Guidelines for the Accreditation of Graduate Programs in Behavior Analysis

Policies and Procedures: Primary Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities of the ABA International Executive Council:

The Executive Council has the final authority on the granting accreditation to an applying program.
The Executive Council shall appoint a Chair of the Accreditation Board to serve a three-year term.
The Executive Council shall vote on the Accreditation Board Chair’s nominations for the six-member Accreditation Board, with each member serving a three-year term.
The Executive Council shall review, and modify if necessary, the Accreditation Board’s annual listing of potential site-visitors.
The President of ABA International shall appoint, as necessary to do the work of the Accreditation Board, additional ad hoc members to the Board.
The Executive Council shall annually take action in considering recommended changes in standards and recommendations for accreditation submitted by the Chair of the Accreditation Board.
The Executive Council shall review Accreditation Site-Visit Reports and the recommendations of the Accreditation Board at the Fall and Spring Council meetings.
Upon granting of ABA International accreditation, the ABA International office will, on behalf of the President of ABA International, send letters to the University administrators of the program’s choice, informing them of the granting of ABA International Accreditation. The letter(s) will speak to the success of the program, the program’s importance to the field of behavior analysis, and the international reputation and status earned as an ABA International accredited program.

Primary responsibilities of the Chair of the Accreditation Board. The Chair of the Accreditation Board shall:

Oversee the ABA International Accreditation process, ensuring fair and timely accreditation reviews.
Act annually to nominate members to the Accreditation Board, and coordinate the activities of said Board.
Act annually to provide the Executive Council with a list of potential site visitors.
Compose and send a two member site-visit team to each applying organization, to visit with faculty members and students and to inspect facilities.
Ensure review of the final site visit report and convey recommendations to the Executive Council. The Accreditation Chair shall act annually provide to the Executive Council an annual report of accreditation activities.
Act annually provide to the Executive Council an updated recommendation for standards, including the recommendation to leave the standards as is.

Primary Responsibilities of the Accreditation Board:

Members of the Accreditation Board shall conduct site visits, as feasible and appropriate.
The Accreditation Board shall make recommendations to the Executive Council regarding decisions on program accreditation or re-accreditation.
Members of the Accreditation Board shall participate in accreditation hearings as deemed necessary.
The Accreditation Board shall act every year to elaborate on and refine the statements of standards.
The Accreditation Board, via a report prepared by the Chair of the Accreditation Board, shall annually provide to the Executive Council an updated recommendation for standards, including the recommendation to leave the standards as is

Primary Responsibilities of the Site-Visit Team:

Potential site visitors shall, when asked, conduct site visits, as feasible and appropriate.
Site visitors shall conduct site visits in a timely an professional manner in accordance with the guidelines described in this manual.
Site visitors shall prepare a draft and a final site visit report, describing the program of study and make recommendations regarding the granting of accreditation or re-accreditation.
Site visitors shall participate in accreditation hearings as deemed necessary.