National Association of Industrial Technology

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Accreditation Process
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Purpose of the ATMAE Accreditation Process
Workshop

• Explain the procedures for the ATMAE
  accreditation process

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Why Accreditation?

• The goal of accreditation is to ensure that
  education provided by programs and institutions
  of higher education meets acceptable levels of
  quality.
• Accrediting agencies develop evaluation criteria
  and conduct evaluations to assess whether or not
  those criteria are met.
• Institutions and/or programs that request an
  agencys evaluation and that meet an agencys
  criteria are then accredited by that agency.

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The Value of Accreditation to Stakeholders

• Students accreditation provides a measure of
  educational quality and in many cases, helps
  facilitate a students academic progression,
  including transfer credit from one institution to
  another.

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The Value of Accreditation to Stakeholders

• Lawmakers accreditation provides assurance that
  educational programs are evaluated against
  nationally accepted standards and that program
  graduates are competent for entry into the
  workplace or for advanced practice.

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The Value of Accreditation to Stakeholders

• Educators and Practitioners accreditation
  provides validation of the education program, as
  well as the opportunity for academic
  administrators, faculty and practitioners to
  build consensus on expected learning outcomes and
  graduate competencies.

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The Value of Accreditation to Stakeholders

• Employers accreditation assures prospective
  employers that graduates come from a program or
  school where the content and quality satisfy
  established standards.

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Functions of Accreditation

• Verifies that a program meets established
  standards
• Assists prospective students in identifying
  acceptable institutions
• Assists institutions in determining the
  acceptability of transfer credits
• Helps to identify institutions and programs for
  the investment of public and private funds
• Protects an institution against harmful internal
  and external pressure

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Functions of Accreditation

• Fosters continuous improvement by measuring
  programs against national standards and their own
  stated missions and goals
• Involves the institutions stakeholders or
  communities of interest in institutional
  evaluation and planning
• Sets a competency threshold for regulators to use
  when establishing criteria for entry into
  practice, including eligibility for professional
  certification and/or licensure and
• Provides a sound basis for determining
  eligibility for Federal assistance.

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Mission of ATMAE
The Association of Technology, Management, and
Applied Engineering (ATMAE) is faculty, students,
and industry professionals dedicated to solving
complex technological problems and developing the
competitive technologist and applied engineering
workforce.
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Vision of ATMAE

• The Association of Technology, Management, and
  Applied Engineering (ATMAE) sets standards for
  academic program accreditation, personal
  certification, and professional development for
  educators and industry professionals involved in
  integrating technology, leadership and design.

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Historical Highlights of ATMAE

• 1965 - Initial Meeting at Kent State University
• 1967 - NAIT Incorporated in Ohio
• 1973 - Accreditation Program Approved by COPA
• 1974 - First Four Programs Accredited
• 1982 - NAIT Voluntarily Withdraws from COPA
• 1987 - Four Standing Divisions Approved
• 1989 - Accreditation Program Approved by USDE
• 1990 - NAIT Accredits First Associate Level
  Program
• 1994 - USDE Requires Gatekeeper Status for
  Agencies
• 1997 - Membership in ASPA Approved
• 2002 NAIT Becomes Recognized by CHEA
• 2009 NAIT becomes ATMAE

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Organizational Structure of ATMAE
Executive Board
Four Year Academic Representative
Two Year Academic Representative
Industry Representative
Student Representative
Chair of NIAC
Past Chair Non-Voting
Executive Director Non-Voting
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Purpose of ATMAE Accreditation

• The primary purpose is to provide recognition of
  the attainment of certain professional goals and
  standards for Industrial Technology.
• The secondary purpose is to encourage others to
  strive toward these goals and standards.

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Definition of Industrial Technology (IT)

• Industrial Technology is a field of study
  designed to prepare technical and/or technical
  management-oriented professionals for employment
  in business, industry, education, and government.

