The BOE team chair is charged with writing, editing, and finalizing the BOE report, which comprises the BOE’s official report of its findings. The report documents the BOE team’s recommendations for each standard, cites new areas for improvement, and/or cites or removes previous areas for improvement. In addition, the report provides a rationale for each of the BOE team’s findings.
The BOE report includes a cover sheet that identifies the name and address of the unit and institution, the dates of the visit, and the names of the BOE team members and state representatives. The report also includes a table of contents that divides the report into four sections: introduction, conceptual framework, findings which include strengths, areas for improvement, and corrections to the institutional report for each standard, and a list of the evidence that was reviewed. Each section is described below.
Introduction
This section provides an overview of the institution, including type (i.e., state, religious affiliation), mission, population served, approximate enrollment, and, for continuing visits, any noteworthy changes since the last visit. It should also indicate whether branch campuses, off-campus programs, alternate route programs, or distance learning programs exist at this institution and how the team reviewed them. This section provides the context for the visit and describes characteristics of the unit and institution that make the unit unique.
Conceptual Framework(s)
This section includes a brief summary of the institution’s conceptual framework(s) and the extent to which it is reflected in the unit and its programs.
Findings for Each Standard
This section reports the overall team findings for each standard. This section has six subsections that are further divided by each of the standards elements identified in the rubrics:
Standard 1—Candidate Knowledge, Skills, and Professional Dispositions
Standard 2—Program Assessment and Unit Evaluation
Standard 3—Field Experiences and Clinical Practice
Standard 4—Diversity
Standard 5—Faculty Qualifications, Performance, and Development
Standard 6—Unit Governance and Resources
Each subsection includes the BOE recommendation as to whether the standard is met or not met and sufficient rationale to defend the recommendation. Each subsection presents a description and analysis of the evidence as it relates to each of the Elements of the Standard, which are found in the standards rubrics. The BOE team should also draw on data, documentation, samples, and group and individual interviews to provide rationale for its recommendations. Each subsection should present a holistic discussion of the standard using the Elements and evidence presented to support the overall recommendations of the team. The narrative should provide information about how the standard is being met and should include a discussion of areas for improvement as well as any positive aspects of the unit that may have been noted. The narrative should clearly articulate the strengths and areas for improvement.
The BOE team also writes specific statements that clearly identify areas for improvement that are directly related to the standards. The unit may report on changes related to the areas for improvement in Part C of its annual report. The BOE team that visits the institution in five to seven years will look for evidence that the previous areas for improvement have been addressed.
Each subsection also describes any corrections to the institution's report that are important for the UAB to know as they read the IR.
Sources of Evidence
This section includes a list of all individuals interviewed and all evidence reviewed by the BOE team during the on-site visit, including third-party testimony.
Corrections to the Institutional Report
Toward the end of the 52-day period, the team chair sends a final draft of the report to the unit head for review and correction of factual errors. Any corrections suggested by the unit head must be communicated in writing within five days to the BOE chair. Corrections are incorporated into the final report at the discretion of the chair. The team chair then submits the final BOE report to the NCATE office within 52 days after the on-site visit. The unit and the state partner, if there is one, will be notified that the report has been submitted and have access to the report in AIMS.
The BOE report is the property of the institution. It can be released and quoted only at the institution’s discretion. NCATE will not release the report or any parts of the report without permission from the institution.