Clipse said:
How long does it take for a school to become accredited. Is this a difficult process?
i'm copying and pasting the accredation process...it's super long.
Process
Accreditation by the Commission involves the following steps:
Application for Accreditation
Accreditation is a voluntary process. The chief executive officer of the sponsoring institution submits a program's application for accreditation to the Commission.
Self-Analysis
The educational program staff completes a self-analysis and prepares a self-study report. The report reflects the program's self-assessment of it sponsorship, resources, curriculum, effectiveness and of its operational and student policies and practices.
On-Site Review
The site visit team members are selected on the basis of their expertise in the discipline or the areas being evaluated. They interview administrators, faculty, staff and students affiliated with the program and examine documents. The data collected during this on-site review allow the Commission to determine whether or not the program meets minimum accreditation standards. The on-site visit also verifies the information provided in the self-study report.
Site Visit Report
The team prepares a report delineating the strengths and weaknesses of the program. This report is reviewed by the institution's administrators before it is submitted to the Commission. Both the preliminary report and any response received from the institution are considered when the Commission makes its final determination of accreditation status.
Accreditation Action
The Commission and its discipline specific review committees meet twice each year, usually in January and July. Following each semiannual Commission meeting, formal notification of each accreditation decision is sent to the chief executive officer of the sponsoring institution. In addition, an updated list of all accredited programs is distributed to the dental community and is made available to the public.
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Evaluation Cycle
To maintain an accreditation status, all programs must be reevaluated with an on-site review at regular intervals. All programs are reviewed every seven years, except for programs in the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery, which are reviewed every five years. If major changes have occurred that could affect the program's ability to meet accreditation standards, a special site visit may be conducted.
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Coordinated Site Visits
If an institution offers more than one dental educational program, the Commission tries to evaluate all programs during a single site visit. Additionally, the Commission encourages the coordination of its evaluations with evaluations of regional and/or other nationally recognized accrediting associations. It will make every effort to coordinate its evaluations with those of other associations if requested to do so by an institution.
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The Multi-Level Review Process
A system of committees ensures reliability through a multi-level review of site visit and other accreditation reports. This system also ensures adequate and equitable representation of the communities of interest through participation in the different levels which include:
site visit teams tailored to each discipline and type of program;
discipline-specific review committees;
the Commission on Dental Accreditation; and
the Commission's independent Appeal Board.
The Commission has sole authority for activities pertaining to the accreditation of more than 1,300 educational programs in the dental and dental-related disciplines. The accreditation review process is based on nationally accepted standards established by the Commission to guide program administrators, faculty and staff in developing and maintaining acceptable quality in educational programs.
Any program wishing to be accredited by the Commission uses the accreditation standards in conducting a self-analysis and preparing a self-study report for an on-site evaluation team. The team reviews the self-study report and evaluates the program on site to determine the degree to which it complies with the accreditation standards. The site visit team prepares a written site visit report which, along with the institution's written response to the report, is then reviewed at the next level by the appropriate review committee prior to final action by the Commission.
Such a multi-level review assures institutions that their programs are reviewed by the appropriate experts and that accreditation standards are applied similarly between institutions and programs. This latter point refers to the degree of consistency of judgments made in evaluating educational programs, or the reliability of the process. The review process ensures that the accreditation standards are applied in the same way by different individuals involved in the evaluation and decision-making processes. Each review level encompasses a broader perspective which contributes to the consistency of the Commission's accreditation actions.
The "checks and balances" that are an important part of its multi-level system have been consistently identified as one of the Commission's many strengths as an accrediting agency.
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The Review Committees
Prior to review and action on accreditation matters, the Commission assigns site visit reports, progress reports and other reports to the discipline specific review committees. In these committees, each report is assigned to a primary and secondary reviewer. Recommendations on accreditation status are acted upon by the Commission only after the careful preliminary reviews by the review committees. Review committees are composed of experts in the respective fields. Each review committee is chaired by a Commissioner.
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The Commission Appeal Board
The final level in the Commission's review process is the independent Appeal Board. When all other avenues of due process have been explored, any program has the right to appeal an adverse accreditation decision (i.e., denial or withdrawal of accreditation) to the Appeal Board. This body is separate from the Commission and could support the decision of the Commission or refer a case back to the Commission for further consideration. More specific information about the composition and duties of the Appeal Board is available upon request.
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Special Appearance
Although not a separate "level" in the review process, the Commission also provides programs with the opportunity to request a special appearance before a review committee or the Commission. Program representatives, groups or individuals can request an appearance before the Commission to discuss any special issue or topic of concern. This is another important way in which the communities of interest are provided with direct input into the Commission's accreditation process. The freedom to request special hearings on any topic for any reason is also an additional means of ensuring the due process rights of accredited programs.
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Results Of The Multi-Level Review
The multiple level review process has led to a reliable accreditation process for institutions. Standards are applied consistently and equitably to all programs. The inclusion of different people with broader perspectives and broader concerns in the membership of the Commission enhances the reliability of its process. The consistency with which consultant and review committees have independently applied the standards has been monitored since the Commission was established.
Almost unanimous agreement among the site visit team, the primary and secondary reviewers, the review committees and the Commission on recommendations based on review of the same information means that programs receive accreditation recommendations and status based on the most thorough and objective system of review possible.
I've been looking into the cost of living of different cities, including Oahu since my wifes from there, and Hawaii isn't as bad compared to let's say Los Angeles, New York, and San Fran. But for a tiny island, it is definitely on the high end.
