DuAnn Kremer, Ph.D. Lynchburg College Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES)

     DuAnn Kremer, Ph.D.DuAnn Kremer, Ph.D.Lynchburg CollegeLynchburg College

Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise SciencesSciences(CoAES)(CoAES)

What is CAAHEP?What is CAAHEP?– Largest programmatic/specialized Largest programmatic/specialized

accreditor in the health sciencesaccreditor in the health sciences– More than 2,000 programsMore than 2,000 programs– In 1,400 sponsoring institutionsIn 1,400 sponsoring institutions– 20 health sciences occupations20 health sciences occupations

Anesthesiologist Assistant, Cardiovascular Technology, Cytotechnology, Anesthesiologist Assistant, Cardiovascular Technology, Cytotechnology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Electroneurodiagnostic Technology , Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Electroneurodiagnostic Technology , Emergency Medical Services Professions, Exercise Science, Kinesiotherapy, Emergency Medical Services Professions, Exercise Science, Kinesiotherapy, Medical Assistants, Medical Illustrator, Orthotic and Prosthetic Practitioner, Medical Assistants, Medical Illustrator, Orthotic and Prosthetic Practitioner, Perfusion, Polysomnographic Technologist, Respiratory Therapist, Specialist in Perfusion, Polysomnographic Technologist, Respiratory Therapist, Specialist in Blood Bank Technology, Surgical Assisting, Surgical Technologist Blood Bank Technology, Surgical Assisting, Surgical Technologist

CAAHEP’s GoalCAAHEP’s Goal

““To establish outcomes-based To establish outcomes-based academic standards for allied health academic standards for allied health

professionals.”professionals.”

Benefits of Accreditation:Benefits of Accreditation:• Outside/external validation and quality Outside/external validation and quality

assurance – objective evaluation of an assurance – objective evaluation of an institution’s performanceinstitution’s performance

• Helps maintain curriculum currency against Helps maintain curriculum currency against national standards – enhances public confidencenational standards – enhances public confidence

• Aids marketing and student recruitmentAids marketing and student recruitment• Facilitates ability of students to sit for Facilitates ability of students to sit for

certification/licensure examscertification/licensure exams• Increases employment opportunities for Increases employment opportunities for

graduatesgraduates

CoAES membershipCoAES membershipDr. Shala Davis, Chairman (CAAHEP Commissioner)Richard Cotton, ACSM (CAAHEP Commissioner)Steven Lichtman, AACVPRDr. Cary Wing, MFADr. Judy Young, AAHPERDAlan Russell, NASMGina Cortese Shipley, The Cooper InstituteDr. Jerry Purvis, AKTAHelen Binkley, NSCAMarj Reif, CAAHEPRian Landers, NASPEGraham Melstrand, ACEDr. Walter ThompsonDr. Susan MullerTraci Rush, CoAES administrative officer

Committee on Accreditation for the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise SciencesExercise Sciences

Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Exercise SciencePrograms in Exercise Science[minimum of a Bachelor’s degree][minimum of a Bachelor’s degree]

Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Exercise PhysiologyPrograms in Exercise Physiology

[minimum of a Master’s degree][minimum of a Master’s degree]

Applied Exercise PhysiologyApplied Exercise PhysiologyClinical Exercise PhysiologyClinical Exercise Physiology

Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Personal Fitness TrainingPrograms in Personal Fitness Training

[minimum of a certificate or an Associate’s degree][minimum of a certificate or an Associate’s degree]

Where the accreditation process began:Where the accreditation process began:

1. 2003 - CoAES created1. 2003 - CoAES created

2. CoAES created academic standards and 2. CoAES created academic standards and guidelinesguidelines

3. 2004 - CoAES submitted academic standards 3. 2004 - CoAES submitted academic standards and and guidelines to CAAHEP for approval guidelines to CAAHEP for approval (public (public comment period) comment period)

4. CoAES established policies and procedures for 4. CoAES established policies and procedures for institutions to follow for accreditation institutions to follow for accreditation

Where the accreditation process is now:Where the accreditation process is now:

4. Institutions begin 3-step accreditation 4. Institutions begin 3-step accreditation process:process:Step 1: Complete and submit application to CAAHEPStep 1: Complete and submit application to CAAHEP

Step 2: Conduct a self-study of current curricula and Step 2: Conduct a self-study of current curricula and submit to CoAESsubmit to CoAES

Step 3: CoAES conducts on-site review (1-2 day Step 3: CoAES conducts on-site review (1-2 day process)process)

5.5. CoAES recommends accreditation of CoAES recommends accreditation of institution to CAAHEPinstitution to CAAHEP

6.6. CAAHEP meets 6 times/year to accredit CAAHEP meets 6 times/year to accredit institutionsinstitutionsa.a. 80+ institutions requesting accreditation services 80+ institutions requesting accreditation services

to dateto date

6. CAAHEP accredits institutions6. CAAHEP accredits institutionsb. Accredited Programs (as of 02/03/09):b. Accredited Programs (as of 02/03/09):

