ACUHO-I
Credentialing Program
C
ERTIFICATE IN
H
OUSING
A
SSESSMENT
1
1.1
Organization Structure and Mission and Credentialing Program Purpose
Background
The Association of College & University Housing Officers—International (ACUHO-I) is incorporated as a 501(c)6 not-for-profit association in the state of Ohio. Its mission is to develop exceptional residential experiences at colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions around the world by
providing innovative, value-driven programs, services, research, and development as well as networking opportunities that help support and evolve the collegiate housing industry. We do this with the constant purpose of making a positive difference in the lives of members and those they serve.
ACUHO-I administers the ACUHO-I Credentialing Program. Its purpose is to provide a housing
professional, or an interested individual, a method of focused training that will provide a comprehensive breadth of knowledge and skills in specific competency areas identified by the association as critical for the housing field. These offerings will also identify a standard for demonstrating competence and achievement of defined learning outcomes.
The ACUHO-I Credentialing Program utilizes the following guiding principles in program planning.
• Develop using valid psychometric and proper adult learning theories
• Utilize curriculum experts in development
• Utilize subject matter experts
• Credentialing standards rigorously reviewed, confirmed, updated
• Provide tangible value
• Accuracy of credentialing records must be absolute
• Adequately address privacy
• Establish prerequisites for participation where appropriate
• Consider appropriateness of time, work, cost involved in achieving credential
• Value work experience
• Sound standards/assessment for “passing” or demonstrating competence
• Outcomes based, not input based
• Structured for sustainability
• Maintain value in being an ACUHO-I member/housing professional regardless of credentialed status
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2.1
Credentialing Program
General Provisions
To reduce duplication, policies applying across all credentials are maintained in the Credentialing Program Management’s Policy & Procedures. Items not addressed in this Certificate in Housing Assessment plan may be addressed in the Credentialing Program Management Policy & Procedures.
The Credentialing Program Management Policy & Procedures, maintained by the Credentialing Board, supersedes this document if conflict arises.
2.1.1 Scope of this document
This certificate program’s plan, policies and procedures (hereafter called the CPP) shall document the ACUHO-I policies and procedures carried out in conformance with both the ACUHO-I Credentialing Program’s Management Policies & Procedures and the ASTM E2659-09 Standard Practice for Certificate Programs for the following credentials:
• Certificate in Housing Assessment
2.1.2 Responsible Parties
The ACUHO-I Credentialing Board is responsible for the oversight and administration of the credentialing activities of the association.
The Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee is responsible for the oversight and administration of the Certificate in Housing Assessment.
2.1.3 Personnel Training
All personnel (compensated and volunteer) involved in the Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee shall be trained prior to performing their duties.
Training shall cover at a minimum:
• Defining characteristics of various credentialing programs (certificate, certification, accreditation)
• Credentialing program management policies & procedures
• Certificate in Housing Assessment Plan, policies & procedures
• Scope and authority of the Credentialing Board
• Scope and authority of the Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee The following additional training requirements are outlined for specific positions.
Capstone Coordinator
• Capstone Expert’s Training Process Calibration of Capstone Expert’s
Capstone Verification, Review & Refinement, Validation Experts
• Capstone Expert Training, and passing calibration score
2.1.4 Plan Modifications
When modifications are made to this plan, the changes shall be summarized on the Plan Modification Log to include:
• The section of the plan modified,
• The reason for modification,
• Effective date
Modifications to this plan must be approved by the ACUHO-I Credentialing Board
2.2
Appointments, Duties, Terms, & Governance
1.1.1 Appointments, Duties, & Terms
The Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee members shall represent a balance of interests and expertise from the program’s primary stakeholders.
The following positions on the Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee are appointed by the ACUHO-I Credentialing Board:
Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee Chair (3 year term):
• Reports to the Chair of the Credentialing Board
Is appointed by the ACUHO-I Credentialing Board for a three year term beginning at the annual conference, so long as he or she remains a member in good standing.
• Recommends committee appointments to the Credentialing Board
• Manages the work of the committee in accordance with all ACUHO-I & credentialing policy and procedures.
• Ensures that the certificate’s needs analysis and program review are budgeted and conducted every five years.
