Summer 2021
NACCAS NOW
DR. TONY TIME
3
NACCAS FINANCE TEAM
24
COMING SOON
4
NACCAS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & LEGAL TEAM
25
NEW NACCAS COMMISSION CHAIR
5
NACCAS HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM
26
2021 NACCAS COMMISSIONERS
6
NACCAS RESEARCH & OUTCOMES REPORTING TEAM
27
2021 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
7
CONTACT US
28
2021 COMMISSIONER DIRECTORY
8
NACCAS HELP CENTER
29
EDDIE TALKS
9
2021 NACCAS PEER EVALUATORS
30
COMPLIANCE INSIGHTS
12
PEER EVALUATOR OF THE QUARTER
33
FINANCE CORNER
13
JOIN OUR TEAM
34
DATA DIVE
14
2021 NACCAS ACCREDITATION WORKSHOP
35
ATTENTION PLEASE
15
COMPLETING NACCAS WEBINAR DIRECTIVES
36
NACCAS RECOGNITION
16
NACCAS TECHINICAL STANDARDS
37
NACCAS SCOPE
17
FIVE CRITICAL REASONS
38
WELCOME TO OUR TEAM
18
NACCAS TESTIMONIALS
39
WHAT'S NEW TO NACCAS?
19
NACCAS 50TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK
40
NACCAS EXECUTIVE TEAM
20
NACCAS Q&A
41
NACCAS ACCREDITATION TEAM
21
NACCAS RESOURCES
42
NACCAS NOW CONTENT
SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE . . .
3...2...1...Houston, We Have Lift Off! Spring is gone, but summer has arrived, and we are in the midst of a full-on heatwave here in Virginia. I know the past was tough, but the future is looking a lot better. I hope this summer edition of the NACCAS NOW is met with amazing optimism and happiness across the entire country for our school owners, teachers, staff, and their students. I know many of you are in full steam ahead mode with your schools, your current and new students, and with them switching back from online education to attending your brick and mortar facilities. I wish all of you great success, continued wisdom, and safety as you navigate through the last mile of this pandemic. Lots are going on at NACCAS. We too, are starting to feel things are finally getting back to a routine. Don't get me wrong, we are still trying to dig our way out of new program application requests, but we are making great strides in getting even those under control. I know many of you are waiting on approval from NACCAS, and I am so sorry that it has been a long wait. As I said, we are getting there. I hope to have every new program application reviewed and an answer for everyone very soon. Once again, I apologize for the massive delay, but the pandemic affected new programs the most at NACCAS, and we really appreciate your patience. The last you heard from me through the NACCAS NOW was I announced my retirement. I know this was a shock to many, but please be happy for me. With that said, I know I said my last day would be October 31, 2021. Well, as life happens, NACCAS' Chairwoman, Michele Clark, has asked me to stay on at NACCAS as the ED for up to 5 additional months if needed. So, I guess you all are stuck with me for just a bit longer, lol. All kidding aside, I love NACCAS, and if I am needed, I will help in any way I can. I also mentioned I may stay at NACCAS in a different capacity after my retirement, which has not yet been decided. I will provide everyone with an update in the next NACCAS NOW if I have any news. As I previously stated in this newsletter, lot of things are happening at NACCAS. NACCAS received its letter from the USDOE stating our re-recognition was granted for another five years. As you can imagine, everyone was thrilled at NACCAS. Receiving the full maximum term from the USDOE is a true sign of NACCAS' continued commitment to higher education and to the community it serves. In addition to our re-recognition, NACCAS has also applied and has received notification that it has been placed on the USDOE's list of Accreditors now permitted to approve Distance Education permanently. We are being told our name will eventually get put on the list that shows up on the USDOE website. Nevertheless, it's wonderful news for NACCAS and the schools that we accredit. Lastly, we are making great strides to launch our new Customer Relations Management software program (CRM). We have been working on this new software system for many years, but it is very close to completion. This new system will be launched in the late fall, just in time for you to use it to submit your Annual Report. This new system will be hard for everyone to navigate through, but eventually, it will change how NACCAS and our schools communicate with one another. Please look out for our educational webinars over the next couple of months for schools to learn how to get ready to use the new CRM. Lastly, NACCAS is in its final stages of preparing to launch its 2021 Annual Report (AR) instructions. I can tell you that a few nice changes will provide additional flexibilities to our schools as they continue to navigate through the pandemic. Just a sneak preview of one of those flexibili es: the 2021 Annual Report is nowdue by January 31, 2022, rather than by November 30, 2021, as in previous years. Please note that the data will still have a deadline of November 30, 2021, but we will be allowing schools the additional two months to collect it and supply it to NACCAS. All in all, life is good, and I can say I am looking forward to things only getting better. Cheers for now, Anthony Mirando, M.S., D.C. NACCAS Executive Director
To improve our schools' online experience, NACCAS is pleased to announce that we will be launching a newly redesigned Member Login Portal. The official launch, which will take place in Fall 2021, will be the culmination of a concerted push to provide you a streamlined, easy-to-navigate way of connecting with NACCAS. The revamped customer relations management system will now feature a sleekly-designed dashboard and will allow you to seamlessly toggle between all of your viewing options. As part of NACCAS' ongoing customer service initiatives, this system will enhance your customer experience with NACCAS.
2021 NACCAS COMMISSION CHAIR
CHAIR
Ms. Michele Clark was appointed Chair of the NACCAS Commission in May 2021. Chairwoman Clark has proudly served on the Commission since 2019 and has been in the beauty industry since 1982 as a third generation hairstylist and salon owner. She started behind the chair in 1982 and moved on to salon ownership in 1996. Her salon was very successful and was named a Top 200 Growth Salon by Salon Today twice. Michele became passionate about education through her experience growing talented staff members and in 2007 opened Paul Mitchell the School St. Louis, accredited with NACCAS since 2011. She has lived in every aspect of the school but her strengths are in financial aid and compliance. When her school became accredited she applied to be an Administrator ICPE to better understand the processes and to be able to have a broader view of the school industry. Since 2012 she has visited close to 100 schools. As the school’s Director of Enrollment/Compliance and with her previous experience as a NACCAS ICPE she coaches and trains admissions teams within the Paul Mitchell network. Michele has traveled multiple times to Washington DC with her Lobbying group, meeting with Congress and Senate Representatives to discuss GE and legislation that will affect schools and students. Michele is a member of NASFAA and AACS and is a constant learner. The NACCAS Commission, staff, and community are excited for Chairwoman Clark's leadership journey as NACCAS adapts to these new realities to ensure it continues to do all it can to improve the lives of our schools and students.
