The 2021 Annual Report Online (ARO) included, for the first time, the following new program public disclosure question: Does the program or institution require students, trainees, and/or staff (faculty) to comply with specific policies or practices related to the institution’s affiliation or purpose? Such policies or practices may include, but are not limited to, admissions, hiring, retention policies, and/or requirements for completion that express mission and values. The CoA’s Communication Work Group has developed language to address questions that have been raised regarding this change.
The mission disclosure requirement that is part of public disclosure specified in IRs C-26 D, C-27 I, and C-23 P is focused on institutional context for programs as described in Standard I.B.2. The aim of the requirement is to ensure that students are informed of policies or other aspects of the institutional context that may affect their education and training when programs operate in institutions whose mission “require[s] students, trainees, and/or staff to comply with specific policies or practices related to the institution’s affiliation or purpose.” Examples of institutional context include, but are not limited to, military settings that require military service or obligation, faith-based settings that have faith-specific requirements, or institutional missions that require specific public service activities beyond what is typically required in health service psychology.
Programs that answer “yes” are expected to provide a website link or content from their brochure that describes all relevant policies or details sufficient to adequately inform prospective students of these unique features.