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Laboratory Sciences
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	Volume 77 - Winter 2001	Download

CEO's Corner

The Challenges of Constant Change

by Olive M. Kimball, EdD
Chief Executive Officer

Olive Kimball

In the seven years or more that I have been with NAACLS we have all been coping with a turbulent sea of change, including those of you in the laboratory, in higher education, and no less those of us in accreditation. Having just returned from a winter meeting of the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), I was reminded again of the changes that rocked accreditation over the last few years, and I concluded that we may not soon find a less troubled sea. I think what this means for those of us involved in NAACLS is that we must continue to anticipate changes and to influence the outcomes of change whenever possible.

Some of the major issues discussed at the CHEA meeting that relate to NAACLS included the following:

Federal Regulations

Since 1993 when Congress reauthorized the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), the new mandated standards for recognized agencies required many changes in policy and process and led to increased compliance costs for many agencies. As noted in September 1999, the NAACLS Board of Directors made the decision not to reapply for recognition by the Department of Education. As a result, after Fall 2001, NAACLS will no longer be recognized by USDE. The number of programs that rely on that recognition for federal funding is in the single digits. Programs have been alerted that alternate routes must be sought after Fall 2001. No changes to NAACLS functions or relationships are expected as a result of this action, and NAACLS continues to be recognized by CHEA, the non-governmental recognition body.

Distance Learning

CHEA has produced several monographs on distance learning in the past few years (www.chea.org). The earlier ones noted the explosion of such credit-bearing learning opportunities since 1995, and the later ones deal with the basic principles and values that must be considered by both providers and accreditors. The "new providers" of higher education include degree-granting online consortia and corporate universities. Some issues that must be addressed include the delineation of new faculty roles emphasizing what they can do rather than relying solely on credentials, an increasing rather than decreasing importance of student services, and the ability to customize education to an individual's needs because of the vast array of choices. There is renewed interest in pedagogy and in the 'pricing' of education.

International Education

There is increasing interest in international quality assurance on the part of accreditors as well as on the part of foreign programs. While more US academic institutions and programs seek to operate internationally, of more interest to NAACLS is the fact that more foreign institutions are seeking US accreditation. The CHEA meeting provided an opportunity for higher education representatives from around the world to meet and discuss common concerns. There were a number from Canada and from Western Europe as well as Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, Hong Kong, Jamaica, and Thailand. Most of the regional accreditors accredit US institutions operating programs outside the US, but in 1999, there were 103 non-US programs accredited by specialized accreditors. Conference participants noted that it is easier to accredit a field that is not culturally laden and that it often takes several years to work out accrediting arrangements. The participants called for accrediting agencies to partner with foreign programs and not try to "Americanize" them.

Transfer

The role of transfer in higher education has changed significantly in recent years and is much more varied and pervasive than before. Students seem to move from one institution to another more frequently and often attend more than one institution at a time. A recent CHEA study showed that the majority of baccalaureate graduates attended at least two colleges and universities and many students taking distance learning courses are enrolled in another institution different from the distance learning providers. Increasing numbers of students are enrolling in foreign institutions and seeking to transfer credits into American colleges and universities. The responsibility that we as an accrediting agency have includes assuring that the institutional transfer practices are consistent with the Essentials and policies on transfer while maintaining quality.

There were many other issues addressed formally at the conference, and they provided much thoughtful discussion. The underlying theme of these discussions was that, in a few years, it is likely we will think today's technology quite primitive. We must try to anticipate changes, build even more bridges to those with common interests, reach out to competitors and make new and creative alliances. NAACLS has launched numerous efforts in these directions such as revisions of Essentials and Standards, sponsorship of a Futures Conference, and participation in the Summit on the Shortage of Clinical Laboratory Personnel (see the President's Report, page 3). We will continue to pursue these efforts and to seek new initiatives.

Top of the News

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CLS/MT and CLT/MLT Essentials Revision Process Continues
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NAACLS Chief Executive Officer Honored
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Features

CEO's Corner
The Challenges of Constant Change
by Olive M. Kimball, EdD
Chief Executive Officer

Dear Dr. NAACLS
Essential 5 compliance

NAACLS Computer Update
by Mark Erickson
Computer Information Services/Program Coordinator

President's Report
by Joeline D. Davidson, MBA, CLS(NCA), MT(ASCP)
President, Board of Directors

Programs to be Site Visited
Spring/Summer 2001 Cycle



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