Requirements for Sponsors of Accredited Programs

Policy Statements

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT):

11.401requires that sponsors of radiologic sciences educational programs be accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or equivalent.
11.402permits sponsorship of an accredited program by a consortium of two or more academic or clinical institutions.
11.403allows two (2) or more JRCERT-accredited programs to form a consortium.
11.404permits transfer of program sponsorship from one sponsor to another, in accordance with established procedures, and requires JRCERT approval prior to such transfer.
11.405requires accredited programs to comply with relevant accreditation standards, and policies and practices relating to the accreditation process.
11.406defines a transfer student as an individual who meets the criteria listed below:
  • has not graduated from an educational program in radiography, radiation therapy, medical dosimetry, or magnetic resonance but has received some coursework for which the student has received credit/clock hours towards the certificate/degree sought; and
  • seeks to enroll into a different educational program and have the program recognize credits earned through prior education to complete the certificate/degree.
11.407requires programs to provide notification of substantive change(s) for review and approval by the JRCERT Board of Directors prior to implementation, with the exception of a change of ownership. In the case of a change in ownership, programs must notify the JRCERT Board of Directors within seven (7) days of the actual change in ownership.
11.408determines the program’s student capacity based on available human and physical resources.
11.409requires programs to develop policies and procedures for determining credit hours. The formula for calculating credit hours must be consistently applied for all didactic and all clinical courses, respectively.
11.410requires that sponsors and programs demonstrate honesty and integrity in complying with accreditation requirements, policies, decisions and requests.
11.411for those sponsors and programs for which the JRCERT serves as gatekeeper for Title IV financial aid, requires sponsors to annually monitor records of student loan default rates.
11.412requires programs to provide timely notification to the JRCERT of any litigation or administrative complaint against the program or the sponsoring institution that relates or could relate to the program.

Procedures

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT):

11.401Arequires programs to notify the JRCERT if an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or equivalent or a state agency takes an adverse action or places the sponsor or program on public probationary status or issues a show cause order.
11.401Brequires programs to notify currently enrolled and prospective students of the sponsoring institution’s accreditation status if the accrediting agency takes an adverse action or places the sponsor or program on public probationary status or issues a show cause order.
11.401Crequires the program to provide documentation of such notification to the JRCERT within thirty (30) days of notice.
11.402Arequires a consortium to have a written agreement that addresses the operation of the educational program.
11.402Brequires the consortium to accept the responsibilities and functions of a sponsor as identified in Policy 11.500.
11.402Crequires components of a consortium be accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or equivalent.
11.403Aadvises programs forming a consortium that if the programs do not have like accreditation awards, the JRCERT will grant the lesser of the accreditation awards to the consortium.
11.403Brequires the Program Effectiveness Data established for the consortium be the lesser of the data for the programs forming the consortium.
11.403Cdoes not allow a program with an accreditation status of Probation or Administrative Probation to enter into a consortium agreement.    
11.404Arequires the new program sponsor to request transfer of sponsorship between sponsors. Such request shall include a narrative and exhibits relating to program faculty, curriculum, and program operation to assure ongoing sponsor compliance with the relevant accreditation standards.

Following review of submitted materials, the JRCERT has the following options:
  • approve the transfer of sponsorship and maintain the current accreditation status of the program;
  • approve the transfer of sponsorship and initiate the continuing accreditation process of the program;
  • deny the transfer of sponsorship.
11.404Bdoes not require that historical Program Effectiveness Data (credentialing examination pass rate, job placement rate, and program completion rate) be transferred to the new sponsor, unless the terminal award is the same.
11.405Alimits the response time for sponsors and programs to comply with the relevant accreditation standards by establishing the following maximum time-frame for compliance:
 i.     eighteen (18) months from the date of notice of non-compliance if the program is at least one (1) year but less than two (2) years in length;
 ii.    thirty-six (36) months from the date of notice of non-compliance if the program is two (2) years or longer in length.
11.405Bmust take immediate adverse action (involuntary withdrawal of accreditation) if the program does not document compliance within the specified time-frame, unless the JRCERT, for good cause, extends the period for achieving compliance.
 i.     Grounds for a good cause extension of the time-frame for achieving compliance may include, but are not limited to, the following:
        a.  Natural disasters or acts of God,
        b.  A change in ownership; or
        c.  Change in key program personnel
 ii.    The length of such a good cause extension is generally twelve (12) months but in any event will not exceed twenty-four (24) months. A program that is on a 36-month compliance timeframe is only able to request a maximum of 12-month good cause extension. The good cause extension will commence upon expiration of the compliance time-frame.

