2007 Annual Reports for Boards and Committees

Committee on Accreditation

Composition of the 2007 Committee on Accreditation
Appendix A to this report presents a brief profile of the 2007 Committee on Accreditation (CoA) membership. In terms of individual and discipline diversity, 38% of the CoA members were women and 10% were of ethnic minority background.  Psychologists serving on the CoA represented 26 (48%) of the APA divisions, within which 48% were APA Fellows.  Among the psychologists on the Committee, 28% were ABPP Diplomates.  Fifteen states from various regions of the country were geographically represented on the Committee.

Staff Liaison:  Susan Zlotlow, PhD

Accreditation Reviews and Consultation: Annual Summary
During calendar year 2007, the CoA, chaired by Jim Lichtenberg, PhD, met on the following dates: March 29-April 1, July 19-22, and October 18-21, completing the reviews of 67 doctoral programs, 71 internship programs, and 13 postdoctoral residency programs for a total of 151 complete reviews.  Of those programs, 147 (97%) either attained initial accredited status or maintained their prior accredited status.  Four programs received a final adverse action.  Other programs, not included in that total, were deferred for further information.  Appendix B presents the growth in the number of accredited programs by decade.  The Committee also completed numerous preliminary reviews.  In addition, the Committee reviewed complaints filed against accredited programs as well as special reports submitted by programs other than those accounted for in the major reviews discussed above.  The Committee held its annual policy meeting on January 11 and 13-14 to discuss such issues as:  site visitor selection procedures, assessment and quality enhancement, residency requirements, and developed practice areas.  Throughout the year, the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation staff and the Committee provided consultative guidance to programs and constituent groups.

Changes in Accreditation Policy
The CoA made a proposed Implementing Regulation defining “the equivalent thereof” for residency requirements in Domain A.4 of the Guidelines and Principles for Accreditation of Programs in Professional Psychology for doctoral graduate programs available for public comment from November 14, 2006 until May 14, 2007.  After careful consideration of the public comments received on the Implementing Regulation on residency for doctoral programs, the CoA voted to adopt an amended version of the proposed Implementing Regulation at its July meeting. In accordance with both prior CoA statements and comments received, the CoA is including student socialization as one of the purposes of the residency requirement, as it is an important part of student development.

Following a period of public comment that ended on February 14, 2007, the CoA approved a change to the Accreditation Operating Procedures (AOP) to extend the timeframe for students, interns, and residents to file a complaint against an accredited program from 1 year after the time that the alleged noncompliance came to the attention of the complainant until 18 months after they leave the program.  After review of the public comments received and approval from the APA Board of Directors, the CoA made this change effective on July 1, 2007.

The CoA proposed a change to the AOP that will include “denial of a site visit” for applicant programs among the list of CoA decision options in AOP Section 4.2.  “Denial of a site visit” had already been listed as an option upon initial review for a site visit in AOP Section 1.2 and as an appealable decision in AOP Section 5.1. The CoA sought more consistency with other appealable decisions by including “denial of a site visit” in AOP Section 4.2.  Following review of the public comment received from July 19 until October 19 of 2007 and approval by the APA Board of Directors in December 2007, this change became effective in January 2008.

In accordance with a revised Memorandum of Understanding between the APA CoA and the Canadian Psychological Association, the APA CoA will no longer accredit programs in Canada beginning September 1, 2015.  As of January 1, 2008, the APA CoA no longer accepts new applications from applicant programs located in Canada.  The CoA developed Implementing Regulation C-21 stating that it will no longer accredit programs outside the United States.  The phase-out of currently accredited Canadian programs will be the only exception, and the CoA will wait until such time as the APA sets a policy on international quality assurance before considering any changes.

Public Comment
The CoA made 3 proposed changes to the Accreditation Operating Procedures available for public comment.  The first proposal alters the process for site visitor selection by shifting the responsibility for choosing visitors from programs to the CoA.  The second proposal broadens the definition of the “generalist” site visitor for doctoral programs.  The third proposal clarifies that the outcomes of applicant program reviews will be made public.  To obtain further information on these proposals or to provide comments, please visit http://apaoutside.apa.org/AccredSurvey/public/.  The comment period is open from August 14, 2007 until February 14, 2008.

Transition from a Committee to a Commission
The year 2007 was the last year that the 21-member Committee on Accreditation was in place.  CoA members worked during 2007 on developing an operating structure for the 32-member Commission on Accreditation, both in terms of program review and policy discussion.  The CoA revised its own governance to include one Chair, one Associate Chair for Program Review, and one Associate Chair for Quality Assurance.  A subcommittee of the CoA planned an extensive training program for the new Commission to take place in early 2008.

