Board of the Commission on Accrediting: Nominations for Special Election Now Open
Nominations are now open for the inaugural ACPE Commission on Accrediting (COA) Board of Commissioners.
Beginning its work in January 2027, the COA Board will consist of 15 members and convene twice annually to make accreditation decisions based on site team reports, review substantive change petitions, receive program status reports, and carry out other responsibilities essential to accreditation oversight.
Six seats will be filled by members of the current Accreditation Commission. Nominations are being accepted for the remaining nine (9) seats. Orientation for all COA Commissioners will take place during ACPE’s Annual Conference in October.
Nominations will be accepted through Friday, August 14.
The election slate will be published on August 24, and the Special Election will open September 1 and close September 18 at 5:00 p.m. Election results will be announced on September 22.
Role and Responsibilities of Board of the Commission on Accrediting
Annual Meetings
The Board of the Commission on Accrediting will meet twice annually. Typically, for a minimum of two days each meeting. Meeting workflows are as follows:
- Day 1 AM - Plenary session
- Day 1 PM - Work Group meetings*
- Day 2: Plenary session focused on accreditation decision-making for programs on the agenda
At the end of the meeting, Commissioners will review work for consistency and evaluate the effectiveness of the work.
Work Groups
During the Annual Meetings, the Board will divide into groups of four or five to distribute the workload. Each work group is assigned by staff in advance and often stays together as a group for two years. The assignments are made at least three weeks in advance by staff, with each action assigned to a primary and a secondary reader, in order to give the Commissioners adequate time to review the materials.
Each work group will meet separately to review all of the actions assigned to it and to determine which may be placed on the consent agenda and which will require full Board discussion.
Reader Panels
In addition to the semi-annual meetings of the Board, work groups also meet via videoconference as reader panels to review a specific program report or petition. Reader panels will meet at least once annually for approximately 90 minutes.
Action items for these panels are limited to reports that do not result in a change in membership (accreditation) status or reports that do not result in issuing a Letter of Concern, and/or petitions that do not request a change in control or legal status. Staff make assignments at least three weeks prior to the panel.
Special Meetings
If needed, special meetings of the Board may be called by the secretary on order of the chair, or at the written request of a quorum of Commissioners.
If you have any additional questions regarding the role of members on the Board of the Commission on Accrediting, please contact David Carnish (david.carnish@acpe.edu).