (National recognition with conditions is considered nationally recognized.) An institution that is not required to submit program reports may voluntarily submit one or more program reports at this time if it chooses to have its programs nationally recognized. |
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| Where can we find assistance to help us remove the probation? |
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NCATE facilitates a session at the AACTE annual meeting for institutions that have been placed on probation or have conditions or provisions. Representatives from institutions that have removed probation, conditions, or provisions discuss how they addressed the negative perceptions of their stakeholders after the Unit Accreditation Board decision and the steps they took to ensure they would not lose their accreditation.
Some institutions choose to use consultants to assist them in preparing for the next visit. AACTE has a pool of consultants who work with institutions seeking accreditation for the first time. You may want to contact Mary Beth Nowinski at AACTE for recommendations.
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| Do we need to plan a previsit with the team chair and state representatives? |
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| Yes, NCATE strongly encourages that you host a previsit with the team chair and appropriate state representatives (i.e., the state consultant and state team co-chair). The previsit will allow you a chance to discuss the logistics for the on-site visit with the team chair and plan all of the details related to the visit. You should make sure the team chair and state representatives receive the institutional report before the previsit. During the previsit, you should show the team chair how you are organizing the exhibits electronically or in an exhibit room. Team chairs often have very helpful suggestions about making the exhibits easily accessible to team members. |
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| Will state team members be included on this visit? |
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| You will have to check with your state consultant to determine whether state team members will be included on the on-site visit. Some states assign a few state team members to the team. Others assign a full state team, and others do not assign state members to the probation visit. The state’s decision may depend on the action of the state agency following the previous NCATE/state visit. |
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| What are our obligations in terms of representing our accreditation status to our candidates and to the public? |
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This information is provided in NCATE’s policy, "Representation of NCATE Accreditation to the Public". If assistance is needed in communicating accreditation information to candidates or to the public, please contact NCATE's communications department.
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| Who do I contact if I have questions about the NCATE standards or procedures for my upcoming visit? |
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Annual reports and other NCATE data: Tech Support
BOE training, scheduling, and BOE team member contactc: Marva Atwater
BOE reports and general accreditation questions: Patty Garvin and Mary Anne Kirkland
Institutional orientations: conference@ncate.org
Program reports and review process, and recognition status of programs: Margie Crutchfield.
Standards and the accreditation process: Boyce Williams, Antoinette Mitchell, or Donna Gollnick |
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