DOROTHY SORESSI ACADEMIC
DR. MELODY SHARP ACADEMIC
MICHELE CLARK SCHOOL OWNER
SCOTT BOURANIS PUBLIC INTEREST
REBECCA BROCKMANN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
KIMBERLY MCINTOSH SCHOOL OWNER
OLIVIA CHEUNG SCHOOL OWNER
ALEXANDER GARCIA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
FRANK TRIEU SCHOOL OWNER
JULIE PANKEY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
JOHN RODDY PUBLIC INTEREST
DIANNA PETERSON SCHOOL OWNER
STEVEN DAWSON SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
Alexander Garcia Treasurer
Olivia Cheung First Vice-Chair
Michele Clark Chair
Julie Pankey Secretary
Dr. Melody Sharp Second Vice-Chair
Michele Clark Chair School Owner Commissioner Olivia Cheung First Vice-Chair School Owner Commissioner Dr. Melody Sharp Second Vice-Chair Academic Commissioner Alexander Garcia Treasurer School Administrator Commissioner Julie Pankey Secretary Professional Services Commissioner
2021 NACCAS COMMISSION DIRECTORY
COMMISSIONER BIOS
Scott Bouranis Public Interest Commissioner Rebecca Brockmann Professional Services Commissioner Steven Dawson School Administrator Commissioner Kimberly McIntosh School Owner Commissioner Dianna Peterson School Owner Commissioner John Roddy Public Interest Commissioner Dorothy Soressi Academic Commissioner Frank Trieu School Owner Commissioner
Text
With Eddie Broomfield, JD Associate Executive Director
EDDIE Talks
NACCAS Accreditation Workshops – Live and In-Person – are go for launch! For more than a year now, NACCAS has continually monitored the progress of our health professionals across the country as they combat the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. In response to this ever-fluid environment in which we all must live and work, NACCAS has made numerous adjustments to our own operational procedures. One such change in 2020 was to cancel the June 2020 workshop and then move to a virtual format for Accreditation Workshops for September 2020, December 2020 and March 2021. After seeing significant progress in the fight against COVID-19, to include reduced infection rates, increased vaccination rates, relaxed travel restrictions and an increased allowance for social gatherings, NACCAS decided to test the waters in June 2021 for a live workshop. While we were not able to truly return to form in all respects, this last Accreditation Workshop was a resounding success! NACCAS implemented several changes to the workshop with an emphasis on minimizing the opportunities for exposure among attendees, encouraging the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and following proper sanitization protocols. Feedback from our attendees with respect to these changes were overwhelmingly positive. The opportunity to network and connect with our member institutions was well worth the cost of the additional precautions taken. We are hopeful that things will continue trending in the right direction with respect to this pandemic. Barring any unforeseen complications, NACCAS fully expects that our future workshops will remain live and 100% in-person! We are looking forward to a strong turn-out for our September 2021 Accreditation Workshop in Las Vegas, NV. Registrations continue to fly in, so we encourage you to register now if you intend to join us and have not already registered. For reference, NACCAS workshop requirements can be found within the NACCAS Workshop Policy Also, our December 2021 and March 2022 Accreditation Workshops (in New Orleans, LA and Tampa, FL, respectively) are available for registration at this time. Please visit the Workshop Registration Page of the NACCAS Website to register for your next workshop. We look forward to seeing you there!
NACCAS JUNE 2021 WORKSHOP
with Mary nell Myers, Director of accreditation
compliance insights
During the COVID pandemic, while many things across the nation were placed on hold, NACCAS developed and implemented a process by which school visits were able to continue. School processes requiring visits were able to move forward, despite many things being shut down across the country. NACCAS realizes and appreciates the adjustments surrounding the visit process that were made by our schools throughout this unprecedented time. This virtual visit process could not have been possible without the support and willingness of the Independent Contractor Peer Evaluators (ICPE’s) to travel. To all of you, we say thank you. As things across the country have started to get back to some form of new “normal,” the NACCAS visit process will get back to “normal” as well. Starting in August, the visit process will go back to what it was prior to the pandemic. This means that the visit team of ICPE’s will all be on-site, as opposed to conducting the visit virtually. Depending on the type of visit being conducted, the NACCAS staff member will still be participating remotely; however, still an active part of the team. As things transition back to the “old” way of doing things, NACCAS is looking forward to being able to move forward with the on-site visits. Should you be preparing for an upcoming visit, please don’t hesitate to contact NACCAS with any questions you may have. We are here to help! Each school has an assigned staff member who is here to assist the school through whatever process they may be going through. If you are not sure who your assigned staff member is or maybe you just have general questions not specific to a particular process, you can call NACCAS and we will be glad to get you in contact with someone who can help.
finance corner with steven goldstein, cpa, MSA DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Avoiding a Crash Landing! Many NACCAS institutions just finished a very busy time for their accounting and finance departments – completing the annual financial statement audit and getting it submitted to NACCAS before the due date! However, just because your institution’s audit was completed and submitted to NACCAS does not mean you are ready to take your foot off the gas just yet! Below are a few reminders to help our schools stay on track towards success: Budgeting – Budgeting is one of the most critical processes that will lead your institution to being on the right track towards financial success. Preparing a realistic budget in advance of each month/year can tell you a lot of very important information - How much do you realistically expect to earn in revenues? How much do you realistically plan to incur in expenses? A realistic budget will help to ensure you are predicting your financial position to ensure you remain compliant with NACCAS Standard VII. Even if the economic environment has changed substantially from your initial budget, update your budget with current information and run your numbers in the composite score worksheet available on our website to see where your expected financial results will land you! Staying Current – Paying too much to a vendor? Collecting too little from students? Banking issues? Payroll discrepancies? Getting behind on your institution’s bookkeeping might lead to a laundry list of issues in the future (including the potential identification of an internal control deficiency by your external auditor). Delaying the timeliness of account reconciliations might lead to unidentified issues such as the above that can significantly affect your financial position. Staying current on your institution’s bookkeeping and accounting functions will allow your institution(s) to make relevant, accurate, and timely financial decisions. Reviewing Regulatory Compliance Requirements – Being in business means that you have to provide a lot of things to a lot of different people. Preparing an internal compliance checklist ensures that you are complying with any and all external regulatory requirements. While complying with NACCAS requirements is of the utmost importance, it is also important to remember to stay current on other compliance requirements with the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Labor, Banks/Lending Institutions, City/State/Federal Agencies, and the Internal Revenue Service, just to name a few. If your institution received funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, or through receipt of other non-recurring funds/grants during the COVID-19 Pandemic, ensure that your institution is submitting necessary compliance reports (as applicable) to pertinent parties. Cash Flow – Cash flow is a vital component to running a successful business. Accurate forecasting of cash flow can allow your institution to predict cash requirements in advance so that you can meet obligations to employees and vendors, while simultaneously showing financial stability. Make sure that your institution has sufficient cash reserves throughout the year to meet future obligations, improve your composite score, and ensure compliance with NACCAS Policy VII.03 – Policy on Financial Statement Reserves. Do Not Be Afraid to Ask for Help – If you are unsure about a financial component of your business, utilize an expert consultant or CPA to ensure that you get accurate answers to your financial questions. Make sure that you employ sufficient and competent financial personnel to ensure the financial success of your business. Unfortunately, NACCAS is prohibited from providing specific financial advice, but we can help answer any and all questions regarding NACCAS compliance requirements! Don’t Forget to Utilize NACCAS’ Resources – NACCAS Online Webinars, the NACCAS Handbook, NACCAS Composite Score Calculator, Financial Statement Reserves Calculator, and tons of other valuable resources are available to your institution. Call us, email us and let us know if you have questions! We are here for you - Excellence in customer satisfaction is our standard!
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
WITH BRETT JONES
This issue’s data dive looks at the different non-substantive change applications submitted to NACCAS in 2019 and 2020. As shown above, the total number of applications submitted increased by 63 from 2019 to 2020. Non-substantive Change of Distance Education Programs was not submitted in 2019 as these were newly established applications launched in 2020.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT SUBMISSIONS (2020 Data) As noted in the previous update from June 17, 2021, NACCAS is currently finalizing its Instructions for the Annual Reports that would typically be due November 30th of this year (based on the outcomes for students scheduled to graduate during calendar year 2020). I am pleased to announce that the Commission has adopted additional flexibilities for this cohort year with respect to the Pandemic. Students who attest in writing that they failed to complete their course of study, or that they were unable to successfully obtain licensure or employment, due to the Pandemic may be exempted from this annual report. Additional restricted waivers of outcomes reporting may be available to institutions whose market area was significantly impacted by the Pandemic. Additional details about these exemptions and restricted waivers will be available in the 2020 (Data) Annual Report Instructions when they are published in the next week or so. Finally, in order to provide institutions with additional time to review and submit their Annual Reports to NACCAS under these circumstances, the submission deadline for the 2020 (Data) Annual Report has been extended to January 31, 2022. Please note that, while this additional time will provide institutions an extended opportunity to compile and submit Annual Report data to NACCAS, students included in the cohort must still have graduated, obtained a license and/or obtained employment by the normal deadline of November 30, 2021.
