NCATE engages in ongoing evaluation of its procedures and its BOE members. After each on-site visit, BOE team members evaluate each other and NCATE procedures. Institutions also evaluate the team chair, team members who visited their campus, and the NCATE procedures. Evaluation forms to be completed by BOE team members can be downloaded from the NCATE website under the BOE link to on-site visit materials. Institutions are sent an evaluation form with their final BOE report. Each evaluation form is described in detail in this section of the handbook.

Evaluations of Team Members

At the end of the visit, team members are asked to evaluate the performance of the team chair and their fellow team members, both national and state members. The institution also evaluates the BOE team members who visited its campus. These evaluations are used to monitor, on a continuous basis, the overall performance of the BOE, as well as to identify individuals who are not performing adequately. In addition they are used to identify BOE members with the skills necessary to serve as team chairs.

The team chair should provide direct feedback on the performance of team members during and at the end of the team visit.

A competent BOE member displays the following knowledge, skills, and dispositions:

• Comes to the visit prepared as shown by having read the institutional report, completed the planning instrument, reviewed and analyzed annual report data, and visited the institution’s website prior to the visit.

• Is able to participate fully and attentively in visits that usually require 12-hour days.

• Understands NCATE procedures and processes and applies them appropriately.

• Is a team player, listens to others, does not dominate team discussions, and contributes substantively to team deliberations through arguments based on data rather than emotions.

• Understands the NCATE standards, seeks multiple sources of data related to the standards, and asks questions related to the standards.

• Reviews and analyzes qualitative and quantitative data and accuately and clearly translates findings into substantive written contributions to the BOE report.

• Is not confrontational, accusatory, or demanding in interactions with institutional representatives.

• Applies the NCATE standards holistically, with attention to institutional context and without regard to personal opinions or biases.

• Understands, values, and is committed to NCATE accreditation and does not publicly question the value of accreditation or NCATE standards.

• Has basic computer skills, does own word processing, uses e-mail, and accesses information from the web as needed.

Team chairs are evaluated by team members in the following areas:

• Pre-visit communications, including contact with team members prior to the visit regarding logistics, assignments, and responsibilities.

• Team orientation at the first meeting.

• Group processing skills to facilitate individual and group work and decision-making.

• Management of writing assignments for the BOE report.

• Leadership skills, including the ability to organize and handle details, identify responsibilities and assign tasks, etc.

• Personal qualities, including tact, promptness, communication skills, fairness, lack of bias, dependability, and thoroughness.

Team members who wish to see copies of their evaluations may contact the NCATE office after they have served on several teams.

Evaluations of the BOE Report

Three- to five-person audit committees of the UAB have responsibility for making accreditation decisions for a number of institutions based on a review of the BOE report, the institutional report, the institution’s rejoinder, and the team chair’s response to the rejoinder. In addition, the audit committees complete an evaluation of the BOE reports for the institutions assigned to them. Two to three months after the UAB meeting, NCATE sends team members a copy of (1) the UAB audit committee’s evaluation of the BOE report and (2) the UAB’s official Accreditation Action Report and/or letter for the institution. The rubric for the evaluation of BOE reports can be found on NCATE’s website.

Evaluations of NCATE Procedures

BOE teams are asked to evaluate the procedures and reference materials that guide the on-site visit. Institutions also evaluate the NCATE accreditation procedures. Procedures and materials are modified or new ones introduced as a result of these evaluations.