The Application for Renewal Accreditation: Electronic Submissions

The Accreditation Process The accreditation process is the cornerstone of ACCSCT’s ability to continually ensure the high quality of education in our accredited member institutions. The accreditation process provides an opportunity for an institution to conduct a comprehensive review of all academic and ancillary activities and resources that support an institution’s mission and educational objectives By applying for and receiving accreditation, an institution accepts the obligation to demonstrate continuous compliance with the Standards of Accreditation While ACCSCT employs its own fact-finding methods to determine an institution’s compliance with accrediting standards, the burden rests with the institution to establish that it is meeting ACCSCT’s standards

Additional information received and reviewed. Additional information received and reviewed. Two copies of Application Part I are submitted electronically Application reviewed by Financial Review Committee; Staff Review Application Part I accepted. Application acceptance letter sent to school. Application Part I accepted. Application acceptance letter sent to school. Application deferred. Four (4) copies of revised Application (Part II) and four (4) copies of SER submitted. SER reviewed by staff. School notified of required corrections, updates, and inconsistencies. Date set for school on-site evaluation. On-Site Evaluation Team is assembled. School on-site evaluation conducted. Team writes Team Summary Report Graduate/Employer Surveys conducted. Graduate/Employer Surveys conducted. School approves team. New applicant school sends two (2) copies of Application Part II, two (2) copies Self- Evaluation Report (SER). New applicant school’s orientation visit conducted. New applicant school makes corrections/modifications to SER/Application Part II NEW APPLICANT SCHOOLS ONLY School Attends Accreditation Workshop Exit Interview The Accreditation Process

Attend Institutional Enhancement Seminar May 21-22, 2009 Submit two electronic copies of the Application for Renewal Accreditation, with all 21 attachments: July 14, 2009 Submit four electronic copies of revised Application for Renewal Accreditation, four electronic copies of the Self-Evaluation Report, and on-site evaluation fee: November 17, 2009 For schools attending the IE Seminar to seek Renewal of Accreditation

Preparing Electronic Materials for Commission Consideration: The Application for Renewal Accreditation

This session is designed to assist institutions seeking renewal of accreditation from ACCSCT to format and organize the electronic Application for Renewal of Accreditation for Commission consideration. The following topics will be covered in this session Electronic Submission Format Requirements Electronic Application: Submission Checklist Tutorial: How to create Bookmarks How to insert Pages (exhibits) How to create Hyperlinks Electronic Submissions

Electronic Submissions: Format Requirements

All electronic documents must be submitted to ACCSCT as one Portable Document Format (.pdf) file that has been prepared using Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Standard (or higher version) software. Electronic Submissions may not be transmitted to the Commission via . All electronic documents must be submitted to ACCSCT on compact disk (CD). Electronic Submission: Format Requirements

All files, to include Applications for Renewal of Accreditation and the Self Evaluation Report are to be submitted as one continuous PDF document using the Adobe Acrobat software. Only PDF versions will be accepted. Do not submit using other applications (Word) All submissions for Commission consideration should be bookmarked to identify all of the attachments and exhibits contained within the file. Electronic Submission: Format Requirements

Electronic submissions must be prepared in accordance with the Instructions for Electronic Submission, available online at All CDs must be clearly labeled with the school name, address, ACCSCT school number and the title of the document(s) included on the CDs. Electronic Submission: Format Requirements

If the submission contains documentation that includes personal or confidential student or staff information that is not required for the Commission’s review (e.g., social security numbers, dates of birth, etc.), please remove or redact that information. If an institution elects to send the Commission its submission on paper, the Commission has authorized the assessment of a $500 processing fee to convert the paper submission to an electronic format at the ACCSCT office. Electronic Submission: Format Requirements

Questions on Format Requirements?

