AEE Accreditation Program

Provide an overview of AEE’s Accreditation Program

• process• program policy• standards

Topics of Discussion

• I. The AEE Accreditation Program.

• II. What is Accreditation Anyway?

• III. Why Do We Need Accreditation?

• IV. The AEE Accreditation Process.

• V. Standards for Adventure Programming.

• VI. How to Get Involved...

I. AEE Accreditation Today

• 61 Programs currently involved:

48 fully accredited

13 initial applicants

• 12 Voting Members on the Accreditation Council

• Approximately 74 trained reviewers

10 programs were reviewed in 2009New Reviewer Training’s in the works for 2010Approximately 6-8 application per year.

II. What is Accreditation?

• Accreditation is a credential that indicates an organization follows an acceptable set of professional practices or standards.

• Accreditation is a voluntary process of peer evaluation. It is not synonymous with consultation.

• Accreditation, while an endorsement, has limits...

III. Why Accreditation?III. Why Accreditation?

Improved Quality and Performance

• Accreditation programs Accreditation programs identify quality and identify quality and performance indicators for performance indicators for organizations through a organizations through a set of consensus set of consensus standards.standards.

• Accredited organizations Accredited organizations demonstrate the progress demonstrate the progress of an advancing field of an advancing field through increased through increased professionalism, greater professionalism, greater consistency and improved consistency and improved practices.practices.

Public Protection

• Accreditation programs offer a measure of protection to the general public by advancing standards.

• Accreditation provides staff and participants an indication of program quality.

Credibility and Image Improvement

• Increases credibility of field.

• Professionalizes the organization.

• May increase the organization’s ability to attract resources.

Legal Protection

Accredited organizations may be better able to defend themselves against lawsuits.

Insurability and Insurance costs• Accreditation can help

ensure the availability of liability insurance.

• Accreditation may help control or reduce the cost of liability insurance.

• Accredited organizations that demonstrate compliance with recognized standards may be more easily supported by insurance companies.

Government Relations

• Accreditation can help Accreditation can help avert unnecessary avert unnecessary government intervention government intervention and costly regulatory and costly regulatory control.control.

• The Accreditation The Accreditation Program cooperates with Program cooperates with government agencies to government agencies to ensure continued access ensure continued access to federal lands in the to federal lands in the United States.United States.

Education & Professional Development• The Accreditation Program The Accreditation Program

provides an invaluable provides an invaluable source of education and source of education and training for volunteers.training for volunteers.

• Education efforts focus on Education efforts focus on providing current information providing current information about sound practices, risks about sound practices, risks and emerging trends in the and emerging trends in the field.field.

• The Accreditation Program The Accreditation Program creates an environment of creates an environment of openness and learning for all openness and learning for all involved.involved.

Marketing, Public Relations & Recognition

• The Accreditation Program provides referrals to Accredited Organizations.

• The Accreditation Program educates the media and the public about responsible adventure programming.

• Accredited Programs can use accreditation to distinguish themselves from other programs.

IV. The Accreditation Process

Five Stages

I. EligibilityII. Internal ReviewIII. External ReviewIV. EvaluationV. Maintaining Accreditation

Eligibility Criteria

• Current organizational or institutional member.

• Mission consistency with AEE.• Conduct adventure education activities.• One year of operation prior to

application.• The organization is a legitimate,

separately identifiable entity.

The Process – Eligibility

Step 1. Request information from AEE.

Step 2. Submit the preliminary application.

Step 3. Pay accreditation application fee. If applicable.

Step 4. Attend an Accreditation Workshop (Optional)

Step 5. Consultation?

The Process – Internal Review

Step 6. AP may assign a self-assessment “coach”

Step 7. Write the self-assessment study.

Step 8. Submit application for accreditation:

- Letter of invitation to conduct site visit.

- Submit Self-assessment study with supporting documents and appendices.

The Process – External Review

Step 9. Designate a Liaison from Accreditation Council.

Step 10. Liaison approves self-assessment.

Step 11. Review team formed.

Step 12. Prepare for site visit.

Step 13. Conduct the site visit.

The Process – Evaluation

Step 14. Liaison reviews site visit report.

Step 15. Organization responds:

- Response to Site Visit Report.

Step 16. Liaison reviews response.

Step 17. Council considers application.

Step 18. The Accreditation Council acts.

The Process – Maintenance

Step 19. Organization evaluates the AP.

Step 20. Organization submits annual report and annual fee:- Changes in organization structure, key personnel,

activities, venues, environments, etc…

• Step 21. Continuing accreditation:- Initial accreditation – three years.

- Continuing accreditation – five years.

Costs Involved

• Membership with AEE- – Institutional Membership $550.00 includes

application fee; or Organizational membership $300 and $150 application fee.

• Review team travel expenses for site visit• Annual accreditation fees on sliding scale

– $0-250,000 $1,175/year– $250,001- 750,000 $1,675/year– $750,001- 1 Million + $2,175/year

V. The Standards

• What is a Standard?• Scope of the

Standards.• Format of the

Standards• Application and

Interpretation of Standards

What is a Standard?

• Something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model.

• A rule or principle that is used as a basis for judgment.

• An average or normal requirement, quality, quantity, level, grade, etc.

www.dictionary.com

Scope of AEE Standards

• Standards were developed with wide input.• Standards are broad in scope, flexible, and

applicable to a variety of organizations and types of programs.

• Standards address philosophical, educational, ethical, management, human resource, and programmatic issues.