• Recommends policy and procedure actions to the Credentialing Board Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee Chair-Elect (3 year term):
• Monitor, update and maintain certificate program plan annually
Is appointed by the ACUHO-I Credentialing Board for a three year term beginning at the annual conference, so long as he or she remains a member in good standing.
• Review annual learner feedback evaluations
• Participates in the annual internal audit on behalf of the Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee
Certificate in Housing Assessment Capstone Coordinator (3 year term): Is appointed by the ACUHO-I Credentialing Board for a three year term beginning at the annual conference, so long as he or she remains a member in good standing.
• Works with the ACUHO-I Senior Director to recruit, select, train, and monitor the capstone experts
Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee Member (x2) (3 year term):
• Promote knowledge enhancement around housing assessment
Is appointed by the ACUHO-I Credentialing Board for a three year term beginning at the annual conference, so long as he or she remains a member in good standing.
• Monitor online assessment topic spaces (learner forums, acuho-i.net groups) and respond or refer
• Submit and present programs as necessary and as needed
The maximum term of volunteer service on the Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee is 3 years per role.
Special initial appointment transition terms of service: To ensure proper transition the first terms for the establishing members will deviate from the policy as follows.
Chair: ACE 11- ACE 14 (policy consistent) Chair-Elect: ACE 11- ACE 14 (policy consistent) Capstone Coordinator: ACE 11 – ACE 15 (+1Year) Member 1: ACE 11 – ACE 15 (+1 Year)
Member 2: ACE 11-ACE 14 (policy consistent)
2.2.1 Governance
Quorum: Unless otherwise required by law or board policy, a majority of the Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee in number and voting power shall constitute a quorum for purposes of taking action.
Voting. Any matter in which the chair or committee members wish to bring before the Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee may be submitted, discussed, and voted upon in person or electronically.
2.3
Subject Matter Expert Personnel
2.3.1 Qualifications
Several subject matter expert positions are required to implement the Certificate in Housing Assessment program. The following are compensated independent contract positions contracted by and reporting to the ACUHO-I Senior Director and advised by the Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee. Capstone Verification, Review/Refinement, Validation Experts must have:
• Minimum of a Masters degree
• Minimum of seven (7) years experience as a full time professional in housing/residence life
• Demonstrated ability to give constructive feedback to adult learners
• Demonstrated teaching/advising/mentoring/coaching experience with adult learners
• Successful completion of Capstone Review Training & yearly calibration training. Subject Matter Experts for Course Design/Development/Refinement must have:
•
Minimum of an earned master’s degree
•
Significant experience in Residence Life/Housing, preferably a minimum ten years
professionally.
•
Practical and relevant housing work experience in a number of assessment areas,
including but not limited to the following:
•
Advocating for an assessment culture
•
Building a comprehensive residence life/housing assessment plan
•
Developing an assessment project structure
•
Implementing assessment methodology
•
Analyzing assessment data
•
Reporting assessment findings
•
Ability to work collaboratively with others
•
Ability to integrate knowledge-based information gained and validated through
pre-planning work of the Credentialing Task Force
•
Ability to write clearly and concisely
•
Ability to accept and incorporate feedback into course design
•
Familiarity with value and role of on-line learning systems
•
Working, comprehensive knowledge and understanding of adult learner needs
•
Technology skills including, at a minimum, working knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint
and Word and other instructional programs
•
Some exposure to e-learning as either a learner or facilitator
2.3.2 Exclusion from governance
Certificate in Housing Assessment Capstone experts may not serve on the Certificate in Housing Assessment Committee or the Credentialing Board while performing compensated duties for the Credentialing Board or Certificate in Housing Assessment.
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The credentialing program’s products purpose, target audience, intended learning outcomes (ILOs), program requirements, and term of validity shall be reviewed by the CIHA Committee and affirmed by the Credentialing Board annually. They are:
Program Scope, Purpose, Target Audience, ILOs, Requisites, and
Term of Validity
3.1
Scope:
The Certificate in Housing Assessment was developed using the competency profile chart of the
3.2
Purpose:
Assessment Functions of the Housing Officer and the scope of the program is limited to those assessment functions within the college housing environment.
