Site Visit of the Program

Policy Statements

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

11.601	requires a scheduled site visit as an integral part of the accrediting process to assist in assessing an applicant program’s compliance with the relevant accreditation standards.
11.602	determines which clinical settings will be visited.
11.603	communicates with programs regarding the number and selection of site visitors and the length of the scheduled visit.
11.604	requires the preparation of an agenda for a scheduled site visit which provides opportunities for discussion among team members and program officials, faculty, administrators, clinical representatives, students, and other appropriate individuals.
11.605	requires the use of the JRCERT Report of Site Visit Team Findings to support consistency in the evaluation process.
11.606	requires the site visit team to present its findings privately to the program director prior to the exit summation.
11.607	requires the site visit team to present an oral exit summation of its findings, including program strengths and areas of concern to sponsor and program officials.
11.608	expects site visitors to arrive promptly, to maintain the established agenda, to complete the Report of Site Visit Team Findings before the oral exit summation and to leave promptly at the conclusion of the scheduled site visit.
11.609	requires the team chair to submit to the JRCERT office, the completed and signed Report of Site Visit Team Findings within one (1) week of the site visit.
11.610	allows a hybrid site visit to be conducted due to site visit travel restrictions during a catastrophic event, such as a pandemic, natural disaster, or if the JRCERT Executive Staff determine a hybrid site visit is appropriate.  The above Policy Statements remain applicable (see Hybrid Site Visit Guidelines).
11.611	requires the program to provide current technology and facilities to conduct a hybrid site visit, including a private room with internet access for the onsite visitor.
11.612	will coordinate virtual technology for the visit utilizing a video conferencing system.
11.613	requires that the program provide technology support during the onsite review.
11.614	reserves the right to conduct unannounced site visits of accredited programs at program expense.

Procedures

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

11.601A	requires the site visit team to interview students.  The interviews may be conducted on the campus of the sponsor, on site at clinical setting(s), or via conference call or video conferencing.
11.601B	does not allow any interviews conducted by the site visit team to be recorded.
11.602A	requires the site visit team to interview a clinical preceptor from a representative sample of recognized clinical settings.  The interviews may be conducted either on campus of the sponsor, on site at clinical setting(s), or via conference call or video conferencing.
11.602B	directs the site visit team to visit any clinical setting to review the quality of the educational experience being provided or to investigate allegations of non-compliance with the relevant accreditation standards.
11.603A	assigns site visitors for each scheduled program evaluation:
	i.     considers the number of clinical settings in determining the number of site visitors.
	ii.    requires a minimum of two (2) site visitors for each team, for programs with less than thirty (30) clinical settings.
	iii.   requires a minimum of three (3) site visitors for each team for programs with thirty (30) or more clinical settings or more than seventy-five (75) students enrolled in the program.
	iv.   requires a minimum of three (3) site visitors if the JRCERT Executive Staff determines it is necessary for a program that is identified by the JRCERT as offering the curriculum via distance education/delivery and if 50% or more of the clinical settings are out-of-state.
	v.    assigns as site visitors an educator and a practitioner as defined in Policy 90.300, if the JRCERT is identified as the program’s programmatic accreditor.
	vi.   assigns as site visitors an academician and an administrator as defined in Policy 90.300 if the JRCERT is identified as the program’s institutional accreditor.
	vii.  requires at least one (1) site visitor identified as experienced in distance education for any program using distance education delivery of four (4) or more courses.
	viii. assigns a Team Chair or Team Member experienced with the type of program sponsor and the relevant discipline being visited.
11.603B	requires site visits to be a minimum of two (2) days.
11.603C	provides site visitors evaluating a program for continuing accreditation with documentation relating to the program’s accreditation history.
11.603D	reassigns, when possible, one (1) member from the previous site visit team to the next scheduled on-site evaluation of a program with a status of Probationary Accreditation.
11.603E	provides each site visit team member with a name badge to be worn at all times during on-site evaluation activities.
11.606A	recognizes the prerogative of the program director to invite appropriate program officials to the pre-exit summation.
11.607A	recognizes the prerogative of the sponsor to invite appropriate sponsor and program officials to the exit summation.
11.610A	will determine, in consultation with program faculty and JRCERT Executive Staff if a hybrid site visit is appropriate.
11.610B	requires that one site visitor be on campus and the other site visitor conduct the visit virtually.
11.610C	requires the virtual site visitor to be responsible for interviews with students, clinical preceptors, and, if possible, clinical staff.
11.612A	will provide a private virtual meeting space/room for site visit team discussion.
11.612B	will send the site visit team and the program director access to the video conferencing system.
11.614A	may schedule an unannounced site visit during the interval between an award of accreditation and the expiration of the accreditation award.

Cross References

10.400  Confidentiality of Accreditation Process/Activities
10.500  Conducting Concurrent Site Visits
10.600  Developing, Revising, and Applying Accreditation Standards
10.800  Alternative Learning Options
11.000  Fees for Accreditation Services
11.200  Self-Study Report
11.300  Report of Findings
11.400  Requirements for Sponsors of Accredited Programs
12.100  Change of Ownership Resulting In a Change of Ownership
50.100  Director and Employee Site Visit Participation
50.700  Functions and Responsibilities
80.100  Conflict of Interest
80.200  Integrity of the Accreditation Process
80.300  Public Interest and Public Representation
90.300  Site Visitor – Qualifications and Terms of Appointment/Reappointment
90.500  Responsibilities of Site Visit Team

Adopted by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology:  04/04
Revised:  04/07; 10/11; 04/15; 04/16; 04/19; 10/20; 04/23