National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) is pleased to announce that on June 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education renewed NACCAS' recognition as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for another five years. Both the Department staff and the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) recommended the renewal. Recognition reflects the U.S. Department of Education's determination that NACCAS meets the rigorous standards for accrediting agencies established by the Department and that NACCAS is a reliable authority regarding the quality of education offered by the institutions it accredits. This five-year renewal of recognition, the maximum renewal term available to an accrediting agency, demonstrates the Department's appreciation for the hard work that the NACCAS Commissioners, staff, and the schools in working to ensure the quality and success of U.S. postsecondary education. NACCAS is a national agency for the institutional accreditation of postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences and massage therapy, including those offered via distance education. It presently accredits 1,172 institutions that serve over 89,385 students. These schools offer thirty-eight (38) courses and programs of study that fall under NACCAS' scope of accreditation.
NACCAS Receives Continued Recognition by the United States Department of Education
DISTANCE EDUCATION
On June 11, 2021, NACCAS, acting pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 602.27(a)(4), officially notified the U.S. Department of Education that NACCAS had expanded its scope of recognition to include Distance Education. The Department has acknowledged NACCAS’ notification and updated its website to show this increase in NACCAS’ scope. This action ensures that NACCAS-accredited institutions which utilize Distance Education within their program(s) will continue to remain eligible for certification with the U.S. Department of Education following the recent changes to the Department's own regulations with respect to Distance Education. Please note that all NACCAS requirements with respect to Distance Education – including Standard VI, Criteria 15-19 and the NACCAS Policy on Distance Education (Policy VI.02) – remain in effect.
NACCAS SCOPE OF RECOGNITION
GABRIELLE ZIEGLER ACCREDITATION ANALYST
KARYN MCDANIEL ACCREDITATION ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
ARIEL BRADCOVICH TRAVEL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
BRIT FOFANA EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JULIET CORMIER RESEARCH AND COMPLIANCE ANALYST
What's New to NACCAS?
Tiffani Claytor Travel Supervisor
Jessie Huneke Government Relations and Legal Specialist
NACCAS recently made organizational upgrades to further strengthen our focus and intiatives.
naccas executive team
Anthony Mirando, MS, DC Executive Director
CLICK HERE FOR TEAM BIOS
Brit Fofana Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
NACCAS MISSION CONTROL
Eddie Broomfield, JD Associate Executive Director
naccas accreditation team
Mary Nell Myers Director of Accreditation
Carol Orsini Accreditation Manager - Compliance
Jessica Fyfe Acceditation Analyst
Ashley Dawson Acceditation Analyst
Gabrielle Ziegler Acceditation Analyst
Victoria Truong Acceditation Analyst
Waskin Carter Acceditation Analyst
Khairi Scott Acceditation Analyst
Karyn McDaniel Accreditation Administrative Assistant
Jeanette Walker Pre-Screener
Sharrelle Tibbs Senior Accreditation Processor
Ariel Bradcovich Travel Administrative Assistant
Fortina Waltower Accreditation Coordinator - FRC
Scott Lucas Staff Accountant
Steven Goldstein, CPA, MSA Director of Finance
Lupeachra Davis Accounts Receivable
NACCAS FINANCE team
Darin Wallace Director of Government Relations and Legal
naccas Government Relations and legal team
naccas human Resources team
Jay Zelaya Communications Specialist
Hannah Lhee Human Resources and Training Manager
Juliet Cormier Research and Compliance Analyst
Dayo Kadree Research and Compliance Analyst
NACCAS RESEARCH AND OUTCOMES REPORTINGteam
Jennie Zink Research and Compliance Analyst
Brett Jones Research and Outcomes Reporting Manager
3015 COLVIN STREET ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
DEPARTMENT
EMAIL
(703) 600-7600 EXT
EXECUTIVE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DR. ANTHONY MIRANDO
156
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BRIT FOFANA
ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EDDIE BROOMFIELD
101
HUMAN RESOURCES
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
HANNAH LHEE
138
FRONT DESK COORDINATOR
APOLLO GUTIERREZ
144
MAIL COORDINATOR
DEREK BUCKNER
194
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
JAY ZELAYA
192
COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
NACCAS CRM
TECH SUPPORT AND TROUBLESHOOTING
ACCREDITATION
DIRECTOR OF ACCREDITATION
MARY NELL MYERS
152
ACCREDITATION MANAGER - COMPLIANCE
CAROL ORSINI
170
ACCREDITATION ANALYST
WASKIN CARTER
140
ASHLEY DAWSON
102
JESSICA FYFE
196
KHAIRI SCOTT
125
VICTORIA TRUONG
155
GABRIELLE ZIEGLER
124
TRAVEL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
ARIEL BRADCOVICH
141
TRAVEL SUPERVISOR
TIFFANI CLAYTOR
122
ACCREDITATION ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
KARYN MCDANIEL
195
SENIOR ACCREDITATION PROCESSOR
SHARRELLE TIBBS
112
PRE-SCREENER
JEANETTE WALKER
114
ACCREDITATION COORDINATOR - FRC
TINA WALTOWER
146
RESEARCH AND OUTCOMES REPORTING
RESEARCH AND OUTCOMES REPORTING MANAGER
BRETT JONES
191
RESEARCH AND COMPLIANCE ANALYST
JULIET CORMIER
163
DAYO KADREE
148
JENNIE ZINK
177
FINANCE
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
STEVEN GOLDSTEIN
132
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
LUPEACHRA DAVIS
131
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
SCOTT LUCAS
160
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL
DARIN WALLACE
159
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL SPECIALIST
JESSIE HUNEKE
154
SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE ....
