1. CAFCE Accreditation Made Easy Presenters: Karen Reimer Rocco Fondacaro Prepared by: Ken Liu & Viren Sud Special Project Co-ordinators Cooperative Education & Career Action, uWaterloo CAFCE national conference, Niagara Falls, 2014

2. Purpose of Session Aid preparation of member applications Answer Questions and Concerns Introduce new application procedures and tools

3. Topics for Today Introduction to Accreditation Value and benefits of accrediting your programs Common concerns and issues (group discussion) Completing an application: Member Questions via email Stepping Through the Application Form Use new and improved guide (Reilly and Jones) application questions with examples Integrated with rationale & standards Final statements

4. Introduction to Accreditation Process of seeking Accreditation requires comprehensive documentation to show that the co-operative program and its institution meet the standards Accreditation standards establish co-operative education as a valid and valuable educational strategy

5. Benefits of Accreditation Institutions should consider accreditation for a number of reasons: Advertising accredited status to students, faculty and employers provides you with the opportunity to enhance your program’s profile and credibility, particularly within professional communities where the concept of accreditation is a recognized standard Accreditation criteria may be used as the vehicle to support policies and procedures established for your operation and as a reference point when dealing with student and employer issues Undergoing a national review process every six years, completed by a three-member team, attests to the quality of your co-operative education programs Accreditation criteria and status can be beneficial in discussions with senior administration, to support program structure and provide a benchmark for the development of new programs Completed accreditation application documentation can help to orient new staff in their training Accreditation guidelines may provide evidence of standards aligning with requirements for special funding or tax credit opportunities established by different levels of government Membership within the Accreditation Council provides a forum to engage with colleagues in discussions about best practices, emerging trends and standards and rationale

6. Common Concerns and Issues Group Discussion

7. Stepping Through the Application Part 1 – using the enhanced guide

8. Stepping Through the Application Part 2 – Specific member questions

9. Final Statements…

10. Thanks for your attention Contact Information: Karen Reimer: kreimer@uoguelph.ca Rocco Fondacaro: rfonda@uwaterloo.cakreimer@uoguelph.carfonda@uwaterloo.ca