At its October 2009 meeting the Unit Accreditation Board (UAB) agreed to no longer use the terms conditions, provisions, and probation. Beginning in spring 2010, the UAB will have the option of granting or continuing accreditation for a defined length of time, deferring the decision until the next meeting, or denying or revoking accreditation. This change is designed to be less punitive in nature and to be more supportive of continuous improvement. Decisions to deny and revoke accreditation will continue to be NCATE’s only adverse decisions that will be eligible for appeal.

Beginning at its April 2010 meeting, the UAB will make one the following seven accreditation decisions for each institution being reviewed:

• Accreditation for five years. All standards are met, no serious problems exist across standards, and the state retains a five-year cycle.
• Accreditation for seven years. All standards are met and no serious problems exist across standards.
• Accreditation for two years with a focused visit. When at least one standard is not met and problems are centered in the unmet standard, a focused visit in two years will be required. If the standard continues to be unmet after the focused visit, accreditation will be revoked.
• Accreditation for two years with a full visit. When one or more standards are not met and serious problems exist across standards, a full visit will be requested. If the standard(s) continues to be unmet after the full visit, accreditation will be revoked.
• Defer decision. When at least one standard is not met, the problems are centered in the unmet standard, and documentation submitted before the next UAB meeting could show that the standard is met, the institution will be required to submit documentation to the next Unit Accreditation Board meeting. The UAB will make this decision if the Board of Examiners (BOE) team recommended that all standards were met and the UAB did not accept the team’s recommendation. If the standard continues to be unmet at the next UAB meeting, the unit will be accredited for two years with a focused visit.
• Deny accreditation. When one or more standards are not met and the preponderance of evidence indicates problems across multiple standards by an institution seeking accreditation for the first time.
• Revoke accreditation. When one or more standards are not met and the preponderance of evidence indicates problems across multiple standards by an institution seeking to continue accreditation.