TEAM MEMBER
Accreditation Department
The Process of Accreditation
School Visits
Institutional Self Study
Webinar Assessments
Government Relations Department
Complaints
Darin Wallace Director of Government Relations & Legal
Appeals
Student Complaints
Jessie Huneke Government Relations & Legal Specialist
Finance Department
Accreditation Fees
Steven Goldstein Director of Finance
School Financial Statements
Research and Outcome Reporting Department
Annual Report
Certification of Annual Report Card Data (CARD)
Non-Substantive Changes
Human Resources and Training Department
Full Time Employment
Hannah Lhee Human Resources Manager
Benefits
IT Communications
Customer Service
Travel and Peer Evaluators
Travel Inquiries
ICPE Recruitment
ICPE Inquiries
ICPE Insurance and Background Checks
Workshop and Events
Workshop Attendance and Information
Workshop Certificates
Communications
Trouble Logging Into the CRM
Submitting Documents Electronically
Administrative Office
Required Consultations
Executive Office
NACCAS Problems and Concerns
Anthony Mirando Executive Director Eddie Broomfield Associate Executive Director
Success Stories
Peer Evaluators for NACCAS not only give back to the industry but also serve your community. Peer Evaluators help the Commission and NACCAS' Staff by interacting with the schools during the accreditation process. NACCAS’ Evaluators are a key element in maintaining a long history of peer evaluation as an important part of the accreditation process. The information gathered by NACCAS Evaluators has long been a useful technical tool for determining if programs are meeting the NACCAS standard. Specialists submit reports that help schools to decide changes in curriculum content or direction. In recent years, program evaluators have taken on an expanded role because their experience can be of value in every stage of the development of the program. Evaluation is important so that we can be confident the programs we are using in our institutions are setting students up for success. EVALUATORS GALLERY (from left to right) Sharlyn Ada, Glynis Andrews, Carmen Banks, Suzette Bariffe, Alison Baytop, Deborah Bergey, Carla Boies, Boris Brown, Heather Byers Shirley Carter, Lachasha Cenette-Cooper, Ericka Chancellor, Latona Coleman, Mai Dati, Derek Davis, Jenae Davis, Diane Difilippi, Joyce Emmons, Maxine Evans, and Marjorie Farinha
EVALUATORS GALLERY (from left to right) August Favazza, Christopher Felder, Cynthis Felder, Sharon Frances, Sigrid Franz, Marla Frasier, Jill Fraughto, Rebecca Gant, Rita Giles, Lakia Hairston, A'ja Harris, Suzanne Hills, Anna Jackson, Debra Johnson, Carla M. Jones, Carla S. Jones, Malcolm Keener, Betty Kennard, Lisa Kinlund, Rosalinda Lamb, Jacquelyn Lockhart, Marilyn Maine, Joyce Marquez, Renee Marshall, Nicole Mazzola, Terry McGowan, Jean McNeary, and Melba Miles
EVALUATORS GALLERY (from left to right) Maria Muniz, Douglas Overfield, Amey Parish, Steven Paul, Vy Pham, Brooke Posey, Lydia Price-Griffin, Linda Prim, Shelly Reichert, Francis Rodriguez, Debra Sachse, Jennie Sanders, Jonathan Seay, Whitney Shaw, Kim Simon, Ann Speer, James Stone, Alecia Storjohann, Ralph Stouffer III, Bonnie Sullivan, Rhonda Thomas, Kathy Tollison, Alisha Walker, Lou Vella Weathington, Robin Wey, Jonique Williams, Stephanie Willis, Marva Wright, Melba Wright, Tami Wright, and Sharon Young
EVALUATOR OF THE QUARTER
For NACCAS our Peer Evaluators are unsung heroes, the hidden leaders fighting to make academic achievement better through small, measurable actions during each visit. They may not wear superhero capes but they are NACCAS’ frontline to carry out the organization's mission. These evaluators answered the needs of our schools and stepped up to conduct the onsite visits. When disaster struck our nation, classrooms morphed into a new type of learning environment in which dedicated educators quickly had to pivot from teaching standards and test prep to explaining how the world works. NACCAS’ Evaluators had to continue their mission to ensure students had what they need to be strong moving forward. Peer Evaluators Left to Right: Glynis Andrews, Carmen Banks, August Favazza, Sigrid Franz, Betty Kennard, Joyce Marquez, Melba Miles, Douglas Overfield, Amey Parish, Brooke Posey, Linda Prim, Shelly Reichert, Debra Sachse, Jonathan Seay, Jonique Williams, and Tami Wright
ACADEMIC PEER EVALUATORS NEEDED
HOW TO APPLY If you are interested in applying as a NACCAS Peer Evaluator, please email Ariel Bradcovich at abradcovich@naccas.org to receive the application packet and instructions.
CALL FOR NACCAS DISTANCE EDUCATION ACADEMIC PEER EVALUATOR APPLICATIONS Becoming a Peer Evaluator for NACCAS is a way to give back to your profession and serve your community. Your training and work as a Peer Evaluator will help the Commission and NACCAS' Staff interact with the schools during the accreditation process. Serving as a Peer Evaluator has additional benefits, including networking opportunities and professional growth and achievement. Finally, you become a crucial element in maintaining a long history of peer evaluation as an essential part of the accreditation process. NACCAS DISTANCE EDUCATION ACADEMIC PEER EVALUATOR QUALIFICATIONS All Evaluators in the Academic Field must have a bachelor's (or higher) degree in education with a background in educational concepts or a minimum of four years of teaching experience in secondary or post-secondary education in an accredited institution. Must also have the knowledge and expertise in the distance learning industry and pedagogy.
FAQ'S
Group Name: NACCAS Workshop #3 Group Code: SHNAC1 Rates: $169 Friday & Saturday $119 Sunday & Monday Hotel Phone: (888) 858-8471 Hotel Reservation Cut-Off Date: August 11, 2021 NACCAS Early-Bird Registration Deadline: August 11, 2021 or until attendance capacity is met NACCAS Regular Registration Deadline: August 22, 2021 or until attendance capacity is met
If you have any questions abot the NACCAS Accreditation workshops please contact Brit Fofana at 703-600-7600 or email at bfofana@naccas.org
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO....
SEPTEMBER 2021 WORKSHOP LAS VEGAS, NV SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2021 Pre-Candidate Class: Saturday, September 11, 2021 NEW TEACHING METHODOLOGY SESSION NOW OFFERED AT NACCAS WORKSHOPS AND WILL FULFILL THE NACCAS REQUIREMENT FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRED UNDER STANDARD II, CRITERION 8. REGISTER YOUR TEACHERS TODAY! HARRAH'S CASNO HOTEL 3475 Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas, NV 89109 ROOMRESERVATION LINK
Access recorded versions of the LIVE NACCAS WEBINARS, located on our homepage View the required webinar(s) Email Senior Accreditation Processor for the assessment link(s) Complete webinar assessment(s) Notify Accreditation Processor when the assement(s) are completed After your assessment(s) are graded, a webinar certificate of completion will be emailed. Please allow 48 hours for processing Webinar Assessments can be used towards NACCAS' Continuing Education requirements
CONTACT Sharrelle Tibbs Senior Accreditation Processor stibbs@naccas.org (703) 600-7600 ext 112
TECHNICAL STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS REMINDER
In order to ensure efficient and consistent quality technical interactions between NACCAS and your school, this serves as a reminder that the NACCAS Commission requires all of our schools to be equipped with the following minimum IT capabilities. Effective January 1, 2018, in accordance with Section 1.2 (c)(6), and NACCAS' "Technical Standards and Requirements" document, the requirements are outlined below and may also be found online (click here). One of the following browsers: Google Chrome (latest publicly released version) running on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8 Mozilla Firefox (latest publicly released version) running on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8 Apple Safari (latest publicly released version) running on Mac OS X 10.13 (High Sierra), 10.14 (Mojave), 10.15 (Catalina), or 11.0 (Big Sur) Microsoft Edge (latest publicly released version) running on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8 Internet Explorer 11 running on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8 Software: Adobe Acrobat Pro X, XI, or DC Microsoft Office Suite 2013, 2016, or 2019 Hardware (Minimum): Computer with any of the stated operating systems and 4GB of RAM High-speed internet (No Dial Up) Copy machine Shredding capability Single-sided paper scanner (double sided capable recommended) Other IT Requirements: School must have, maintain, and regularly update a school web-domain. School must have, maintain, and regularly update a dedicated school phone line with answering service/message for after-hours indicating that the business reached is a school. School Owner must have a cellphone with text messaging capability. We are excited to be bringing you newer and more efficient technological interactions in the near future to keep up with the changing technology trends within our industry.
1. Invalid Email Address Your school's email address is important to NACCAS as a part of the requirement that you are able to receive all official communications relevant to your accreditation. Make sure that NACCAS has a valid email address for your school by checking your contact information in the NACCAS Member Portal. 2. Blocked Sender’s IP Address Sometimes email service providers block many IP addresses when they suspect spamming activities. In this case, your NACCAS emails will not be able to cross the filters of your server, resulting in an email bounce back. 3. Email Blocked by Receiving Server Many servers block a particular email address or domain if they suspect any malicious activity. When NACCAS tries to send an email to you, the email is bounced. It ultimately decreases NACCAS’ online reputation and email deliverability. To prevent any restrictions make sure you double-check your email settings. Adding a domain to a safe senders list will vary by email application. To ensure that you receive emails in your inbox, you can add the email and search for emails containing the domain you wish to whitelist (www.naccas.org). 4. Receiving Server is Overloaded NACCAS emails cannot reach you if your server is overloaded. In this case, the server will not be able to receive any incoming requests. This is a soft bounce, usually a temporary issue that is solved in some time. 5. Receivers Inbox is Full Every mailbox has some standard storage limit. If you have not cleaned up your mailbox, then it has a chance of incoming NACCAS emails being bounced. This is a rare issue, which usually happens when the email address is active but does not have free space to take new emails. This is again a soft bounce and is considered as a temporary issue. The simplest solution is to clean up your inbox. Keep important messages and delete, archive or move the rest.
