Volume 68 - Winter 1998	Download

Executive Director’s corner Institutional and Program Rights by Olive M. Kimball, EdD Executive Director

Program directors sometimes feel that the responsibilities of accreditation or approval as defined in the Essentials and Standards can be overwhelming. The responsibilities are significant and require a reasonable level of administrative and organizational ability on the part of program directors to meet them successfully. However, along with responsibilities come specific rights which institutional sponsors of accredited programs may expect. Program directors may wish to review them from time to time so that they and program faculty do not add unnecessary administrative burdens.

The sponsoring institution has the right to expect an accrediting agency such as NAACLS to conduct business fairly, with appropriate consideration of the institution's mission and objectives. It is the responsibility of the program to meet all standards and include all components indicated in the Essentials and Standards, but the institution may organize and administer its program in whatever manner it elects in order to maintain academic control and to insure quality and integrity of program activities.

A program does not need approval from NAACLS to define and establish its organizational and administrative structure or management nor to select and change affiliates. It does have the responsibility to notify the agency in a timely way about changes. A program does not need approval to determine the format and content of contractual agreements as long as the obligations of both parties are consistent with Essentials or Standards and are clearly stated.

The institution is required to provide resources and facilities that allow for effective learning, but how it obtains, manages or distributes those resources is the prerogative of the institution. The institution is responsible for insuring that there are sufficient funds to maintain the quality of the program, but financial practices or policies are carried out at the discretion of the program.

While certain program director and medical advisor/medical director credentials are required, it is the institution's right to assess faculty qualifications and to identify and hire sufficient individuals to carry out program goals. The institution alone determines the number of faculty needed and the number of students to be enrolled.

The publication of policies for admission and acceptance of students that are consistent with the Essentials or Standards is the responsibility of the institution. However, the institution establishes its own admission requirements and method of student selection. It also determines the manner in which it observes the fair practice requirements of the agency. That is, it may publish or advertise the program as it chooses so long as the information is complete and accurate and the policies and processes by which the program functions are recognized as fair.

While curriculum content areas are specified within the Essentials and Standards, the institution alone determines the format, duration and methods of instruction. It assigns credits and establishes graduation requirements for whatever academic credential is awarded.

The institution must comply with requirements for a Self-Study Report. However, it has the right to define its own method of developing the self-study, to determine who will participate in that development, and the specific format the report will take.

These are important rights upon which NAACLS will not infringe. Volunteers and staff are always available to answer questions regarding areas that may not be clear to a new program director. Being aware of program rights and privileges as well as responsibilities can reduce significantly the stresses of program administration.

Dr. Kimball is the Executive Director.

Top of the News
			A call for volunteers
			APRC report by Steven Suvalsky, BSMT, MHS APRC Chairman
			Evaluation of procedures and services of NAACLS
			NAACLS celebrates 25 years of service to higher education by Frederick W. Pairent, PhD Secretary, Board of Directors
			New payment schedule for site visit fees
			The impact of teaching on productivity in the clinical laboratory A call for collaboration and a forum for discussion by William N. Bigler, PhD, and Mary Ellen Hermann, MS, MT(ASCP)
			Volunteering: the payoff may be bigger than you think! by Monica D. Mitchell Program Coordinator, Program Services
Features
			Bits n pieces
			Dear Dr. NAACLS Program length
			Executive Director’s corner Institutional and Program Rights by Olive M. Kimball, EdD Executive Director
			Helpful hints for program directors and volunteers by Jennifer Beyer Program Coordinator, Program Services
			Newly accredited and approved programs
			President’s report by Joeline D. Davidson, MBA, CLS(NCA), MT(ASCP) President, Board of Directors

	Select an Issue   Vol 109 - Fall 2011 Vol 108 - Summer 2011 Vol 107 - Spring 2011 Vol 106 - Volume 106 - Fall NAACLS News Vol 105 - Summer 2010 Vol 104 - Spring 2010 NAACLS News Vol 103 - Fall 2009 NAACLS News Vol 102 - Summer 2009 Vol 101 - Spring 2009 Vol 100 - Winter 2008 Vol 99 - Summer 2008 Vol 98 - Spring 2008 Vol 97 - Winter 2007 Vol 96 - Summer 2007 Vol 95 - Spring 2007 Vol 94 - Winter 2006 Vol 93 - Spring/Summer 2006 Vol 92 - Special Edition Vol 91 - Winter 2005 Vol 90 - Fall 2005 Vol 89 - Spring/Summer 2005 Vol 87 - Fall 2004 Vol 86 - Spring/Summer 2004 Vol 85 - Fall 2003 Vol 84 - Spring/Summer 2003 Vol 83 - Winter 2003 Vol 82 - Fall 2002 Vol 81 - Spring / Summer 2002 Vol 80 - Winter 2002 Vol 79 - Fall 2001 Vol 78 - Spring / Summer 2001 Vol 77 - Winter 2001 Vol 76 - Fall 2000 Vol 75 - Spring / Summer 2000 Vol 74 - Winter 2000 Vol 73 - Fall 1999 Vol 72 - Spring / Summer 1999 Vol 71 - Winter 1999 Vol 70 - Fall 1998 Vol 69 - Spring / Summer 1998 Vol 68 - Winter 1998 Vol 67 - Fall 1997 Vol 66 - Spring 1997 Vol 65 - Winter 1996 Vol 64 - Summer 1996 Vol 63 - Spring 1996 Vol 62 - Winter 1996 Vol 61 - Summer 1995 Vol 60 - Spring 1995 Vol 59 - Fall 1994 Vol 58 - Summer 1994 Vol 57 - Spring 1994 Vol 56 - Fall 1993 Vol 55 - Summer 1993 Vol 54 - Spring 1993 Vol 53 - Fall 1992 Vol 52 - Summer 1992 Vol 51 - Spring 1992 Vol 50 - Fall 1991 Vol 49 - Summer 1991 Vol 48 - Spring 1991 Vol 47 - Fall 1990 Vol 46 - Summer 1990 Vol 45 - Spring 1990 Vol 44 - Fall 1989 Vol 43 - Summer 1989 Vol 42 - Winter 1989 Vol 41 - Fall 1988 Vol 40 - April 1988 Vol 39 - December 1987 Vol 38 - September 1987 Vol 37 - Spring 1987 Vol 36 - Winter 1987 Vol 35 - October 1986 Vol 34 - November 1985 Vol 33 - November 1984 Vol 32 - July 1984 Vol 31 - November 1983 Vol 30 - November 1982 Vol 29 - November 1981 Vol 28 - December 1980 Vol 27 - August 1980 Vol 26 - September 1979 Vol 25 - August 1979 Vol 24 - June 1979 Vol 23 - February 1979 Vol 22 - October 1978 Vol 21 - July 1978 Vol 20 - April 1978 Vol 19 - October 1977 Vol 18 - July 1977 Vol 17 - April 1977 Vol 16 - February 1977 Vol 15 - November 1976 Vol 14 - September 1976 Vol 13 - June 1976 Vol 12 - December 1975 Vol 11 - October 1975 Vol 10 - August 1975 Vol 9 - July 1975 Vol 8 - June 1975 Vol 7 - April 1975 Vol 6 - February 1975 Vol 5 - December 1974 Vol 4 - November 1974 Vol 3 - September 1974 Vol 2 - August 1974 Vol 1 - June 1974