Accreditation Summit at Texas A&M

Dates:

July 12, 2016- NACC Dinner
July 13, 2016- Accreditation Presentations and NACC Dinner
July 14, 2016- Morning Accreditation Discussion and Membership Meeting

Location:

Texas A&M

Overview:

The case for accreditation of nonprofit and philanthropy degree programs in higher education is attracting attention and generating discussion about whether or not nonprofit education can be framed by dedicated theories. Has nonprofit theory developed to the point where distinctions are established in the scholarly literature and in the field of practice? NACC’s interest in accreditation is partially a reaction to the existing accreditation and certification processes. It appears that NACC member representatives think these processes fail to reflect the intrinsic nature of nonprofit and philanthropy programs.

This Summit is an effort to bring order to the discussion and consider if nonprofit and philanthropy studies is at the juncture of becoming an accredited degree.

Please join us to help NACC move forward with an accreditation process that works best for the nonprofit and philanthropy field.  To that end we have commissioned opinion papers from scholars both inside and outside of NACC designed with the following key goals:

Flexibility- Any NACC sponsored accreditation process must be flexible enough to incorporate the wide variety of “academic spaces” that nonprofit and philanthropy education occupies.

Nonprofit and Philanthropy First- The NACC accreditation program will begin with nonprofit and philanthropy central to the discussion. This means we are committed to focusing on the nonprofit and philanthropy aspects of the programs accredited.

Curriculum Focused- As other accreditation processes require documenting levels of support from host institutions (Deans, Provosts, and infrastructure) that many nonprofit programs do not have. This barrier prevents many outstanding programs from applying.

As a result, a NACC-directed accreditation process should focus exclusively and directly on the nonprofit and philanthropy curriculum.

A reader with opinion pieces on these and other topics will be sent to participants before the Summit.  At the Summit we will focus on discussing, debating and deliberating on the best path forward for both NACC and the nonprofit and philanthropy field. You are invited to participate in the conversation and help guide and inform the process.

Airport and Ground Transportation:

Suggestions for Airplane and Ground Transportation to College Station

Accomodation:

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton College Station & Conference Center at the rate of $145 per night, July 12-14. Reservations can be made through June 30, 2016. For room reservations, contact the Hilton at 1-800-445-8667 and reference the Bush School NACC – Nonprofit Academic Centers Council, Group Code NACC.

Questions:

To attend the Summit, participants must register and ensure their payment is received by June 15, 2016.  If you have any questions about the Summit please contact Linda Serra: lindalserra@gmail.com  for general questions and Nina Antonik: n.antonik@csuohio.edu  for questions about registration/payment.

NACC is grateful to the following institutions for their contributions and making the Summit possible:

Principal and Hosting Sponsor
Texas A&M University

Leading Sponsor
The University of Texas at Austin

Sustaining Sponsors
Cleveland State University
The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University

Program Sponsor
Seton Hall University

Supporting Sponsors
Baruch College, City University of New York
Seattle University
University of Oregon

Contributing Partner
The Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership (JNE&L)