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IT Program Components

• Humanities, and social and behavioral sciences,
  including communication skills.
• Mathematics, science, and computer fundamentals.
• Related technical and/or related disciplines such
  as management and marketing.
• Field of specialization.

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Associate Degree Programs

• Shall lead to the Associate Degree.
• Shall be within the ATMAE definition of
  Industrial Technology.
• Shall prepare individuals for positions that
  contribute to the design and development,
  production, distribution, or operational support
  of complex technical systems.

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Examples of Associate Degree Programs

• Examples of program names, in addition to
  Industrial Technology, include
• Manufacturing Technology
• Electronics Technology
• Construction Technology
• Polymer Technology

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Examples of Associate Degree Programs

• Industrial Technology degree programs, designed
  for transfer to the baccalaureate level, are also
  considered

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Baccalaureate Degree Programs

• Shall include at least the junior and senior
  years of instruction.
• Shall be designed to prepare management-oriented
  technical professionals.
• Shall prepare students for technical management
  positions in areas such as industrial planning,
  production, supply, product market research, and
  technical sales.

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Examples ofBaccalaureate Degree Programs

• Examples of program names, in addition to
  Industrial Technology, include
• Computer Aided Design Technology
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing Technology
• Packaging Technology
• Industrial Distribution
• Manufacturing/Production Technology

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Accreditation Authority

• The ATMAE Constitution and Bylaws state the The
  Association shallprovide, through an
  accreditation process, for recognition of the
  attainment of appropriate standards for
  Industrial Technology programs in colleges and
  universities.

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Functional Authority

• The Board of Accreditation and the Accreditation
  Personnel Committee are autonomous
  decision-making authorities and decisions reached
  are not subject to approval of any officers,
  committees, or boards of the of the Technology,
  Management, and Applied Engineering

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Autonomous Relationship
Executive Board
Board of Accreditation
Accreditation Personnel Committee
Visiting Teams
Consultants
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Board of Accreditation Membership

• Six members from the University Division
• Six members from the CCTI Division
• Six members from the Industry Division
• One member from the Student Division
• Up to three from a Program Sponsor
• Three members from the Lay Public
• Chair appointed by the Executive Board

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Board of Accreditation Responsibilities

• Approve institutional accreditation applications
  when referred
• Determine accreditation status and length of
  accreditation
• Determine special institutional requirements

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Accreditation Personnel Committee Responsibilities

• Approve team members, consultants, chairs
• Maintain official list of approved personnel
• Plan and conduct training sessions for team
  members and consultants
• Plan and conduct training sessions for
  institutional personnel
• Evaluate team members consultants

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Typical Steps in the Accreditation Process
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1. Institution Decision 9.
Develop On-Site Agenda 2. Institution
Training 10. On-Site Visit
3. ATMAE Consultant
11. Visit Team Report Draft 4.
Conduct Self-Study 12. Report
to ATMAE Office 5. Apply for
Accreditation 13. Board Reviews
Report 6. Team Assignments
14. Board Hearings/Decision 7. Submit
Self-Study 15. Appeal
Options 8. Prepare for Team
Visit
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Accreditation Periods

• Initial Accreditation - 4 years
• Re-accreditation - 6 Years
• If a program receives Non-Accreditation status,
  or if accreditation is dropped, the application
  for reinstatement will be considered as an
  initial application and the maximum period of
  accreditation granted will be four years.

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Institutions with ATMAE Accredited Programs
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ATMAE Accreditation Assumptions

• Each institution and IT program is unique.
• Each IT program(s) and option(s) have their own
  long and short term goals.
• The long and short term goals determine the
  mission of the IT program(s) and option(s) at a
  given institution.

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ATMAE Accreditation Assumptions

• The program mission must meet the definition of
  IT.
• The program(s) and option(s) must fulfill the
  accreditation standards that define IT for ATMAE
  accreditation.