The ACUHO-I Certificate Program has been developed to provide a housing professional, or an interested individual, a comprehensive breadth of knowledge via an active-learning program that will provide opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and competency in the area of assessment within a campus-based housing context.
3.3
Target Audience:
Anyone who works in or with the college housing profession.
3.4
Design:
The certificate program will consist of three courses with an estimated minimum time of 20 contact hours per course. Each course will consist of a series of modules with a set of defined learning objectives. To earn a certificate one must also complete the Capstone which consists of an electronic portfolio, evaluated by an expert reviewer and a validation expert using defined rubrics.
3.5
Intended Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of the Certificate in Housing Assessment, participants will be able to: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Course: Advocating for Assessment & Creating a Comprehensive Plan
• Demonstrate how to use data in the development or improvement of programs/services
• Articulate the role of data in accreditation/professional standards and in seeking funding support
• Accurately identify the intended purpose and desired outcomes of assessment efforts
• Create a strategic assessment plan that provides data that guides decision-making in a timely manner while appropriately using resources.
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Course: Developing & Implementing Assessment Projects and Methodology
• Accurately identify types of assessment, the intended purpose and desired outcomes of assessment efforts
• Evaluate available assessment tools and select the appropriate tool(s) to accomplish intended purpose
• Create an assessment project timeline for a student housing operation
• Develop a project action plan outlining all tasks associated with conducting a major assessment initiative
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• Create and implement plan for assessment data analysis
• Identify key findings and implications for practice
• Write customized summary reports for specified audiences
• Develop a list of recommendations for implementation using assessment data
3.6
Requisites:
To be awarded a Certificate in Housing Assessment, a participant must: 1. Complete three online courses; and
2. Complete the verification Capstone phase; and
3. Complete the Review & Refinement Capstone phase; and 4. Complete the validation Capstone phase; and
5. Achieve a passing score on the validation of the summative assessments/portfolio. There shall be no provisions for “testing out” of requirements.
There are no continuing education requirements to maintain credential.
3.7
Term of Validity:
The term of validity will not expire.
3.8
Passing Scores
Capstone passing scores are established using a criterion referenced method. The Capstone creator, an housing assessment subject matter expert and a learner evaluation expert drafted rubrics using the coursework for expert reviewers to use in evaluating learner portfolios. Sample learner portfolio’s will be used to calibrate expert reviewers during the training period to delineate between scoring options. Verification: A verification phase expert reviewer evaluates the learner’s portfolio using scoring rubrics that capture all elements of the summative assignment. Scores of 0 indicate the element did not meet standards. A score of 1 indicates the learner has met the standards for that element of the assignment while a score of 2 suggests the learner has exceeded the standards. The Verification reviewer keeps a record of the rationale for each score for each element of the Summative Assignments. The Capstone creator, with Credentialing Board approval, will establish a minimum score required to enter the review and refinement phase.
Review & Refinement: A learner is not “scored” during the review and refinement phase. They receive feedback and coaching and then choose when to submit their portfolio for final review in the Validation phase.
Validation: An expert reviewer who has not worked with the learner before reviews their final portfolio, and using a similar rubric as the verification phase scores the learner’s demonstration of achieving the
learning objectives. In this phase, no summative assessment components that link to the demonstration of the course’s learning objectives may receive a score of 0, or the learner does not receive the
certificate.
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4.1
Stakeholder Information
Program Implementation
The following information shall be published on the ACUHO-I website to inform stakeholders about the intent, requisites, and policies of the Certificate in Housing Assessment:
1. Target audience as defined in Section 3
2. Credential’s purpose, scope and intended learning outcomes as defined in Section 3 3. Requirements to earn the credential as defined in Section 3
4. Special requirements for participation, if applicable as defined in Section 3 5. Program dates/deadlines & definitions of access/enroll as below:
Certificate Programs
o Participants will have twenty-four months from the time at which the participant is granted access to the courses to complete the certificate program.
Courses
o If not enrolled in the certificate program a participant has up to 12 months from the time at which the participant is granted access to course(s) to complete the course(s).
