ACCET Mentorship Program

ACCET Mentorship Program Guidelines

Purpose 

The ACCET Mentorship Program is designed to foster a supportive community among member institutions by pairing experienced institutional members with those new to accreditation. The program promotes peer-to-peer guidance, helps new institutions navigate ACCET’s accreditation process, encourages professional growth, builds future leaders, and encourages the sharing of best practices to strengthen institutional quality and compliance with ACCET standards. 

Program Objectives 

  1. Support institutions new to accreditation in understanding ACCET’s mission, values, and accreditation process. 
  2. Facilitate professional relationships and networking among member institutions. 
  3. Encourage open dialogue on accreditation-related topics, challenges, and solutions while upholding ACCET’s policies and standards. 
  4. Promote a culture of collaboration without compromising the integrity of individual institutions. 

Mentor Qualifications 

  • Represents an institution that holds current ACCET accreditation in good standing. 
  • Participates in accreditation activities and ACCET events but is not a current sitting Commissioner. 
  • Possess strong knowledge of ACCET standards, policies, and procedures. 
  • Demonstrates a commitment to professionalism, confidentiality, and ethical conduct. 

Mentor Responsibilities 

  • Provide general guidance on the accreditation process, timelines, and expectations. 
  • Offer insights into effective practices for meeting ACCET standards. 
  • Share lessons learned from institutional experiences. 
  • Serve as a resource for questions related to the accreditation process. 
  • Encourage mentees to work directly with ACCET staff for interpretation of standards, policies, or official requirements. 

Boundaries of the Mentorship Role 

  • Mentorship is not a consulting service. Mentors do not perform work on behalf of the mentee institution. 
  • Mentors must not share institutional documents, templates, or proprietary materials. All examples must be discussed conceptually, not provided as editable files or copies. 
  • Mentorship does not ensure an institution will achieve accreditation or compliance. Outcomes remain the sole responsibility of the mentee institution. 
  • Mentors do not speak or act on behalf of ACCET and should not provide official interpretations of standards or policies. 

Mentee Responsibilities 

  • Actively participate in scheduled mentorship discussions. 
  • Take ownership of their institution’s accreditation process and documentation. 
  • Seek clarification directly from ACCET staff when needed. 
  • Respect the mentor’s time and boundaries. 

Program Administration 

The ACCET staff will match mentors and mentees based on institutional type, program offerings, and areas of interest where feasible. Mentor roles are re-evaluated every 12 months. The mentorship period typically begins after an initial applicant completes a readiness visit and ends after an accreditation decision is made by the Commission, but may be adjusted as needed. Feedback from both mentors and mentees will be collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. 

Confidentiality 

All participants must maintain confidentiality regarding institutional operations, accreditation findings, and discussions held within the mentorship relationship. 

For more information or to participate in the program, please contact info@accet.org.