Centers applying for continued Accredited Membership, Satellite to Accredited Member or Candidate to Accredited member status. (See 2016 Accreditation Manual Part Two)
Preparation for Five Year Reviews
Five year reviews are conducted at the regional level and then forwarded to the Commission for a vote. Only if the regional accreditation committee has recommended notations does the Commission assign a Commission reviewer to present a five year review with notations to the Commission for its vote. All other five year reviews are accepted by virtue of the regional recommendation that the centers’ accreditation be continued without notation. Commendations are not given for five year reviews. All initial requests for candidacy centers and satellite programs that want to be listed are done at the regional level.
Preparation for a Site Visit
The regional accreditation committee chair serves an important function in the process of a site visit. The Regional Chair assists in two particular ways: coordinating the formation of a site team and a site visit date with the National Site Team Chair, and supporting the Center with consultation and mentoring to bring about a successful site visit.
Support of Site Team Formation and a Site Visit Date
Regional Chairs work with National Site Team Chairs to form site teams composed of educators and practitioners that will best support the centers being reviewed. One member of the team will be a practitioner. This person will serve as a full member of the team and participate in all aspects of the site visit, particularly providing insight and feedback related to the ways in which CPE is provided through curriculum and clinical settings, how it is received by students, and how well the program prepares students to provide spiritual care. The requirements for a practitioner on the site visit team are: at least four completed units of ACPE CPE, five or more years’ professional practice of ministry, and current employment in a pastoral care ministry position.
Because of the importance of forming teams that will be unique to the centers’ needs, Regional Chairs should become aware of regional members’ abilities and competency in using the tools and methods of ACPE CPE, such as the action/reflection model. In consultation with National Site Team Chairs, Regional Chairs suggest persons they believe will be capable of hearing the unique stories and narratives of centers being reviewed, as well as those who will be competent to judge how centers are meeting ACPE Standards. As well, the Regional Chair works with the National Site Team Chair and the center to determine a date for the site visit. In short, Regional Chairs should be prepared to:
• suggest members of the region to serve as site team members;
• instruct appointed members in their role and relationship with National Site Team Chairs;
• support and mentor strong site team members through on-going regional training, education, and feedback;
• provide consultation and mentoring to centers being reviewed;
• work with the center, chair, and supervisor(s) to locate a date for the site visit; and,
• stay in touch with centers in regard to accreditation matters.
Preparation for Ten Year Reviews or Accredited Member Center Requests
Regional Chairs serve importantly during the process of ten year reviews or accredited member center requests. When Regional Chairs engage in early stages of these review processes, centers achieve better outcomes in review processes. Regional Chairs:
• assist centers and National Site Team Chairs to schedule reviews for Commission action
• select site team members to complete the team in collaboration with the National Site Team Chair assigned by the Commission chair.
• request copies of communications during the process for regional center files.
• provide mentoring and/or consultation to the center as it moves through its review.
Ten year reviews and requests for accredited center membership from satellite programs or pre-accredited centers are attended to by National Site Team Chairs and Regional Accreditation Chairs. Refer to the National Site Team Chair training manual.
The Commission chair assigns the reviewer and advises the Regional Accreditation Chair of that assignment. The Regional Accreditation Chair and the National Site Team Chair work together to form the site team, which includes at least two members from the region. The Regional Accreditation Chair negotiates with the center and the National Site Team Chair about dates. The work of the Regional Accreditation Chair or designee is complete at this point, except to provide coaching and mentoring for the center as it prepares for its review. The material from the review comes directly from the National Site Team Chair to a national presenter for all ten year reviews, satellite program to accredited member reviews, or a candidacy center to accredited member reviews.
Called Reviews
Commissioners will be called upon to chair called reviews of centers found substantially out of compliance with ACPE Standards. The process of a called review will follow that described in the 2016 Accreditation Manual. The Commissioner serving as chair will use the Commission presenter’s report (see Appendix P- 23) with appropriate accommodations (e.g., there will not be a self study) and including the reasons given by the Accreditation Commission as to the purpose of the called review..