How to become an accreditor
Function and Characteristics
Accreditors are individuals who are assigned to perform tasks related to the accreditation of institutions or programs after having completed the training for accreditors. In survey visits, an accreditor may serve as chairperson or member. An accreditor may serve as chairperson after having manifested the capability to lead a survey team and have trained for this purpose.
Back in 1951 Dr. Vidal Tan, former president of the University of the Philippines, expressed that the members of a survey team must be persons “of sound judgment, of great experience and, above all, of unquestioned integrity”. Fr. James Meany, SJ added that, in addition to those qualities, the spirit of generosity exhibited by accreditors over the years was the greatest asset of PAASCU and the ultimate reason for its success. PAASCU accreditors serve voluntarily without any compensation.
Recruitment and Training
Most accreditors are currently employed in PAASCU member institutions as administrators, faculty members or non-teaching personnel although they may continue to serve as accreditors even after retirement from their respective institutions. PAASCU periodically organizes training programs for would-be accreditors. When a training program is scheduled, institutions through their school heads may nominate personnel to participate in the training. The respective Commissions select the participants based on the resumes submitted and certifies the readiness of the participants to serve as accreditors at the end of the training.
The training for accreditors includes important information on the accreditation process as well as a simulation of an actual survey visit. The training is usually conducted in an institution that has recently completed a survey visit successfully and is willing to host such training.
Responsibilities of Accreditors
The following are expected of accreditors:
- Must seek to obtain a big picture of the institution or program. Effort must be exerted to evaluate the details in light of the larger context. Accreditors must always keep in mind that the goal of a survey visit is to assist an institution or program in the fulfillment of its mission through meaningful conclusions and judgments arising from a careful evaluation of the evidence presented by the school.
- Must be objective in assessing the evidence presented and has no conflict of interest in relation to the school being assessed
- Must approach the task humbly as a colleague rather than an inspector.
- Must maximize the time allotted for a Survey Visit given all the tasks that must be accomplished. All interviews and meetings must begin and end on time. It is advantageous to be in control of the different evaluation activities during the visit. The activities must be purposeful. Essential information, particularly evidence, must be actively sought; an accreditor should not be a passive recipient of information which the members of the school community would like to provide the Survey Team.
- Must refrain from making remarks about the institution, personnel, or programs, whether positive or negative, anytime during a Survey Visit.
- Must refrain from providing friendly advice or making comparisons to their own or other institutions. Such advice or recommendations may be misconstrued as requirements for accreditation.
- Must conduct themselves professionally at all times
- All information about an institution or program must be handled properly. Provisions of the Data Privacy Act must be observed. A Non-disclosure Agreement must be executed by accreditors before a survey visit.
- Accreditors must refrain from giving a personal opinion or expressing their beliefs and views about any aspect of education in general or any feature of the institution to any member of the school community.
- Unscheduled invitations to social activities during the Survey Visit must be politely declined. All activities during a Survey Visit, including receptions hosted by the institution, are approved by the Survey Team Chairperson and made part of the Survey Visit schedule.
