Happy Holidays!
ACOTE® met virtually in December. Highlights from the meeting include:
2018 STANDARDS INTERPRETATIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
Standard C.1.9. Level I Fieldwork
The Commission on Education (COE) presented a question to ACOTE regarding using virtual-based simulations to meet the instructional methods for Standard C.1.9. After a lengthy discussion, ACOTE® concluded that virtual-based simulation is acceptable to meet the instructional methods for Standard C.1.9. An interpretative guide has been added to the 2018 Standards clarifying the use of virtual-based simulations for Standard C.1.9. Level I Fieldwork and a definition of virtual environments has been included in the glossary.
Virtual Environments – An environment in which communication occurs by means of airwaves and/or digital platforms in the absence of physical contact. The virtual context includes simulated, augmented reality, or real-world environments, transmitted through information and communication technologies, in real-time, near-time, or store-and-forward/asynchronous methods.
C.1.0. Fieldwork Education
Commonly asked questions and answers regarding fieldwork education have been posted on the website under “News”. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Accreditation Department with questions at accred@aota.org or click “contact us” on our website (www.acoteonline.org).
POLICY CHANGES AND CLARIFICATION
ACOTE® Policy IV.B.1. Additions or Changes
If programs are using a hybrid approach for spring 2021, a combination of distance education and face-to-face classes, programs do NOT need to submit a minor change request to ACOTE®; however, they will have to report these changes on the 2021 Annual Report.
ACOTE® Policy IV.E.5. Annual Reports to ACOTE®
You should have received an email from Sue Graves informing you that the Annual Report Word template is available in the Forms page of the ACOTE® website. The Annual Report in the e-Accreditation portal will open in January.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
On-site Visits
All scheduled on-site visits are virtual through March 2021. Programs will be notified if their visit will be conducted virtually 3 months prior to their on-site visit. Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility.
RESOURCES
- Past newsletters can be found at acoteonline.org under “NEWS.”
- Webinars related to the ACOTE Standards are located at: https://myaota.aota.org/InstitutionUserRegistration.aspx?id=000004305326
GENTLE REMINDERS
- Please continue updating 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 acoteonline.org. Updates to these documents are reported on the ACOTE® website after each ACOTE® meeting.
Please submit all questions to accred@aota.org to ensure your questions are answered promptly.