The Five Critical Reasons Restricting NACCAS’ Eblasts from Reaching Your Inbox
Austin's Beauty College, Inc. Clarksville, Tennessee "I want to take a minute to let you know how helpful the staff there at NACCAS has been through the entire renewal process. Our team here at Austin's Beauty College were very impressed with Melba's professionalism at our visit yesterday. Ashley Dawson was a huge help to me personally through the entire process from beginning to end. Karla, Robin, and Heather were very thorough and gave good guidance as we went through the visit yesterday. This is my first time assisting Ms. Austin through the renewal process. (I was an instructor many years ago when we first received our accreditation and I did go through that process. Much has changed since then.) Between Ms. Austin's knowledge of the accreditation process and your team's guidance and knowledge, we were able to complete the process much smoother than I thought possible. Thank you again and please let your team know we appreciate all they do to make things a little easier for us. And.....we will never use staples for a student's file ever again. " Lorie Gibbs Kenny's Beauty Academy, Arlington, Virginia "Jonathan here at Kenny's Beauty Academy, Inc. I just wanted to compliment you for your reaching out to us. Also I must really compliment you in hiring Victoria for the front desk. She is a natural. She has a skill that is perfect for her position. She is instructive as well as being very pleasant and uplifting to who every is on the other end of the phone. Customer relations sets the tone of an organization and Victoria has the gift." Jonathan Carrington Davines Professional Academy of Beauty and Business Lincoln, Nebraska "Thank you Sharelle Tibbs for all of your help this week with the Webinars and training. You all including Victoria are always so pleasant on the phone even during this hectic week! Some positive feedback to share with you. The recorded webinars were an extremely effective technological substitute for in person learning. There are tangible learning advantages from the recordings. For example, it was very helpful to be able to pause the recordings for note taking and “rewind” if I didn’t understand a point that was being explained. I took copious notes, more than from the in person workshops simply because I could pause and rewind. These features allowed me to work at my own pace for better comprehension. As a result I believe I actually learned more and will retain more of the information. The notes I captured, far exceed anything I was able to collect from in person workshops. So much so I created my own supplemental notebook/guide from the webinars that I have already begun to share with my Financial aid Director and School Director. Hopefully, this feedback is helpful to you and lets you know that through all of your efforts I personally benefited greatly from your resources and I am thankful." Brent Golden Fair Beauty College Valencia, California "Dear Hannah, Dr. Mirando, Eddie, and Steven, thank you for your hard work on today's COVID-19 Webinar, it had great information. " Georgette & Nick Niknejad Tiffin Academy of Hair Design Tiffin, Ohio "Just wanted to give a shout out to your employee Jay. I was having trouble uploading a response to the portal. He was so helpful trying to get it to upload and stayed on the phone with me until we finally got a version to work! " Therese E Vogel Academy of Hair Design, Inc. Springfield, Missouri "I have felt a big change in NACCAS' response time and customer service the last few years and pleasantly surprised. In the mist of the COVID-19 pandemic NACCAS' actions blew me away. How NACCAS came to the aide of the schools and voiced concerns to the Department of education was amazing. The communication eblasts were so informative, to the point I forwarded the eblasts to the STate. The state of Missouri was even thankful for the information that NACCAS provided." Christie Gonzales Westchester School of Beauty Culture Mt. Vernon, New York "I cannot thank Jessie Huneke enough for her kindness, helpfulness and thoughtfulness. She has assisted me throughout my CARD & Monitoring responses and I appreciate her more than you can imagine. Her customer sevice skills are amazing" Colleen Perillo Turning Point Beauty College Casa Grande, AZ "Back in 2015, when I started working with NACCAS I felt scared of NACCAS. My current experience is totally night and day. I feel less anxious, more confident, and energized when working with NACCAS. In particular, Jessie Huneke has worked through many processes with my school and I always felt that I could rely on her. She always reassures me that NACCAS is there for my school and it makes the process less stressful." Curtis Holder Affinity Hair Academy Orlando, Florida "I felt NACCAS was always very responsive when I needed assistance. The staff is always knowledgeable, nice, and kind. If I couldn't get a hold of a specific person, there was always someone available to assist." Eileen Diaz J. Michael Harrold Beauty Academy, Inc. Avon, Indiana "I have been very happy with NACCAS and that is why I continue working with the organization. I am a fourth generation school owner and always thrilled to work with NACCAS. For instance, Khairi Scott has been an excellent liaison for me and is always punctual and informative. Brittany Burnett is awesome as well, she always helps guide me through the ISS process." Seth Harrold
NACCAS Customer service testimonials
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL VERSION OF NACCAS' 50TH COMMEMORATIVE BOOK
PURCHASE YOUR LIMITED EDITION HARD COPY TODAY!
$50.00 Click Here to Download Purchase Forms
Q: How do I obtain a Temporary Distance Education Authorization Letter from NACCAS? A: Institutions may use the Application for Temporary Approval of Distance Education to submit their request to NACCAS. In order to expedite the processing of such requests, the Board of Commissioners has authorized NACCAS' Executive Director, Dr. Anthony Mirando, to review and approve these applications. The application may be uploaded electronically via the User Portal of the NACCAS website. Please select "Commission Directive Response" as the document type when uploading the application. NACCAS approvals issued in accordance with this procedure shall be valid only during the SAP evaluation period that was active as of March 12, 2020 or the following SAP evaluation period. Q: How do you notify NACCAS if your institution is closing and not offering Temporary Distance Education for students? A: Keep NACCAS abreast of your efforts to resume regular activities and confirm with NACCAS when classes resume. Email communication will be sufficient for these purposes. Please note that, should your closure extend beyond thirty (30) calendar days, it will be necessary to submit a Petition for Variance to the Commission in accordance with Section 10.7 of the NACCAS Rules of Practice and Procedure. In accordance with Policy VIII.01, your Petition should be accompanied by a Disaster Relief Plan and timeframe for resuming normal operations. In addition, as detailed in the guidance issued to institutions on March 12, 2020, NACCAS is prepared to offer temporary authorization for institutions to utilize Distance Education for students whose training has been interrupted due to the Coronavirus outbreak so long as this is permitted by the institution’s State licensing agency. If you are interested in pursuing this option, please follow the guidance referenced in the March 12 email (which is also published under the NACCAS Highlights section on the main page of the NACCAS website). Once the institution has begun instruction via Distance Education (with appropriate approvals), it is considered to be in operation and should notify NACCAS that it has resumed operation. Q: Will our students who receive a portion of their hours through Distance Education, be eligible to apply for licensure in additional states upon program completion? For example New York or Pennsylvania? A: Each State Board establishes its own regulations (subject to applicable State law) governing whether hours received through Distance Education will be accepted for licensure eligibility purposes. Schools should consult the applicable State Board(s). Institutions are required to provide students with a disclaimer that academic achievement earned via distance education may not be accepted for reciprocity or eligible for licensure in other states. A signed and dated copy of this disclaimer must be found in the student file. Q: Would our part time students, who normally attend school three days per week, only be allowed to receive a total of nine (9) hours via Distance Education (3 hours per day / three (3) days per week) or may we allow them to accrue three (3) hours per day for four or five days a week, for a total of twelve (12) or fifteen (15) hours per week, during this time? A: Students must follow the schedule set out in their enrollment contract, subject to any restrictions the State may place on their school’s use of Distance Education. Schools will be considered to be in operation once they have begun training via distance education in accordance with all necessary NACCAS and State regulatory approvals. Q: Is NACCAS issuing audit and financial reporting extensions for any upcoming reporting deadlines? A: NACCAS' Rules and procedures regarding requests for extensions remain unchanged. Institutions may request up to a 45-day extension for any individual process. Therefore, if an institution requires more than 6 months following fiscal year-end to submit its annual audited financial statements to NACCAS, it may submit an Extension Request Form, which is available on the NACCAS website. Schools seeking an extension of the due date for submitting a financial reporting deliverable, such as a Cash Reserves Compliance Report (CRCR) or Financial Compliance Report (FCR), may also submit an Extension Request Form, if necessary. Q: NACCAS’ Scenario #2 (from its March 12, 2020 guidance email) only allows students to do online training with a doctor's statement that they are quarantined for