Program Review Consultants
The CoA concluded its pilot project at its fall 2007 meeting employing non-CoA member readers in a supporting role in the CoA’s review of programs.  The CoA evaluated the utility and effectiveness of utilizing Program Review Consultants (PRCs) in the review process, in preparation for the change in the structure of the CoA.  The revised plan for the composition of the CoA includes the use of program review panels, which would include non-CoA members.  The PRCs reviewed program materials and discussed those materials by providing their review panels with detailed analyses of strengths and weaknesses of assigned programs throughout their tenure.  Each program was reviewed by at least two readers, one of whom was always a CoA member. The PRCs did not make any recommendations regarding accreditation.  The CoA expressed appreciation for the work of the 7 PRCs: Frank Collins, PhD, Philip Farber, PhD, Donna Horn, PhD, Joseph Kobos, PhD, Cathy Mavrolas, PhD, Edward Sheridan, PhD, and Gerald Stone, PhD.  Initial results show the pilot project to be a success, and the CoA was able to dedicate more time to its policy agenda, as program review became more efficient.

Accreditation Assembly
The CoA held its first Accreditation Assembly on January 12-13, 2007 in St. Pete Beach, Florida, with an attendance of approximately 160 individuals.  Attendees expressed appreciation for the event and for the opportunity to interact with the CoA on the future of accreditation in psychology.  The CoA surveyed attendees on all aspects of the Assembly, including programming, scheduling, and location.  In the spring of 2007, the CoA surveyed accreditation constituent groups in order to determine the optimal timing for the 2008 Assembly.  Through this process, the CoA determined to hold the 2008 Accreditation Assembly on May 30-31, 2008.  The upcoming Assembly will be held in Minneapolis, MN in an effort to provide a convenient location for as many participants as possible.

Appendix A

2007 CoA MEMBERSHIP PROFILE

Representing Graduate Departments of Psychology
Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology (COGDOP)

• W. Edward Craighead, Ph.D., ABPP, Emory University.  APA Member (Div. 12)/ Fellow (Div. 12). Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 1970, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
• Thomas M DiLorenzo, Ph.D., University of Delaware.  APA Member (Divs. 2, 12, 25, 38).  Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 1984, University of West Virginia.
• Martin Heesacker, Ph.D., University of Florida. APA Member (Div. 8)/Fellow (Divs. 17, 51). Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, 1983, University of Missouri, Columbia.
• Karen Maitland Schilling, Ph.D., Miami University. APA Member (Divs. 12, 35). Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 1975, University of Florida.

Representing Professional Schools and Training Programs
Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP)

• Bob Gene Knight, Ph.D., University of Southern California. Fellow (Divs. 12, 20). Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 1979, Indiana University.
• Milton E. Strauss, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University. APA Member (Div. 20)/Fellow (Div. 12). Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 1967, Harvard University.

Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs (CCPTP)

• Nancy S. Elman, PhD., University of Pittsburgh. APA Member (Divs. 17, 43). Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, 1971, University of Pittsburgh.
• James W. Lichtenberg, Ph.D., University of Kansas. APA Member (Div. 12)/Fellow (Divs. 17, 29). Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, 1974, University of Minnesota.

Council of Directors of School Psychology Programs (CDSPP)

• Edward Gaughan, Ph.D., Alfred University. APA Fellow (Div. 16). Ph.D., School Psychology, 1985, Temple University.
• William O. Strein, Ed.D., University of Maryland.  APA Member (Div. 16). Ed.D., School Psychology, 1979, Pennsylvania State University.

National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP)

• Kelly M. Ducheny, Psy.D., Chicago School of Professional Psychology. APA Member (Divs. 02, 44,45, 52). Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, 1993, Wright State University.                   
• La Pearl Logan Winfrey, Ph.D., Wright State University. APA Member (Div. 45). Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 1988, State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook.

Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC)

• Jeffrey M. Baker, Ph.D., University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. APA Member (Divs. 12, 22, 40)/Fellow (Div. 38), ABPP (Clinical). Ph.D., Education Psychology, 1982, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
• Joyce Illfelder-Kaye, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University. APA Member (Div. 17), Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, 1980, The Ohio State University.

Representing Professional Practice
APA Board of Professional Affairs and Committee for Advancement of Professional Practice
Institutional Practice

• Patricia P. Alexander, Ph.D., Mississippi State Hospital (Whitfield). APA Member (Div. 18). Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 1992, University of Mississippi.
• Edmund J. Nightingale, Ph.D., VA Medical Center (Minneapolis). APA Member (Divs. 29, 31, 52, 55, 56)/Fellow (Divs. 12, 18, 30), ABPP (Clinical Psychology).  Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 1975, Loyola University of Chicago. 

Independent Practice

• Norma P. Simon, Ed.D., Private Practice (retired).  APA Member (Div.35)/ Fellow (Divs. 17, 39, 42, 46, 52), ABPP (Counseling and Psychoanalysis).  Ed.D., Counseling Psychology, 1968, Columbia University.
• Jeffrey N. Younggren, Ph.D., Private Practice.  APA Member (Divs. 29, 41)/Fellow (Divs. 12, 42), ABPP (Clinical). Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 1973, University of Arizona.

Representing the General Public

• Betty Horton, DNSc, Consultant.  DNSc, 1998, Rush University.
• David J. Werner, Ph.D., Chancellor Emeritus, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Ph.D., Industrial Engineering and Management Science, 1969, Northwestern University.

Representing Graduate Students
American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS)

• Eric Andrew VandeVoorde, Doctoral student in Counseling Psychology program at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Appendix B

Number of Accredited Programs by Decade

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