Exercise Science (undergraduate programs)Exercise Science (undergraduate programs)Samford University, ALSamford University, ALCentral Connecticut State University, CTCentral Connecticut State University, CTSouthern Connecticut State University, CTSouthern Connecticut State University, CTGeorgia State University, GAGeorgia State University, GAUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe, LAUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe, LAWestfield State College, MAWestfield State College, MASalisbury University, MDSalisbury University, MDUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Charlotte,

NCNCNorth Dakota State University, NDNorth Dakota State University, NDOhio Northern University, OHOhio Northern University, OHBloomsburg University, PABloomsburg University, PAEast Stroudsburg University, PAEast Stroudsburg University, PAIndiana University of Pennsylvania, PAIndiana University of Pennsylvania, PASlippery Rock University, PASlippery Rock University, PAWest Chester University, PAWest Chester University, PALynchburg College, VALynchburg College, VAOld Dominion University, VAOld Dominion University, VA

6. CAAHEP accredits institutions6. CAAHEP accredits institutionsb. Accredited Programs (as of 02/03/09):b. Accredited Programs (as of 02/03/09):

Exercise Physiology (graduate programs)Exercise Physiology (graduate programs)Georgia State University, GAGeorgia State University, GA

University of Louisiana at Monroe, University of Louisiana at Monroe, LALA

University of North Carolina at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NCCharlotte, NC

Bloomsburg University, PABloomsburg University, PA

East Stroudsburg University, PAEast Stroudsburg University, PA

Personal Fitness TrainerPersonal Fitness TrainerSinclair Community College, OHSinclair Community College, OH

Frequently Asked Frequently Asked Questions Questions

Initial Fees: Initial Fees:

Initial Application Fee payable to CoAES: $750 (discounts Initial Application Fee payable to CoAES: $750 (discounts apply if your program was a University Connection program) apply if your program was a University Connection program)

Site Visit (direct costs): Site Visit (direct costs): $1,500 $1,500

Annual Fees:Annual Fees:Annual institutional fee payable to CAAHEP: currently Annual institutional fee payable to CAAHEP: currently

$450.00$450.00

Annual program fee payable to CoAES: $500 Annual program fee payable to CoAES: $500

What types of fees are associated What types of fees are associated with CAAHEP accreditation?with CAAHEP accreditation?

We think we have a good We think we have a good program. How do we know if we program. How do we know if we

are ready for CAAHEP are ready for CAAHEP accreditation?accreditation?

Prior to applying for accreditation one of Prior to applying for accreditation one of the simplest things you can do is to review the simplest things you can do is to review the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the profession. The Standards and the profession. The Standards and Guidelines are available on the CAAHEP Guidelines are available on the CAAHEP (www.caahep.org) website and the CoAES (www.caahep.org) website and the CoAES website (www.coaes.org). website (www.coaes.org).

Retention: 70% - students must continue in the programRetention: 70% - students must continue in the program

Culminating Experience: 75% at 60% or higher on a National Culminating Experience: 75% at 60% or higher on a National Certification Exam, Internship, and/or a research projectCertification Exam, Internship, and/or a research project

Graduate Placement: 80% - employment/graduate school Graduate Placement: 80% - employment/graduate school rates of students upon graduation rates of students upon graduation

Graduate Satisfaction Surveys: 50% return rate; 85% of Graduate Satisfaction Surveys: 50% return rate; 85% of questions with a 3 or better on a 5-point Likert Scalequestions with a 3 or better on a 5-point Likert Scale

Employer Satisfaction Survey: 50% return rate; 85% of Employer Satisfaction Survey: 50% return rate; 85% of questions with a 3 or better on a 5-point Likert Scalequestions with a 3 or better on a 5-point Likert Scale

What are the outcome measures associatedWhat are the outcome measures associatedwith CAAHEP accreditation?with CAAHEP accreditation?

Will we need to change the Will we need to change the name of our program?name of our program?

Neither CAAHEP nor the CoAES requires Neither CAAHEP nor the CoAES requires the program name to be changed.the program name to be changed.

Will we need to change the Will we need to change the name of our department?name of our department?

Neither CAAHEP nor the CoAES Neither CAAHEP nor the CoAES requires the department name to be requires the department name to be changed. changed.

Will we need to change the Will we need to change the name of the degrees we award name of the degrees we award to graduates of our program?to graduates of our program?

Neither CAAHEP nor the CoAES requires Neither CAAHEP nor the CoAES requires a change to the names of the degrees a change to the names of the degrees your program currently awards. your program currently awards.

Will we need to change our curriculum?Will we need to change our curriculum?