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Associate and Baccalaureate Standards

• Associate prefix is 5.X.X
• Baccalaureate prefix is 6.X.X
• Most of the Associate and Baccalaureate standards
  are the same unless a difference is indicated

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Visiting Accreditation Teams

• Membership
• Each team consists of at least three members
• At least one team member must be an industry
  representative
• At least one team member must be from an
  institution offering programs at the level of the
  institution being visited

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Visiting Accreditation Teams

• Membership
• All team members must be members of ATMAE
• Team chair must have served on two visiting teams
  and have been approved by the Accreditation and
  Personnel Committee
• Team chair must complete Team Chair Orientation.

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Visiting Accreditation Teams

• Assignments to Visiting Team
• Assigned by Accreditation Personnel Committee
  (APC)
• Institution reviews team member assignment

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Visiting Accreditation Teams

• Assignments to Visiting Team
• APC tries to restructure team if unacceptable
• Institution may withdraw request if final team
  assignments are not acceptable

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Visiting Accreditation Teams

• Visiting Team Responsibilities
• Review the institutions Self-Study Report
• Conduct on-site visit to institution
• Prepare written report following guidelines
• Recommend status of accreditation
• Have chair or team member present at the Board of
  Accreditation hearings

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Visiting Accreditation Teams

• Visiting Team Chair Responsibilities
• Work with institutional contact person to develop
  on-site schedule
• Assign team members to specific team
  responsibilities
• Coordinate team activity during on-site visit

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Visiting Accreditation Teams

• Visiting Team Chair Responsibilities
• Coordinate, edit, and submit final team report
• Evaluate performance of team members
• Represent team at Board of Accreditation hearings

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Visiting Accreditation Teams

• Writing the Visiting Team Report
• The Visiting Team Report shall be a qualitative
  assessment regarding the accuracy of the
  institutional self-study report and an analysis
  of program and option compliance with standards
• The Visiting Team Report does not contain
  recommendations on how the institution should
  rectify any deficiencies

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Board of Accreditation Hearings

• 2.1.3 Board Meetings
• The Board is required to meet at the annual
  convention of the Association Technology,
  Management, and Applied Engineering. Other
  meetings may be called by the Chair of the Board
  of Accreditation

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Board of Accreditation Hearings

• Preparation for Board Meeting
• The Executive Director will distribute visiting
  team reports, and institutional responses to
  those reports, to all members of the Board of
  Accreditation approximately 30 days prior to its
  annual meeting

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Board of Accreditation Hearings

• Attendance at Board Meetings
• The head of the institution, or his/her
  representative, are requested to attend the Board
  meeting and briefly address the Board.
• The Chair of the visiting team or a team member
  will be requested to attend the Board meeting.

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Board of Accreditation Hearings

• Possible Board Actions
• Accreditation or Non-Accreditation

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Board of Accreditation Hearings

• Accreditation Meets or exceeds standards
• Accreditation with Two Year Report Substantially
  meets standards but has minor weaknesses
• Accreditation with Two Year Report and Visit
  Substantially meets standards but has serious
  weaknesses

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Board of Accreditation Hearings

• Reporting Board Actions
• The final action by the Board will be reported
• Orally by the Board Chair during Board hearing
• By letter by the Executive Director to the head
  of the institution, the head of the program
  visited, and the contact person.
• In Association publication and on the internet,
  if the action is to grant accreditation or
  reaccreditation.

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Preparation of the Self-Study

• ATMAE Accredits Degree Programs
• Not Institutions
• Not Departments

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Preparation of the Self-Study Report

• Whos Involved in the Self-Study Reports
• Self-study report(s) shall be completed by a
  representative portion of the institutions
  administrative staff, teaching faculty, and
  students.

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Preparation of the Self-Study Report

• Organization of Self-Study Reports
• A response to each standard is written for each
  program and option unless the information is the
  same for each program and option
• Do not forget about the resource room

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ATMAE Accreditation Process and Preparation

• Consultants
• 2.5 of Handbook
• Request of Accreditation
• 3.2 of Handbook
• Cost of Accreditation
• 3.6 of Handbook

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Questions and Open Discussion