COVID-19 reasons. This leaves students out who are not quarantined but may have autoimmune issues, are caregivers for at risk people or have school age children that limits the time they can come to the school for preventive reasons. Will there be an allowance to accommodate those individuals with the online classes during this emergency period? Currently, the school can only accommodate these students using Scenario #1. Scenario #2 would narrow who could get the online training. A: Students who are able to provide a doctor’s recommendation that they self-quarantine due to autoimmune deficiencies will be treated as those who have demonstrated symptoms, as are students who can document that a Family Member (as defined in NACCAS’ Handbook) has a doctor’s recommendation for quarantine. Additionally, as a National State of Emergency has been issued since NACCAS’ earlier guidance was distributed, and the federal government is recommending that gatherings of more than 10 people be avoided, NACCAS has removed this criterion as a prerequisite for temporary approval of Distance Education. Q: Where a state may not close all businesses but has closed K-12 and is recommending limiting outside activity, can that be considered notification of closure or does the notification have to be for all schools or specific schools in order to get approval for Scenario #1? A: As a National State of Emergency has been issued since NACCAS’ earlier guidance was distributed, and the federal government is recommending that gatherings of more than 10 people be avoided, NACCAS has removed this criterion as a prerequisite for temporary approval of Distance Education. Q: Will there be extensions to the emergency procedures if the State or Federal Government's guidance is to prolong social distancing beyond the initial 30-day period or do the schools need to get approval for program changes to continue to offer remote learning? A: NACCAS will continue to monitor this situation as it develops and further guidance will be distributed if any further changes are warranted and available. Q: There is a high probability that over the coming year, there are going to be continued instances of infected individuals coming into the school or meeting teachers and students who did not know they had the infection at the time. Closing the school for 14 days at a time (Scenario #1) for the gestation period to pass, would the schools need to go to local health agencies to get a demand to close in order to qualify for the emergency? A: NACCAS will continue to monitor this situation as it develops and further guidance will be distributed if any further changes are warranted and available. Q: Scenario #2 doesn't allow for the school to restrict access to the school of a student who may have been traveling, been in a higher risk area, or been in contact with someone who may have 2nd or 3rd hand contact with someone with COVID-19. Since transmission can occur even when people are asymptomatic, does the policy allow schools to restrict student access for preventive reasons and give them online education since it requires medical documentation to support the student getting online training while their access is restricted? A: School administrators are not medical professionals and do not have the authority to make a medical decision regarding their students. Q: I am unsure of how to handle the hours that students have missed during the time it takes to get Temporary Distance Education up and running. My assumption would be to create a contract addendum to allow for the loss of those hours. Also, I am wondering if students choosing not to participate in Temporary Distance Education can be placed on an LOA? We also have Veteran students that are unable to participate in Temporary Distance Education unless the VA changes their policy on this matter. A: Yes, students’ contracts should be extended by the same number of days class was suspended and no instruction was provided pending approval for Distance Education. Once the institution resumes training via Distance Education, students who elect not to participate may be placed on LOA or withdrawn in accordance with school policy. Q: I envisioned a scenario where approval for my school to offer Temporary Distance Education, instructors will send emails throughout the day, assignments, bookwork/theory, and mock services are performed. An email is sent directing students to study chapters 3 and 4 for two weeks, take quizzes, ask questions, etc. For practical, students are directed to wash, cutting, and blow-dry a doll head’s hair. Students will practice specific state board scenarios, etc. Students are told how much time these activities should take, and a response is required via email. In addition, we will assign videos to watch. Am I thinking correctly or way off on this? If I am way off, can you please indicate any possible online education options that will suffice? A: An institution that offers a clock hour program in a Distance Education format must ensure that each clock hour of instruction is supervised by qualified institutional personnel. In most cases, synchronous instruction through Distance Education, where students are actively engaged with an instructor in real-time discussion, would provide an adequate platform for the instructor to supervise students in clock hour programs. However, an institution that offers asynchronous instruction in a clock-hour program must maintain an online learning platform or another system for monitoring each student’s academic engagement to ensure that students are academically engaged for at least 50 minutes out of each hour that is recorded as a clock hour attended by the student. In this circumstance, an instructor can complete a student’s timesheet to include clock hours earned in a Distance Education format, but the hours must be based on data or the instructor’s own knowledge that the student was academically engaged for at least 50 minutes out of each clock hour that is recorded. While NACCAS does not approve third-party services that offer online education platforms, several do exist. When considering such services, the school should take care to review what technologies are utilized to verify that the student has been actively engaged for at least 50 minutes of each 60 minute period to be awarded as a clock hour. Q: I have an email from the director of approved schools for the California agency that approves vocational schools (the “BPPE”). In the email, she says that due to the emergency nature of the situation, the BPPE decided to allow schools Temporary Distance Education through accrediting institutions. If NACCAS approves the school to be on Temporary Distance Education status, the BPPE will approve and update their system to show such. Will the email from the BPPE suffice for approval from my state agency? A: Yes, NACCAS is familiar with BPPE guidance that has been distributed to institutions in the State of California. Such notice from the State will be acceptable for NACCAS purposes. Q: If we choose to allow our students on campus at some point, is this acceptable? For example, before a student graduates, we require them to do a hands-on simulated state board practical exam. Let's say we have five students who fall into this category, could we permit them on campus to do this hands-on exam with an instructor even though we are using Distance Education? A: The hypothetical scenario does not work for NACCAS’ authorization. The school must either require all students to come on-site (unless quarantined) or cease all on-site instruction and only teach via Distance Education. Q: I have heard some schools state we can ONLY teach theory with Distance Education. Is it not acceptable for an instructor to virtually teach a class on perming, require the student to wrap a perm on a mannequin, demonstrate this to the instructor, and this would count towards practical hours? A: NACCAS will permit schools to use Distance Education for practical training if that is allowed by the applicable state regulatory agency(ies). If applicable to you, you should maintain proof of your State’s requirements. Q: Can NACCAS push back the time period of placing an institution on probation? A: NACCAS has not issued formal guidance to institutions on any deviations from our published Rules and procedures. In the event of any (temporary) changes in our published procedures, NACCAS will notify school via e-blast and on our website. Q: How do I stay updated with NACCAS guidelines and procedures? A: All guidelines, procedures, and updates are posted on the NACCAS homepage, and e-blasts are distributed. If you currently do not receive NACCAS e-blasts, email info@naccas.org and request to be added to our distribution list. Q: The school has transitioned to Distance Education allowing students who have the ability to participate, are not sick, or effected directly by COVID-19. The student now decides that he/she does not want to continue to participate in Distance Education, but would like to continue education, once Brick & Mortar reopens. Can the student be placed on a LOA until that time or are they considered a withdrawal? A: Should the institution have a LOA policy, yes, the student can be placed on a LOA if the student requests one. The school cannot automatically place the student on a LOA. Should a student’s request be granted and the student placed on a LOA, the timeframe would need to fall within the school’s policy, which can be no more than 180 days within a 12-month period. Q: Once the school has competed teaching 60 hours allowed in our state for the Esthetics Program, do we then place the student on a Leave of Absence? A: The school would need to ensure it follows the State, federal, and NACCAS allowances for amount of distance education. Should all allowable hours have been utilized, the student could request a LOA. If the school completes all available training via TDE for all enrolled students, that school should suspend operations and notify NACCAS. In this instance, an LOA would not be appropriate, though contract extensions should be made for all students for the period of time operations