In order to be considered for a good cause extension, the program must apply for the mitigating circumstances and provide the following:
  • Listing of all students currently enrolled in the program, including those admitted since the program was initially placed on Probation;
  • Anticipated graduation date(s) for the above students;
  • Status and results of previously implemented action plan(s) to address the areas of non-compliance;
  • Action plan to aid students in the event that accreditation is withdrawn for failure to document full compliance with the STANDARDS; and
  • The associated fee.
 iii.   Only one extension for good cause will be granted within one accreditation award cycle.
11.405Cmaintains relevant accreditation standards that identify the qualifications for program officials.
 i.     An “acting” program official is defined as an individual who lacks one (1) or more of the required qualifications delineated in the relevant accreditation standards but who will have attained these qualifications within twelve (12) months, with the exception of individuals lacking the degree requirement.  The JRCERT may recognize such an individual in an acting capacity not to exceed twenty-four (24) months.  Prior to the conclusion of an acting appointment of program director, clinical coordinator or educational coordinator, the program must submit a progress report detailing the activities and experiences of the individual in achieving compliance with the qualifications of the relevant accreditation standards.
 ii.    An “interim” program official is defined as an individual who meets the required qualifications delineated in the relevant accreditation standards but who serves in an interim capacity in the absence of the permanent program official.  The JRCERT may recognize such an individual in an interim capacity for a maximum of twelve (12) months.  Prior to the conclusion of an interim appointment, the program must submit a progress report indicating the return of the permanent program official or appointment of another qualified or acting program official to the position.  
 iii.   A “temporary” program official is defined as an individual who lacks one (1) or more of the required qualifications delineated in the relevant accreditation standards and who will not be able to attain these qualifications within one (1) year.  The JRCERT may recognize such an individual in a temporary capacity for a maximum of six (6) months.  Prior to the conclusion of a temporary appointment, the program must submit a progress report identifying a qualified or acting program official in the position.
 iv.   The progress report is evaluated, and a permanent appointment is recognized by the JRCERT as appropriate.
 v.    Sponsors employing acting, interim or temporary program officials for longer than the designated period are advised that the program is considered in non-compliance with the appropriate relevant accreditation standard and will be considered for Probationary Accreditation.
11.405Drequires that programs apply for recognition of clinical settings and receive approval prior to placement of students.
 i.     Considers as a clinical setting all radiologic facilities under a single radiologic administration within a campus. (Campus is defined as the buildings and grounds of a school, college, university, or hospital and does NOT include any geographically dispersed campus.)
 ii.    Evaluates applications for recognition of clinical settings on the basis of ongoing assurance of program compliance with the relevant accreditation standards and guided by the current accreditation status.
 iii.   Requires a current and fully executed affiliation agreement that identifies the responsibilities of each party and clearly addresses professional liability.
iv.   Does not require on-site evaluation for recognition of additional clinical settings submitted independently from the program accreditation process.
11.405Erequires that programs implement a structured plan of competency based education, as evidenced by documented student achievement of defined objectives and competencies.
11.405Frequires that programs identify the duration of the educational experience.
 i.     Recognizes that competency based education provides for variable graduation;
 ii.    Requires programs that offer variable graduation to include options for early release of eligible students and for extension of program length for students unable to complete program requirements in the established time-frame;
 iii.   Requires documentation in the student’s record of successful completion of all didactic and clinical courses and achievement of all required competencies;
 iv.   Advises sponsors that arbitrary release of students is interpreted as non-compliance with the relevant accreditation standards.
11.405Grequires that sponsors grant a degree, certificate or other official evidence of successful program completion.
11.406Arecognizes that programs may accept transfer students based on documentation of student attainment of published program requirements.
 i.     Requires that institutions/programs publish policies and procedures for the evaluation of the equivalency of educational courses prior to admission.
 ii.    Courses and/or clinical competencies successfully challenged must be recorded in the student permanent record.
 iii.   Courses for which credit is awarded must be similar in scope and content to the courses taught by the program into which a student is transferring.
 iv.   Requires that at least 51% of all professional courses required to award the degree/certificate be completed within the JRCERT-accredited program granting the degree/certificate.
 v.    Requires that students accepted into the program be considered graduates of the educational program and included in program effectiveness data.
11.407Aidentifies the following as substantive change(s):
 i.     any change in the established mission or objectives of the sponsor or program.
 ii.    any change in the legal status, form of control or ownership of the sponsor or program.
 iii.   development of a consortium of two (2) or more academic or clinical institutions.  
 iv.   addition of an alternative learning option(s) that includes:
  • weekend, evening, or part-time tracks;
  • distance or hybrid delivery of four (4) or more radiologic science didactic courses (excludes the general education component of the curriculum.)
  • distance delivery of more than 50% of total clinical clock hours (medical dosimetry only)
 v.    addition of courses at a degree or credential level different from that included in the program’s current accreditation.
 vi.   change from clock hours to credit hours or credit hours to clock hours.
 vii.  change in terminal award provided by the program.
 viii. addition/deletion of more than 10% of existing clock hours.
 ix.   addition/deletion of more than two (2) courses.
 x.    addition/deletion of more than eight (8) weeks of program length.
11.407Brequires the program to track historical Program Effectiveness Data (PED) (credentialing examination pass rate, job placement rate, and program completion rate) if the program has had a change in the terminal award.  The program must monitor PED for the current award.
11.407Cdoes not allow a program that participates in Title IV federal funding, and for which the JRCERT serves as gatekeeper, to contract out any portion of the educational program to an institution or organization not certified to participate in Title IV federal funding.
11.407Drequires the program to submit narrative and exhibits for review by JRCERT staff that describe the substantive change and its impact on program operations to ensure that the program remains in compliance with the Standards. The program must assure the JRCERT that it has sufficient human and physical resources to support the substantive change.
11.407Efollowing review of the submitted materials, the JRCERT Board of Directors will approve or deny the substantive change. If the substantive change is approved, the JRCERT will identify an effective date, which will not be retroactive.
11.407Frequires that if the substantive change is a change in ownership, the JRCERT Board of Directors shall make its accreditation decision within thirty (30) days of the change in ownership. If approved, the Board of Directors may designate the effective date of approval as the date of the change in ownership.
11.407Ginitiates the continuing accreditation process which includes submission of a self-study report and an onsite review consistent with JRCERT Policy 11.600 (Site Visit of the Program) if the program implements the following substantive changes within one calendar year:
 i.     addition/deletion of more than 20% of existing clock hours; addition/deletion of more than six courses; and addition/deletion of more than 12 weeks of program length.

