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The Commission on the Accreditation of
Programs in Applied and Clinical Sociology


Accreditation and Re-Accreditation Process: Suggested Timeline

1. Process Begins: The Program submits a completed Accreditation Application Form with non-refundable application fee of $100 to the Commission Chair. If the preconditions are met per the application information, the Program begins work on the Self-study Report.

Notes:

  • Before submitting an application, Programs should carefully assess whether or not they meet the preconditions specified in the Commission's checklist.
  • The Program will refer to the following documents throughout the review process:

Estimated time: 2-3 weeks

2. The Program prepares the Self-study Report.

Estimated time: 2-3 months

3. The Program submits the Self-study Report (1 copy) with accreditation fee of $2000 to the Commission Chair. The Self-study Report is a single digital document in MS Word or PDF format that includes a table of contents with live links to the narrative and supporting materials in the appendices. The Commission Chair reviews the Self-study Report for completeness. If the Self-study Report is deemed “complete,” the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Commission form an Accreditation Review Committee, and designate the committee chair and site visit team, in consultation with the Executive Committee. The Commission Chair deposits a copy of the Self-study Report in a shared folder in cloud storage for the Committee.

Estimated time: 3-4 weeks

4. The Accreditation Review Committee reviews the Self-study Report and schedules a conference call or videoconference, and additional conference calls or videoconferences, as necessary.

Estimated time: 2-3 months

5. If the Self-study Report is deemed acceptable by the Accreditation Review Committee, a site visit is scheduled (see Section 7.2, in the Commission's Accreditation Policies and Procedures for scheduling a virtual site visit followed by an abbreviated physical site visit during an international crisis or pandemic).

Estimated time: 2-3 months

6. The Site Visit Team conducts a site visit hosted by the Program in September, October, November, February, March, or April (see Section 7.1, in the Commission's Accreditation Policies and Procedures for exceptions).

Estimated time: 3 days (Refer to the Commission's Accreditation Review Process Guidelines for details.)

7. The Site Visit Team writes a Site Visit Report and submits it to the Program Director for comments, clarifications, and supporting documentation as necessary, and to the Chair of the Accreditation Review Committee for distribution to the full committee. The Chair of the Accreditation Review Committee schedules a conference call or videoconference, and additional conference calls or videoconferences as necessary, and prepares an interim “Report on Accreditation” (without recommendation) for comment by the Program.

Estimated time: 3-4 weeks

8. The Chair of the Accreditation Review Committee writes the final “Report on Accreditation and Recommendation,” for the Commission, incorporating any changes.

Estimated time: 2-3 weeks

9. The Chair of the Accreditation Review Committee submits the final “Report on Accreditation and Recommendation” to the Commission Board (summer meeting/August or winter meeting/February) with all available evidence for review. The Board accepts or rejects the recommendation.

Estimated time: 1 day

10. Process ends:

  • The Program is recommended and accepted by the Commission Board for Full Accreditation (up to 5 years).
  • The Program is recommended and accepted by the Commission Board for Provisional Accreditation (2 years).
  • A program that is not recommended and accepted for accreditation by the Commission Board will receive a determination of accreditation denied (see Sections 1.14, and 8.3, in the Commission’s Accreditation Policies and Procedures document).
  • The Program is recommended and accepted by the Commission Board for Full Re-accreditation (up to 7 years).
  • The Program is recommended and accepted by the Commission Board for Probationary Re-accreditation (2 years).
  • A program that is not recommended and accepted for re-accreditation by the Commission Board will receive a determination of Revoked Accreditation (see Sections 1.14, 9.2, and 9.3, in the Commission’s Accreditation Policies and Procedures document).
  • Following accreditation and reaccreditation, the Program submits an Annual Report to the Vice-Chair of the Commission within two months of the end of the Program’s academic year (see Section 11.2, in the Commission's Accreditation Policies and Procedures; and refer to Section VII, in the Commission's Accreditation Review Process Guidelines document; and Standard 4.2.4, in the Commission's Baccalaureate Level, Masters Level, and Doctoral Level Standards).