have been suspended. Q: Can you address student teacher ratios? NACCAS requires a 30:1 ratio. If your state does not have a policy or they have provided an exception to this policy will NACCAS consider waiving theirs? A: At this time, the NACCAS Board of Commissioners has not taken action to amend or waive its Standards & Criteria. However, NACCAS’ 30:1 Student-Teacher Ratio requirement is only applicable in the absence of State regulation. If a State were to affirmatively waive its pre-existing requirement, this would supersede NACCAS’s required ratio. Q: Our school is currently inputting hours manually and on occasion a day or two behind schedule. In regards to SAP, my fear is students will meet SAP 2-3 days later as the manual input is time consuming. Can you advise? A: NACCAS states in item 13 of the SAP checklist for clock hours that all evaluations must be completed within seven school business days following the established evaluation point. This allows the school some time for manual input and still completing the evaluation timely. Q: What if some of our students have school age children at home that share devices and not able to clock in and out every hour but are able to comply with the workload if receiving asynchronized classes? A: Schools need to have a system in place to monitor a student’s attendance to include the hours a student “is in attendance”, per the schedule established for that student in his/her enrollment agreement. Further, in accordance with guidance issued from the US Department of Education, “an institution that offers asynchronous instruction in a clock-hour program must maintain an online learning platform or another system for monitoring each student’s academic engagement to ensure that students are academically engaged in at least 50 minutes for each hour that is recorded as a clock hour attended by the student. In this circumstance, an instructor can complete a student’s timesheet to include clock hours earned in a distance education format, but the hours must be based on data or the instructor’s own knowledge that the student was academically engaged for at least 50 minutes out of each clock hour that is recorded. Q: I would LOVE for you to address schools maintaining compliance, so a few bad players do not ruin it for our industry, as some "predatory" schools did under the last administration. This hurt many good schools. A: NACCAS expects that all accredited institutions will strive to maintain compliance at all times – not only with NACCAS requirements, but also with those of local, State and federal agencies, which might have regulatory oversight of the institution. While many regulatory entities, including NACCAS, have made special allowances for schools during this pandemic, it does not diminish the need for schools to put their best foot forward. If anything, compliance is more crucial at this time than at any others. While institutions should expect that, they will continue to be evaluated by NACCAS and other entities in the manner that they are accustomed; each school’s reputation with their students and their community will be forever affected by how they handle themselves during the extraordinary time. Q: Dr. Mirando, our state just announced that K-12 onsite instruction is closed for the remainder of the year and the Governor's Office is considering this for Post-Secondary Institutions. The current DE guidelines allow us to start DE in the current payment period and the following payment period. Is the Commission considering to increase this timeframe (third payment period)? A: The Commission is following guidance from the Department of Education. Should the Department’s guidance change, NACCAS will take the new information into consideration. Q: Can students make up hours while on DE if they fall behind? This would be beyond their normal scheduled hours. A: The school may continue to operate under its existing Makeup Policy so long as instructors are available to provide instructions and monitor student progress. Q: What percentage of current NACCAS schools are actively participating in TDE? A: NACCAS has acknowledged TDE to be utilized by 76% of schools either accredited by, or seeking accreditation with NACCAS as of April 14, 2020. Additional schools continue to apply daily. Q: Does the 50% max tor Distance Education apply to Non-Title-IV programs? A: The 50% max applies for any NACCAS approved program, regardless of whether or not the program is eligible for Title-IV. Q: Can NACCAS push back the time period of placing an institution on probation? A: NACCAS has not issued formal guidance to institutions on any deviations from our published Rules and procedures. In the event of any (temporary) changes in our published procedures, NACCAS will notify school via e-blast and on our website. Q: Once a student reaches maximum time amount allowed under TDE (say 50%), are they placed on LOA until Brick and Mortar resumes? A: The school would need to ensure it follows the State, federal, and NACCAS allowances for distance education. Should all allowable hours have been utilized, the student could request a LOA. Q: Now that the state has approved for both theory and practical, do we need to resubmit the TDE application if we were previously approve for theory only? A: No, the school can maintain a copy of the March 20, 2020 e-blast that was sent from NACCAS, in connection with the original approval letter received from NACCAS, as documentation. Q: Not knowing the end time to this pandemic when originally submitting our TDE Application to NACCAS, if we need to add additional items should we resubmit the same application again? A: No, the school can maintain a copy of the March 20, 2020 e-blast that was sent from NACCAS, in connection with the original approval letter received from NACCAS, as documentation. Please note, however, that institutions may only utilize TDE for those programs NACCAS has previously provided acknowledgement. If you wish to begin offering TDE for approved programs, you did not previously seek acknowledgment to offer via TDE, an additional application to NACCAS would be required. Q: Is NACCAS considering zoom/webinar accreditation workshops so schools can meet the attendance requirement? A: At this time, no changes have been made to the NACCAS Accreditation Workshop schedule. This is a matter NACCAS continues to monitor. If changes are deemed necessary, notice will be distributed to all institutions via email and a notice will be published to the NACCAS website. Q: For those with a fiscal year ending June 30, would composite scores be a part of that discussion as well? In addition, to take in to consideration those who are not calendar year? A: At this time, the NACCAS Board of Commissioners has not taken action to amend or waive its Standards & Criteria, to include the Financial Stability requirements of Standard VII, Criterion 1. Should any temporary changes be deemed necessary in the future, NACCAS would distribute notice to all institutions via email and a notice would be published to the NACCAS website. Q: Has NACCAS determined if it will allow COVID-19 exclusions (graduation) or unavailable placement for the annual report? We have some 2020 annual report cohort students that are still active and we would rather get our documentation in line now versus waiting. A: At this time, the NACCAS Board of Commissioners has not taken action to amend or waive its Standards & Criteria, to include the Student Outcome requirements of Standard I, Criteria 3, 4 & 5. Should any temporary changes be deemed necessary in the future, NACCAS would distribute notice to all institutions via email and a notice would be published to the NACCAS website? Q: Are we required to file at 30 days for extending our DE or can we send an email notifying NACCAS? A: There would be no need to submit an additional application with NACCAS. The school is permitted to continue its Temporary Distance Education so long as is permitted by State regulation or NACCAS guidance, whichever is shorter. Q: Does Leaves of Absence apply to students CHOOSING NOT to continue with the Temporary Distance Education as well as students who CANNOT continue because of nternet access, etc.? A: That is correct, as long as the school has a LOA policy and is following the number of days within the policy, which can be no more than 180 days within a 12-month period. Q: Does an email suffice as notification to Dr. Mirando that our institution is offering DE or send a certified letter to NACCAS? A: If a school has not yet submitted the appropriate application and been approved for TDE, the school would need to submit that application in order to obtain approval. This application should be uploaded to NACCAS electronically through the member portal in accordance with the instructions included on the application. Q: Does NACCAS have a sample of the disclaimer we need to send to our students to sign in regard to Temporary Distance Education? A: Schools may elect to adopt the language within Checklist Item #5 of the NACCAS Distance Education Policy itself or modify it to suit their own situation: “Academic achievement earned via distance education may not be acceptable for reciprocity or eligible for licensure in other states.” Q: How would NACCAS like us to inform them if our school is interested in the 50% maximum? A: If a school has not yet submitted the appropriate application and been approved for TDE, the school would need to submit that application in order to obtain approval. This application should be uploaded to NACCAS electronically through the member portal in accordance with the instructions included on the application. If the school has already obtained approval to offer TDE and is seeking to increase the amount of DE, the school can maintain a copy of the March 20, 2020 e-blast that was sent from NACCAS, in connection with the original approval letter received from NACCAS, as documentation. Q: Do we HAVE to teach the scheduled contracted hours in our enrollment agreements or can we modify that to slow the hours and accommodate those with kids at home. i.e. 3 hour sessions instead of 6? A: Should