New 5th Edition Standards

• Total number of standards:

Overall- 298

Technical Activity Standards-209• 7 new therapeutic standards were added;• Standards for tree climbing and swimming &

wading were added;• Glossary of Terms was added.

Format of The Standards

• Five chapters with thirty-one separate sections.- Chapter I: Philosophical, Educational, Ethical &

Principals- Chapter 2: Program Governance- Chapter 3: Program Management, Operations &

Oversight- Chapter 4: Technical Activities – Land- Chapter 5: Technical Activities – Water- Chapter 6: Technical Activities- Misc.

Standards are listed in bold and state the criteria that must be met.

Explanations follow each standard and are meant to provide more information about the standard. Explanations help to clarify the intent of the standard.

Some ExamplesSection 1. PHILOSOPHY AND EDUCATION1.01 Adventure activities are selected and used in accordance

with the organization’s stated mission, goals for instruction, and intended outcomes.

Explanation: Learning occurs when carefully chosen experiences or activities are used intentionally to promote learning, personal growth, or positive change. Consequently, activities selected and educational methods employed are sound and aligned with the mission of the organization.

 Goals, objectives and/or outcomes for the program have been determined and have been communicated to the staff and participants. Activities are then designed to achieve the outcomes of the program. Activities can be varied and adapted as necessary to offer appropriate opportunities for learning and change. The effectiveness of activities is dependent on proper assessment of participant needs and abilities.

Section 2 ETHICAL PRINCIPALS2.02 Staff conduct their work with competence, and practice within the boundaries of that competence.

Explanation: This standard does not address staff qualifications; rather, it addresses ethical standards by which staff conduct themselves. Staff strive to maintain high standards of quality and performance in their work; seek appropriate education; participate in ongoing training; maintain current knowledge; hold appropriate credentials; and exercise reasonable judgment in the conduct of their work. Staff also recognize the boundaries of their competence and do not provide services outside of those boundaries. Staff provide services only after undertaking appropriate education; participating in ongoing training; and seeking appropriate supervision, consultation, or advice where necessary. When practicing in areas where standards or guidelines do not exist, staff take reasonable steps to develop the skills necessary to practice or provide services.

Section 3. PROGRAM GOVERNANCE

3.05 The program's activities and services are described accurately so that clients and potential clients understand the nature of the programs and services and can make informed choices to participate.

Explanation: All program marketing and/or enrollment material is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis in order to make sure it is clear, complete, and accurate and is presented in a manner that is understandable by the user group (clients or students) for which it is intended.

Section 4. PROGRAM OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

4.04 The program has a designated and functioning risk management committee.

Explanation: A risk management committee provides a mechanism for providing oversight to the program’s risk management planning, implementation and performance. An effective committee has an appropriate representative mix of individuals, including outside advisors, and meets regularly to review all facets of the program’s risk management plan or strategy.

Section 12. CLIMBING ACTIVITIES

12.01 The program has written policies and procedures for the conduct of climbing.

Explanation: Specific guidelines that staff and/or participants are expected to follow – such as supervision requirements, equipment requirements, types of anchors, use of helmets, and working near edges – are easily accessible to and used by all staff and participants.

12.02 The program has an explicit and appropriate curriculum

for climbing.

Explanation: There are explicit educational or instructional objectives for this activity that address topics or skills taught, expected participant standards of performance, and appropriate assessment of participant abilities and understanding. Climbing curriculum might include, but is not limited to, knot tying, bouldering, spotting, commands and communication, belaying, rappelling, climbing movement and technique, protection placement, anchor building, lead climbing, and moving as a team.

Application and Interpretation of the Standards

• Standards are not minimal, such as compliance with the law, nor maximal, such as “best practices.”

• Standards indicate the level at which, “responsible organizations and prudent professionals practice.”

The standards must be interpreted situationally, according to the unique programmatic context of the organization under review.

Application of the standards will vary as the organization and type of program varies.

The standards are applicable to many different kinds of programs.

What is important in interpreting and applying the standards is the concept of sufficiency or meeting the intent of a standard in a given situation.

Interpreting the AEE Standards requires a significant amount of experience, training

and “good judgment.”

Variables to Consider

• The purpose of the program.

• The participant profile.

• The qualifications, training and prior experience of the staff.

• The physical environment.

• The type of activity.

• The level of difficulty of the activity (technical or physical).

Common “Unmet” Standards

• 4.04 The program has a designated and functioning risk management committee.

• 4.05 The program engages in periodic internal and external risk management reviews.

• 4.14 The program has a written administrative crisis management plan that is used during and following a serious emergency or incident.

Common Unmet Standards

• 4.15 The program defines specific first aid or wilderness medicine practices that will be used.

• 5.08 In the event a program contracts out services for activities, a system is in place to assess and track the appropriateness of the subcontractor’s credentials and performance.

Questions?

VI. How to Get Involved...

• Apply for Accreditation!- Submit a Preliminary Application for

Accreditation.

• Attend Accreditation Reviewer Training:- Register for a training.

- Submit a Reviewer Application and Résumé.

Photo Credits

• The Dunn School

• Red Top Meadows

• Santa Fe Mountain Center

• UNC Chapel Hill

• UNC Charlotte

• The Boojum Institute

• Colorado Rocky Mountain School

• Project Adventure

• Eagle Rock School

• National Outdoor Leadership School

• Harvard

• Greenfield Community College

For More Information Contact:

Shawn Tierney

Director of Programs

Association for Experiential Education

3775 Iris Ave., Suite 4

Boulder, CO 80301-2043

U.S.A.

303.440.8844 x16 Phone

303.440.9581 FAX

accreditation@aee.org

http://www.aee.org/