Directory of Accredited Institutions and Programs
2008
The Meaning and Importance of Accreditation
Accreditation is a non-governmental, professional peer review process by which educational institutions and programs are provided technical assistance and are evaluated for quality based on pre-established academic and administrative standards. Accreditation is used by the public as the most reliable indicator of educational quality.
One of the primary goals of accreditation is to assist institutions in identifying and achieving goals in order to protect the public and to enhance the profession.
Accreditation is typically conducted by accrediting agencies composed of similar institutions, programs or professions that establish eligibility requirements, evaluation standards, and procedures for accreditation. These agencies are generally categorized as institutional (national or regional) and specialized programmatic and/or professional.
ABHES Scope of Recognition
ABHES is an independent non-profit agency unrelated to any trade or membership organization.
ABHES is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education for the accreditation of private, postsecondary institutions in the United States offering predominantly allied health education programs and the programmatic accreditation of medical assistant, medical laboratory technician and surgical technology programs leading to a certificate, diploma, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Occupational Science, or academic associate degrees and programs offered by distance delivery.
ABHES accredits programmatically for the three programs identified above being taught in both public and private institutions. It also accredits institutionally outside of the allied health area, providing the institutions retain predominance in allied health (see II.A.1.b. for ABHES’ definition of predominance).
The ABHES Mission
· To serve as a nationally recognized accrediting agency of institutions and programs specializing in health education.
· To establish eligibility criteria and accreditation standards for the administration and operation of institutions and programs specializing in health education.
· To ensure that eligibility criteria and evaluation standards are adequate, relevant, valid and reliable; and predictive of successful qualitative outcomes through a comprehensive program of systematic review and follow-up.
· To enhance the profession through the improvement of institutions and programs, and in the quality of their graduates.
· To promote sound business and ethical standards predominantly serving health education.
Overview of ABHES’ Accreditation Standards and Procedures
ABHES accreditation standards describe the characteristics of a quality institution or program. These standards act as a guide for the visitation team that evaluate the institution or program and for the commissioners who act on the findings of the visitation team. Institutions and programs accredited by ABHES must continually comply with the standards for accreditation as delineated in the ABHES Accreditation Manual.
THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS
STEP 1:
Visit the ABHES Website at www.abhes.org or contact the ABHES office to obtain the application packet. The inquiry letter contains instructions on how to apply for accreditation and includes eligibility criteria and financial statement requirements.
STEP 2:
Upon confirmation of compliance with the eligibility criteria, return the completed application with appropriate fee. A cover letter that outlines how the institution meets the eligibility criteria must accompany the application with the signed Statement of Ownership. Audited financial statements are also required for all applicants, preferably with submission of the completed application.
Although an institution may start the accreditation process, a grant of accreditation will be contingent upon receipt, review and approval of the audited financial statements. To allow sufficient processing time, the institution should provide the audited financial statements as soon as possible but preferably no later than three months following submission of the application).
STEP 3:
STEP 4:
Applicants are required to attend an ABHES Accreditation Workshop prior to submission of the SER. See the ABHES Schedule of Events.
STEP 5:
Initial institutional applicants are required to undergo a preliminary visit, which are conducted to confirm eligibility and determine whether the institution is in substantial compliance with the standards. Please note that a draft copy of the narrative portion of the Self-Evaluation Report will be required in preparation for the preliminary visit.
Should it be determined on the preliminary visit that your institution is not in substantial compliance with the ABHES Standards (Chapter IV), submission of your SER will be postponed and the institution will not undergo the full-on site team visit until the following travel cycle.
STEP 6:
The self-evaluation is the most important step in the accreditation process. The visiting evaluation team and Bureau Commissioners will base their judgments, in part, on this document. Note that the self-evaluation questions and evaluation standards (Chapters IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX of the Manual) are arranged consistently so that you can easily compare your answers to the questions with the minimum requirements of the Bureau. The institution’s SER, including the narrative and exhibits, must be submitted on CD Rom.
