1 / 22

Accreditation: a two-way street

Accreditation: a two-way street . Beata Schmid, Ph.D. EF International Language Centers Alexandra Zilovic ELS Language Centers. A way to become a top language school: How accreditation can improve your language school. General benefits.

ocean
Télécharger la présentation

Accreditation: a two-way street

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Accreditation: a two-way street Beata Schmid, Ph.D. EF International Language Centers Alexandra Zilovic ELS Language Centers

  2. A way to become a top language school: How accreditation can improve your language school

  3. General benefits • Enhance program quality by meeting minimum standards for the industry • Even the playing field nationally and internationally – most other English-speaking countries require accreditation • Reduce the number of visa mills • Enhanced professional standing for ESL specialists • Independent peer review • Team-building!

  4. Specific benefits • Refine institution’s mission • Better goal setting and planning processes • Better management systems • Documentation and systematic implementation of processes • On-going revision of documents (manuals, etc.) • Better staff qualifications and training • Academic improvements • Better performance measurements • More consistent advertising and promotion • Improved student services • SEVP compliance

  5. Any drawbacks? • Yes, it’s a lot of work, but • Less fire fighting, more planning • Fewer ad hoc decisions and “policies”

  6. Better goal setting and planning • Two of the most cited standards: goals and planning • Forces institution to focus on one-year and more long-term planning • Budget processes • Review of staffing • Evidence of implementation • Communication with other staff members

  7. Finances • Consistent and compliant refund policy • Transparency of financial processes • Better control and checks & balances within the institution

  8. Better management systems • Clear reporting structures • Improved communication and documentation of communication • Better and more consistent record keeping • Policies and procedures for keeping policies and procedures up to date • Updated and streamlined forms

  9. Documentation and systematic implementation of processes • Manuals and handbooks developed and/or updated • On-going revision • Improved systems of communication of implementation to staff • Involvement of staff in development of procedures and documentation • Better filing systems & clean files • SEVP compliance

  10. Staff qualifications and training • Meeting minimum standards can raise overall qualifications • Follow institution’s own guidelines for hiring qualified staff • Up to date job descriptions • Consistent orientation and training procedures • Better and more frequent professional development opportunities • Regular staff evaluations

  11. Academic improvements • Weekly syllabi for teachers and students • More transparency • Uniform lesson planning • Consistent teacher observations; variety in teacher observation (self, peer, supervisor) • Externally validated exit test/level system • Curriculum development and revision systems • More variety of approaches in the classroom (Doc. 19!)

  12. Performance measurement • Rubrics for skills, tests, presentations • Systems for advancing a level and for students repeating a level • Placement test, advancement test(s), final tests • Satisfactory academic progress policy and implementation • Uniform, transparent assessment

  13. Marketing and advertising • More consistency • More languages • Transparency • Improvements to the website

  14. Student Services • Better, more varied housing options • Documented homestay procedures • More varied activities • University placement services • Volunteer opportunities • Language partner programs • Better insights into overall student needs

  15. And most importantly • … a better, more coherent team • … with team members who value each others’ contributions • Increased staff and student satisfaction • Increased business opportunities for accredited institutions • Leadership opportunities identified

  16. Part 2 An opportunity to shape the accreditation process

  17. An opportunity to shape the accreditation process • ACCET founded in 1974 • Mission: “…inspire and promote quality-oriented continuing education and training” • “..We are a voluntary affiliation of organizations committed to self-regulation through independent peer-review and evaluation; and, we aspire to the continuous refinement of our recognition as a valid and reliable authority”

  18. ACCET in 2013 • 25% of all main campus members are IEPs (60 institutions) • 34% of all ACCET accredited sites are IEPs (225 sites) • 3 current commissioners are from IEPs or with IEP background • ACCET Assistant Executive Director with IEP knowledge/background • 3 ACCET staff members have ESL background

  19. Recent IEP specific documents • 3.4 ASER IEP (4/2012) • 3. IEP Template (4/2012) • 18.IEP SAP (12/2012) • 18 IEP SAP Checklist (8/2103) • 31.ESL IEP Refund Policy (4/2010) • 50. I SEVP Compliance Checklist (8/2013)

  20. SPRC Standards and Policy Review Committee Recent IEP Agenda Items: • Satisfactory Academic Policy • Completion standards • IEP Attendance Requirement Policy • Performance measurements-external testing • SEVP Compliance Checklist

  21. Call For Comment • Please review the commission reports • Look for “Call For Comments” section on website and review draft revisions • Please DO send us your comments • They are thoroughly reviewed, discussed and taken into considerations • Your voice counts, but ONLY if you provide it

  22. Accreditation…. IS a two-way street!

More Related