CAAHEP program accreditation is CAAHEP program accreditation is outcomes-based, as opposed to process-outcomes-based, as opposed to process-based. Specifically, this means that based. Specifically, this means that outcome measures, such as graduation outcome measures, such as graduation rate, graduate employment rate, and rate, graduate employment rate, and employer comments regarding the employer comments regarding the competencies of program graduates are a competencies of program graduates are a few examples of the critical measures the few examples of the critical measures the CoAES will be evaluating. Therefore, CoAES will be evaluating. Therefore, recommended changes to a program’s recommended changes to a program’s curriculum, if necessary, should be minor curriculum, if necessary, should be minor and will be based on the program’s ability and will be based on the program’s ability to meet and/or exceed these outcome to meet and/or exceed these outcome measures. measures.

Will we need to hire additional faculty?Will we need to hire additional faculty?

The majority of programs applying for The majority of programs applying for accreditation already meet the standards for accreditation already meet the standards for personnel, specifically with respect to the personnel, specifically with respect to the program director, faculty and/or program director, faculty and/or instructional staff. instructional staff.

How long does the How long does the accreditation process accreditation process

take? take?

The accreditation process from application The accreditation process from application to the actual awarding of accreditation is to the actual awarding of accreditation is approximately one year. This time period approximately one year. This time period can vary based on the overall readiness of can vary based on the overall readiness of the program, the quality of the self-study the program, the quality of the self-study document, the availability of volunteers for document, the availability of volunteers for the on-site review, and scheduled the on-site review, and scheduled meetings of the various committees.meetings of the various committees.

With the exception of initial accreditation, With the exception of initial accreditation, CAAHEP accreditation does not expire. Initial CAAHEP accreditation does not expire. Initial accreditation is 5 years. At the end of the accreditation is 5 years. At the end of the designated timeframe, a program may be designated timeframe, a program may be awarded continuing accreditation or its initial awarded continuing accreditation or its initial accreditation may be allowed to expire. Once a accreditation may be allowed to expire. Once a program has received continuing accreditation, program has received continuing accreditation, accreditation remains in place until the accreditation remains in place until the CAAHEP Board of Directors votes otherwise. CAAHEP Board of Directors votes otherwise. CAAHEP policy does currently require a CAAHEP policy does currently require a comprehensive review at least once every 10 comprehensive review at least once every 10 years. years.

Does CAAHEP accreditation expire?Does CAAHEP accreditation expire?

How do I get started with the How do I get started with the accreditation process for my accreditation process for my

institution?institution?1.1.Complete a CAAHEP Request for Complete a CAAHEP Request for

Accreditation Services application Accreditation Services application 2.2.Forward the completed request to the Forward the completed request to the

CoAES CoAES 3.3.The CoAES then forwards materials The CoAES then forwards materials

about accreditation fees, the self-study about accreditation fees, the self-study document and the comprehensive on-site document and the comprehensive on-site reviewreview

4.4.Complete the self-study processComplete the self-study process5.5.Apply for an on-site reviewApply for an on-site review

The On-Site The On-Site ReviewReview

Team Make-UpTeam Make-Up

Initial: Two trained site visitorsInitial: Two trained site visitors

Two day visitTwo day visit

Team Make-upTeam Make-up

General QualificationsGeneral Qualifications• Complete Site Visitor TrainingComplete Site Visitor Training• Educational Experience (Faculty Educational Experience (Faculty

member)member)

Team Make-upTeam Make-up

• Assignment CriteriaAssignment Criteria– No conflict of interestNo conflict of interest– One site visitor is assigned as team One site visitor is assigned as team

captaincaptain– One site visitor must have satisfactorily One site visitor must have satisfactorily

completed at least one previous site visit completed at least one previous site visit

Team Make-upTeam Make-up• Additional PersonnelAdditional Personnel

– Trainees and observers may accompany Trainees and observers may accompany the evaluation teamthe evaluation team

Typical ScheduleTypical Schedule• First dayFirst day

– Team arrives Team arrives – Meets with college administrationMeets with college administration– Meets with program facultyMeets with program faculty– Meets with Advisory CommitteeMeets with Advisory Committee– Meets with studentsMeets with students– Reviews documentation & laboratory Reviews documentation & laboratory

facilitiesfacilities

• Evening of first dayEvening of first day– Prepares preliminary reportPrepares preliminary report

Schedule (cont.)Schedule (cont.)• Second DaySecond Day

– Final review of program informationFinal review of program information– Consultation conference with Program Consultation conference with Program

Director Director – Summation conference with Program Summation conference with Program

Director, program faculty, Director, program faculty, administration, and other interested administration, and other interested partiesparties

After the VisitAfter the Visit• The On-Site Review Report is filed The On-Site Review Report is filed

with CoAESwith CoAES• CoAES meets every 2-3 months to CoAES meets every 2-3 months to

recommend accreditation for recommend accreditation for programs that have been reviewedprograms that have been reviewed

• CAAHEP Board meets 6 times per year CAAHEP Board meets 6 times per year to vote on programs recommended to vote on programs recommended for accreditationfor accreditation

• If accreditation is awarded, annual If accreditation is awarded, annual reporting of outcomes beginsreporting of outcomes begins

www.coaes.orgwww.coaes.org

www.caahep.orgwww.caahep.org