STEP 7:
Upon receipt of the SER, a staff member will contact the institution to schedule the on-site evaluation visit. Visits are usually scheduled for two days and the number of evaluators is determined by the number of like programs offered by the institution. Each team consists of a team leader, program specialist(s), and ABHES staff member. The only hardcopies of the SER required are the copies the institution will forward to the visitation team, including the ABHES staff member, approximately one month prior to the site visit.
STEP 8:
Accrediting procedures provide an institution the opportunity to respond to the on-site visitation reports, concentrating specifically on areas of concern and violations, if any. The primary purpose of this step is to correct any errors of fact or interpretation of conditions as observed by the team during the visit. The response to the visitation reports provides an opportunity for the institution to report and support, with complete documentation, corrections of violations and implementation of measures taken in response to concerns noted.
STEP 9:
Commissioners are provided an institution’s SER, team reports, and its response to the team reports for review and action. Results are then provided to schools within 10 working days of the Commission meeting. See the ABHES Schedule of Events.
Important Disclosure
Accreditation by ABHES signifies that the institution or program has met the eligibility criteria and evaluation standards of ABHES as evidenced during its most recent on-site review and continues to comply with the policies and procedures for maintenance of accreditation as established by ABHES.
While ABHES is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, various credentialing bodies, and postsecondary institutions throughout the country, accreditation does not guarantee Title IV or other financial aid eligibility, credentialing opportunities for graduates, or the ability to transfer credits to other institutions. It is the responsibility of institutions and programs accredited by ABHES and individuals seeking to train at an ABHES-accredited institution or program to explore all necessary aspects associated with their objectives.
ABHES Board of Commissioners
The ABHES Board of Commissioners consists of nine members; four appointed by the Board itself and five elected by the accredited members. Each Commissioner serves a defined term and is held responsible to a strict Code of Ethics.
Executive Committee Members
CHAIR
Mark Luebke
Vice President
Pima Medical Institute
Guy Euliano
President
Tri-State Business Institute
TREASURER
Colleen M. Rupp
Campus President
Keiser University
Linda Swisher, EdD
SECRETARY
Sandra Yelverton, Ed.D., Ed.S.
Retired, Alabama Department of Education
Carol Moneymaker
Executive Director
ABHES
Michael P. Covone M.Ed, RT(R), CT
Assistant Professor
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Terry Humphrey, CST
Instrument & Equipment Coordinator
Baptist Medical Center
Dr. Kevin L. Kirk
President
Community Care College
kkirk@communitycarecollege.com
Paul Mitchell
President/CEO
Ross Education, LLC
Marie H. Paulson RN, BSN, MS, CNOR
Perioperative Specialist
Kaiser Permanente Foundation Hospitals
Michael Schafer
Vice President, Academic Affairs
Health Education Division
Career Education Corporation
ABHES Staff
Carol A. Moneymaker
Executive Director
Date Employed: April 1995
Education: Master of Educational Administration,
American University, Washington, DC
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Mount Mercy College,
Dobbs Ferry, NY
Christopher J. Eaton
Associate Executive Director
Date Employed: June 1995
Education: Master of Higher Education and Human Development, George
Washington University, Washington, DC
Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science,
Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT
Kelli M. Blocher
Accreditation Coordinator
Date Employed: December 2007
Education: Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion,
Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
Eileen M. Brennan
Director of Accreditation Development
Date Employed: April 2007
Education: Master of Science in Human Resource Development,
Trinity University, Washington, DC
Bachelor of Arts in American Studies,
Stonehill College, North Easton, MA
Tony Filipe
Director of Institutional Compliance
Date Employed: March 2002
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Honors Psychology,
University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Amy Rowe
Accreditation Specialist
Date Employed: August 2003
Education: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences,
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
India Y. Tips
Director of Accreditation Services
Date Employed: November 1995
Education: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics,
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Michael D. White
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Date Employed: April 2007
Education: Doctor of Law,
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Master of Science,
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Bachelor of Science,
Purdue University, Ft. Wayne, IN