Electronic Submissions: Application for Renewal Accreditation Submission Checklist

The submission of the CD must include the following: A cover letter identifying the institution by name, address and six- digit school number and payment of the processing fee. Please also include a point of contact (name, phone number, and address) for the electronic submission. The Application for Renewal of Accreditation must be formatted as one Portable Document Format (.pdf) file with electronic bookmarks that correspond to the application and each application attachment. A bookmarked Table of Contents. Electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation: Submission Checklist

Completed and signed Application for Renewal of Accreditation with a corresponding electronic bookmark to indicate the location of the application. Documentation to support each Application Attachment using electronic bookmarks to indicate the location of each attachment. If the school elect to submit additional exhibits, then include an electronic bookmark to indicate the location of these documents. Electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation: Submission Checklist

For schools seeking renewal of accreditation, submit two CDs, each containing one PDF copy of the Application for Renewal of Accreditation within 45 days of attendance at the Institutional Enhancement Seminar. Institutions that attended the May 2009 Institutional Enhancement Seminar for the purpose of seeking renewal of accreditation must submit the electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation on or before July 14, 2009 All CDs must be clearly labeled with the school name, address, ACCSCT school number and the title of the document(s) included on the CDs. Electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation: Submission Checklist

Questions on the Submission Checklist?

Before you convert the Word version of the Application for Renewal of Accreditation using Adobe Acrobat, ensure that you have finalized all of the narrative information on the application itself, as well as for any of the 21 attachments. Once the application “narrative” is finalized (we have not inserted exhibits yet), you will convert the Application to a PDF document using Adobe Acrobat. This will create a read-only version of the document, which you will bookmark and submit via CD for Commission consideration Electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation: Converting to PDF

Electronic Submissions: Creating Bookmarks

Step One: Open.pdf version of Application for Renewal of Accreditation. Step Two: Select Bookmark Tab on left side of the page. Step Three: Delete any Auto-Created Bookmarks (should clear out this section). Step Four: Go to First page of Application Step Five: Click on Options (just above Bookmark Tab) and Select Create Bookmark. Step Six: Create Name for Bookmark (Example: Application for Renewal of Accreditation). Electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation: Creating Bookmarks

Questions on Creating Bookmarks?

Electronic Submissions: Inserting Pages/Exhibits

This step will now guide you through inserting exhibits (e.g. copies of advertisements, personnel reports, licenses, et. al) into the final document. Documents will either have been converted from Microsoft Word (personnel reports), or Microsoft Excel (Program Chart); or they will have been scanned from a hard copy (state license, instructor certifications) and saved as a PDF document in your designated folder. For this example, we will focus on the Certificate of Attendance from the Accreditation Workshop (Application Attachment #2) Electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation: Inserting Exhibits

Step 1:Go to Attachment #2 Page (use your bookmark) Step 2:On Left Side of Screen, Click on Pages Tab. The Certificate of Attendance (Attachment 2) should have already been scanned and saved as a separate PDF file in your designated folder. Step 3:Select “Options” Step 4:Select “Insert Pages” Step 5: Go to PDF file of scanned check, and Select This will insert a copy of the scanned check into your final Application file. Electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation: Inserting Exhibits

Questions on Inserting Pages/Exhibits?

Electronic Submissions: Creating Hyperlinks

A hyperlink is another way to help with the navigation of your Application for Renewal of Accreditation. A hyperlink will take the user to another section of the document, typically by clicking on a highlighted word or icon. A hyperlink will be the best method to cross-reference the catalog and enrollment agreement to their corresponding checklists. Electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation: Creating Hyperlinks

Step One:Go to Table of Contents Page Step Two:Select: Tools < Advanced Editing < Link Tool Step Three:Click and Drag “Box” around Text to be linked Step Four: Select “Go to Page View” Click Next. Step Five:Click “Set Link” Step Six:Double Click on “Box” ; Select Actions Step Seven:Select “Edit” and Enter Page Number Electronic Application for Renewal Accreditation: Creating Hyperlinks

Questions on Creating Hyperlinks?

Additional Questions?

Reminder, the deadline for the submission of the two (2) CDs, which include a bookmarked version of the school’s Application for Renewal of Accreditation is due in the Commission’s office on or before July 14, 2009 The deadline for the submission of the four (4) CDs that include the school’s revised application and Self- Evaluation Report is due on or before November 17, 2009

The Application for Renewal Accreditation: Electronic Submissions