An accredited program is obligated to remain in compliance with all ACPE Standards, Policies, and Procedures. A program’s compliance is measured by:
- Program self-identification.
- Late registration of Student Units or Late Final Evaluations
- Areas of non-compliance found during a review of the program’s portfolio.
- Areas of non-compliance found during a site visit.
Program Self-Identification of Non-Compliance
A program that identifies an area of non-compliance shall immediately inform their assigned commissioner in writing. The program describes the area of non-compliance found, a plan to return to compliance, and a demonstration of how their plan has worked. If the program is not able to demonstrate the efficacy of their plan due to timing issues, it shall provide this information as soon as possible.
The identification of non-compliance, as well as all related documentation, will be a part of the program’s portfolio. If the program does not demonstrate compliance within six months and does not have good cause for an extension, the Commission will initiate an adverse action.
Non-Compliance Identified During a Portfolio Review, Site Visit, or Late Registration of Student Units/Late Final Evaluations/CEC Evaluations
When an area of non-compliance is found during a portfolio review or a site visit, the program will be issued a Letter of Non-Compliance from the Accreditation Commission outlining the area(s) of non-compliance and what the program needs to do to return to compliance.
The program must return to compliance within six months or one year, as specified by the Commission. The return to compliance shall be documented in the program’s portfolio and will be reviewed by a Commission Reviewer who is assigned by the Chair of the Commission, with a final determination of compliance made at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Commission. If the program does not demonstrate a return to full compliance and does not have good cause for an extension the Commission, will initiate an adverse action.
Programs with Late Registration of Student Units or Late Final Evaluations/CEC evaluations will work with their Assigned commissioner to return to compliance. Programs shall upload to their portfolio a description of what happened with a written plan to prevent re-occurrence along with evidence of two successive units successfully registered on time for late student unit registration or two successive units of providing final evaluations on time to students.
Recurring Incidents of Non-Compliance
If a program has a repeat of non-compliance for the same area, after having returned to compliance, the Commission shall require a consultation with the ACPE Certified Educator. The Commission shall determine if the consultation may be via phone/video conference or if an in-person meeting, at the program’s expense, is required.