Capstone
o Participants will have twenty-four months from the time at which the participant is granted access to their first course to complete the Capstone.
o If a participant does not meet the verification phase requirements to enter the Capstone the participant will be directed to review coursework and summative assessments for the portions of their portfolio that did not meet admittance standards.
o If Capstone registration has been purchased and a participant is not admitted to the Capstone due to failure to met the verification phase requirements the participant will be granted a Capstone refund less cost of verification and a processing fee of $75.
Inactivity
o If a participant has been inactive for three months the association reserves the right to remove the participant’s access to the course(s). A deactivated participant’s materials will still exist and be retrievable in the participant’s record so long as course access has not expired.
o To reactivate access to the course(s) the participant must e-mail the ACUHO-I Senior Director. This instruction will be provided to the participant upon attempt to access their courses.
o Timeline for completion remains the same based on date of initial course access, and not on the date of reactivation.
Extension of Timelines
o May be made at the discretion of the ACUHO-I Senior Director. Extensions may only be granted once per course or certificate program and are not to exceed 50% of original duration.
6. Special assistance request information 7. Commercial support disclosure, if applicable
8. Fees, payment, cancellation & refund, information as below:
Payment
o To receive the package rate, payment in full for the complete certificate program must be made at the time of registration. Upon registration, the participant agrees that her/his right to participation terminates at the end of the specified timeframe for completion of the certificate.
Refunds & Cancellations
o Refunds, less a processing fee, shall be provided if a course has not been accessed. Once a course has been accessed a refund will not be granted. If a package has been
purchased a refund, less a processing fee, will be granted for un-accessed courses. o Refunds or cancellations will not be granted after expiration of course access. o Course or certificate program registration or access is non-transferable.
o All refund and cancellation requests must be in writing or emailed to the ACUHO-I Senior Director.
9. Terms and conditions acceptance
o Use of the learn.acuho-i.org site and/or submission of a purchase order or payment indicates acceptance of terms and conditions. ACUHO-I reserves the right to make changes to the site, terms and conditions.
10. Complaint & Appeal Process from Credentialing Program policies
4.2
Certificate Issuance Criteria
A non-transferable certificate shall be issued only to participants who have successfully completed the requisites, which are:
1. Completion of three online courses; and
2. Completion of the Verification Capstone phase; and
3. Completion of the Review & Refinement Capstone phase; and 4. Completion of the Validation Capstone phase; and
5. Achievement a passing score on the validation of the summative assessments/portfolio.
4.3
Certificate Use
Certificate holders earn the “Certificate in Housing Assessment.”
Successful completion of the ACUHO-I Certificate in Housing Assessment Program does not imply that an individual is in any way certified, licensed, or registered in Housing Assessment. The issuance of the certificate confirms that the individual attended the course and successfully completed the certificate requisites. Accordingly, certificate holders shall not state or imply that they are certified, registered or licensed nor shall they use any other titles or designations to signify the attainment of the certificate other than those identified in this policy.
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The Certificate in Housing Assessment program will be evaluated on a annual basis to, 1) measure the quality, effectiveness and value of the credentialing program against stated performance objectives, 2) measure the performance of the learner assessments and evaluators, 3) monitor the appropriate linkage of the methods and instruments to the intended learning outcomes, 4) consider stakeholder feedback on the program design, content, delivery and assessments, and 5) consider the need to change the program’s purpose, scope or intended learning outcomes.
Program Evaluation
5.1
Performance Objectives
• Enrollments will meet projections established in the budget
• Net revenue will meet projections established in the budget
• After training, 95% of expert reviewer candidates will qualify to validate portfolios
• 90% of those enrolling in the full certificate program will complete all courses within the timeframe
o Of those, 90% will achieve the certificate
• 60% of participants will indicate that the value of the content exceeded their expectation
• Less that 10% of participants will indicate that the value of the content did not meet their expectations
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6.1
Certificate in Housing Assessment Plan Modification Log
Appendix
Any modifications to the Plan that materially impact personnel and/or participants must be documented on this log, including identification of the section modified, the reason for the modification, and the effective date of the change.
Section Modified Modification and Rationale Effective Date
Complete document modification Items specific to Certificate in Housing Assessment management were moved into this separate document and out of the Certificate Program Management Plan (4/13/2010) to this document. Items that direct the general credentialing activities are now found in the Credentialing Program Management Policy & Procedures