a school not teach the scheduled contracted hours as originally agreed upon in the original enrollment agreement, the school would need to revise the original enrollment agreement and obtain the necessary initials/signatures for the revised contract. Please note that all available schedules for each program must be published within the school’s catalog. If the institution is to utilize a schedule that has not been previously published and results in an as-yet unreported number of hours of instruction per week, the institution must notify NACCAS of the new schedule via Non-Substantive Notification Form #1M. Additionally, institutions are encouraged to contact their regional office of the US Department of Education or their third party servicer to seek guidance on the impact a reduced schedule may have on the students’ eligibility for financial aid. Q: What if my state and local municipality are now permitting all of my students back into the brick and mortar school; can I still use the TDE or the Hybrid Flexibility? A: No, The TDE was developed and designed to provide relief to a school when they were forced to close their brick and mortar school. However, there are still some exceptions. If the school is permitted to have 100% of their students back in the building, but they still have individual students home with COVID-19, quarantined, or taking care of someone with COVID-19, then you are permitted to utilize the TDE for those particular students as long as they have medical documentation stating as such. Q: How long is my school permitted to utilize the TDE? A: That complicated question has multiple facets. You must have permission/approval to use the TDE from the entire “Triad”: your Accreditor, your State licensing Agency (and in your state it may be from multiple agencies) and, of course, the US Dept. of Education (USDOE). NACCAS right now has approved the use of the TDE for the duration that your State requires closure of your school and restriction of use of your school as a result of COVID-19, or you have students with COVID-19, quarantined, or taking care of someone with COVID-19. Your approval of the TDE is something that you must check in with the state on a regular basis to see if they have an expiration and/or restrictions. If they do not permit the use of the TDE or even the Hybrid Flexibility that NACCAS just issued, you are prohibited for utilizing the TDE. As far as the US DOE, once again this is a complicated answer and I would defer this answer to your Title IV Third Party Provider, TPP, to help you determine that answer. The general answer is through SAP Evaluation Periods beginning June 1, 2020. However, I can tell you we are expecting an update from them where the expectation is to extend the use of the TDE into the fall. Please note that until this is official; please follow the advice of your TPP. Q: What does it mean if my state is no longer permitting my school the use of the TDE either in whole or as part of the Hybrid Flexibility? A: If your state no longer is permitting your school to use the TDE, you must adhere to their regulation. This means you must either resume teaching at the brick and mortar at either 100%, at the restricted level (if applicable), or temporarily close your school until permitted back in the brick and mortar. Q: What if my school has resumed 100% of my on-campus operations, but a student does not want to return due to the pandemic and is not sick with COVID-19, quarantined, or taking care of someone with COVID-19? A: Your school would typically place the student on a Leave of Absence (LOA) or, following your attendance policy, you can drop them.
RECORDING AVAILABLE: Compliance Monitoring Extensions During the COVID-19 Pandemic. This webinar is accessable from our homepage by clicking on Recorded Webinars or download the direct link here. RECORDING AVAILABLE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Comprehensive Accreditation Update Webinar: Past, Present, and Future. This webinar is accessable from our homepage by clicking on Recorded Webinars or download the direct link here. RECORDING AVAILABLE: Developing a Clock-hour Distance Education Curriculum for Synchronous and Asynchronous Delivery. This webinar is accessable from our homepage by clicking on Recorded Webinars or download the direct link here. RECORDING AVAILABLE: Distance Education Synchronous and Asynchronous Teaching Methodologies for a Clock Hour Program Environment. This webinar is accessable from our homepage by clicking on Recorded Webinars or download the direct link here. RECORDING AVAILABLE: Comprehensive Accreditation Update with NACCAS Webinar. This webinar is accessable from our homepage by clicking on Recorded Webinars or download the direct link here. RECORDING AVAILABLE: NACCAS Visit Procedures During COVID-19 Pandemic. This webinar is accessable from our homepage by clicking on Recorded Webinars or download the direct link here. RECORDING AVAILABLE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Comprehensive Accreditation Update with NACCAS Webinar. A pre-recorded version of this webinar is accessable from our homepage by clicking on Recorded Webinars or download the direct link here. RECORDING AVAILABLE: How the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak May Impact Your Institution(s) with NACCAS. A pre-recorded version of this webinar is accessable from our homepage by clicking on Recorded Webinars or download the direct link here. NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS UPDATES Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: COVID-19 UPDATE - July 27, 2021 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: COVID-19 UPDATE - UPCOMING 2020 (DATA) ANNUAL REPORT INSTRUCTIONS - June 17, 2021 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS PROVISIONAL PLANS AND TEACH OUTS - August 24, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS INSTITUTIONS IN CALIFORNIA UPDATE - July 27, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY APPROVAL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION (EXCEEDING 50%) - June 23, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: Application for Approval of Distance Education Program Conversion – May 19, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: Temporary Waiver of NACCAS' 50% Distance Education Restrictions Due to COVID-19 – May 18, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: Extension for Temporary Distance Education Approval – May 18, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS UPDATE on Temporary Distance Education Hybrid Flexibility – May 15, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS UPDATE on Temporary Distance Education – May 14, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS HIghlight: CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – Additional $6.2 Billion Available - May 1, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Comprehensive NACCAS Update - April 24, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: Temporary Distance Education Authorization during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS UPDATE on Temporary Distance Education - April 16, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: GUIDANCE UPDATE AND REMINDER FOR TEXAS SCHOOLS- April 8, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS Institutional Submission Requirements During the COVID-19 Pandemic - March 31, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: Ensure Compliance with Temporary Distance Education during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak - March 30, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS UPDATE: Temporary Distance Education Authorization during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak - March 26, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS Update on Temporary Distance Education - March 20, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: NACCAS Upcoming Visit Cancellations - March 13, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS HIghlight: Temporary Distance Education Authorization during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak - March 12, 2020 Click here to view NACCAS Highlight: Schools Affected by the Coronovirus (COVID-19) - March 2, 2020 Click here to view For all questions and concerns please email, COVID19@naccas.org.
RESOURCES
Publisher National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences, Inc. 3015 Colvin Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Editor Hannah Lhee, Human Resource Manager Special Thanks to Contributors Anthony Mirando, M.S., D.C., Executive Director Eddie Broomfield, Associate Executive Director Steven Goldstein, CPA, MSA, Director of Finance Brett Jones, Research and Outcomes Reporting Manager Mary Nell Myers, Director of Accreditation Darin Wallace, Director of Goverment Relations and Legal Statement of Purpose The NACCAS NOW is published by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences, Inc., (NACCAS). NACCAS is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation formed in the State of Delaware. Among the major aims and purposes of NACCAS are the following: To advance and develop standards of education and instruction in beauty, health, and wellness. As well as cognate areas which serve to supplement the practical, scientific and business skills of those individual professions. To give recognition through accreditation to schools that agree to and maintain compliance of beauty, health, and wellness education and assure quality programs to their students. To encourage high standards of ethical and professional conduct and activities and programs designed to advance and improve service to the public in the field of beauty, health, wellness, and cognate areas. NACCAS is a national agency for the institutional accreditation of postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences and massage therapy, including those offered via distance education. It presently accredits 1,172 institutions that serve over 89,385 students. These schools offer thirty-eight (38) courses and programs of study that fall under NACCAS' scope of accreditation.