OR
 ii.    the program transitions to distance delivery of 100% of its radiologic science or medical dosimetry didactic courses.

OR
 iii.   any substantive change(s) that the Board of Directors determines would compromise student learning. 
11.407Hadvises programs on Probationary Accreditation applying for a substantive change that they will be subject to strict scrutiny and the substantive change may be denied until the Probationary Accreditation is resolved.
11.407Iadvises programs that a substantive change cannot be requested if the program is on Administrative Probation (for the definition of Administrative Probation, see Policy 10.200, Policy Statement 10.202).
11.408Arequires programs to submit a request and rationale for an increase in program capacity and requires JRCERT approval prior to implementation.
11.408Badvises programs with a Probationary Accreditation or Administrative Probationary Accreditation status that an increase in program/clinical capacity cannot be requested. 
11.408Cadvises programs whose sponsoring institution is on Probation or Show Cause by their institutional accreditor that an increase in program/clinical capacity cannot be requested.
11.409Arequires the JRCERT to promptly notify the Secretary of Education if the JRCERT finds a program does not have policies and procedures for determining credit hours or there is systemic non-compliance in the program’s application of such policies and procedures.
11.410Areserves the right to withhold or withdraw accreditation or to withhold consideration of a program for continuing accreditation if misrepresentation is found to have occurred, pending clarification and correction.
11.411Areviews the student loan default rate information provided by the USDE to determine whether the sponsor or program remains in compliance with the relevant accreditation standards.
11.411Binitiates appropriate action including an on-site review as necessary.
11.412Areviews and evaluate the information submitted for appropriate action.

Cross References

11.100  Principles of JRCERT Accreditation
11.500  Rights and Responsibilities of Sponsors of JRCERT Accredited Programs
11.600  Site Visit of the Program
11.700  Verification of Qualifications of Program Officials
11.800  Requirements for Decisions of State and other Accrediting Agencies
12.100  Change of Ownership Resulting In a Change of Control

Adopted by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology:  04/04
Revised:  10/04; 10/05; 10/06; 04/07; 10/07; 04/08; 10/08; 04/09; 10/10; 04/11; 05/11;10/11; 04/12;10/12; 04/13; 10/13; 04/14; 04/15; 04/16; 04/17; 10/17; 12/17; 04/19; 04/22; 04/23
Editorial Revision:  04/21