2018 STANDARDS CLARIFICATIONS
A.4.2. Publication of Program Outcomes and A.4.3. Publication of ACOTE Information
The Accreditation Department will be checking program websites for compliance. Please ensure your website is current and accurate (see Sample Program Webpage under Resources https://acoteonline.org/accreditation-explained/resources/).
B Content Standards
ACOTE has modified the criteria to demonstrate compliance with the “B Standards”. Programs are no longer required to upload a learning activity. Programs must describe how the program meets the expected outcome for each B Standard in the Narrative. In the “Supporting Material” section, programs must upload evidence (e.g., sample assignment, test question, project, etc.) that the program assesses the student’s ability to meet expected outcomes for each B Standard.
D.1.5. Length of Doctoral Capstone Experience
ACOTE added an interpretive guide to clarify this Standard:
The goal of the doctoral capstone is to provide an in-depth exposure to one or more of the following: clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development. The “mentored practice setting” does not need to be in a physical location but an experience that demonstrates mentored learning experience with in-depth exposure in the student’s designated area of interest.
Glossary
DISTANCE EDUCATION: Education that uses one or more of the technologies listed below to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the faculty and to support regular and substantive interaction (as informed by the Higher Learning Commission https://www.hlcommission.org/General/glossary.html) between the students and the faculty, either synchronously or asynchronously. The technologies that may be used to offer distance education include:
- the internet;
- one-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices;
- audio conference; or
- other media used in a course in conjunction with any of the technologies listed in items 1-3 above.
Distance education is a delivery method used in whole or in part within an academic program regardless of whether face-to-face, on ground or residential option.
The ACOTE Educational Standards Review Committee (ESRC)
The ACOTE Educational Standard Review Committee (ESRC) held its second meeting in August 2022. This committee continues to conduct a complete evaluation and revision of the ACOTE Accreditation Standards for all degree levels. Please continue to send feedback to the Accreditation Department (accred@aota.org) regarding the ACOTE Standards.
POLICY CHANGES AND CLARIFICATIONS
ACOTE POLICY V.B.2. ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS
ACOTE has updated the Policy IV.B.2. Additional Locations (https://acoteonline.org/accreditation-explained/policies/) and has updated the Glossary in the Standards and Interpretive Guide (https://acoteonline.org/accreditation-explained/standards/) regarding distance education. If you have a distance education cohort and/or an additional location, please review the updated policy to ensure continued compliance.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Conversation with ACOTE
ACOTE will be providing program directors, faculty, and other stakeholders an opportunity to have a conversation with ACOTE. The session will be held September 22, 2022, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time. Please register to attend the session here.
Self-Study Workshop
The Self-Study Preparation Workshop is designed to meet the needs of program directors and faculty preparing for an upcoming self-study review and new program directors wanting to understand more about the accreditation process. The workshop includes didactic instruction and interactive sessions with a mock review of sample materials and interviews. Dates and registration information can be found here.
Interim Report Information Session
Back by popular demand! The Accreditation Department will be hosting a series of information sessions starting in January. Stay tuned for specific dates and times.
REMINDERS
- Annual fees are due October 15, 2022 from accredited programs. For new programs, the annual fee becomes effective with the first full academic year for which the program has accreditation status. See the current fee schedule at V.A. Fees (https://acoteonline.org/accreditation-explained/policies/). Invoices for the 2022 annual fees have been e-mailed to program directors. If you have not received your annual fee invoice please contact accred@aota.org.
- Update the program director and faculty licenses in the “FACULTY” tab in the eAccreditation portal.
- It is the responsibility of the program director to remain current with the most recent Standards Interpretive Guide and ACOTE® policies located on www.acoteonline.org. Updates to these documents are reported on the ACOTE® website after each ACOTE® meeting.
RESOURCES
The ACOTE website (www.acoteonline.org) is a valuable resource for information. You can find information on program numbers, past ACOTE actions, past newsletters, frequently asked questions, forms, templates and much more.
The Accreditation Department is also a good resource. Please do not hesitate to contact the accreditation department at accred@aota.org if you have any questions or concerns.
