Accreditation: The Next Generation

Next Wednesday is officially the big day! I hesitate to say that it's the day that the new Accreditation application opens because it's SO MUCH MORE than that! The Accreditation application is a small part of a bigger and better application called Achieve. Achieve is essentially a membership, event, activity database, accreditation, communication tool and more. Okay, so it won't be all of that on Wednesday but it will be sometime in the future. We just got back from a meeting and review of the application and we are quite pleased with where we are at. This will be a big change and a big step forward for our organization and its members. Be sure that you check out the Temple magazine article on the new application. For our blog readers, you get VIP insight into the program right now!

For now, the Achieve Application's functions are limited but will continue to expand as the year goes on. On Wednesday each member will be sent instructions to login to the system. Each member will be able to add and edit information into their personal profile. Right now all that is visible is achievements, events, and organizations. We ask that each member begins to enter all of the non Phi Kappa Theta related events he has attended, achievements awarded, and organizations that the member is involved in so far this year. Officers have special permissions that allow them to add and edit chapter specific activities and events. Once the chapter event is held the officer can select the names of chapter members who have attended the event. This event information will then show up on the chapter profile as well as the profile of all members who attended. Be sure to login often and keep your profiles updated. Why is this so important? Well, your individual and chapter profiles talk to your chapter's Accreditation program. They don't literally talk, but the program was created to take your events and activities and automatically populate certain fields of your chapter's Accreditation application. For example, one of the requirements is that 80% of the chapter must attend at least one professional development program this year. Imagine that your chapter asks somebody from the campus Career Development Center to do a presentation on interview skills for the chapter. The secretary logs in to the Achieve Application, adds a new event, enters the requested information, and selects all of the chapter members who were in attendance from the pre-populated list. It is important to remember to attach documentation of this presentation (such as a signed letter from the presenter) when you add or edit the event entry. This data would automatically calculate if the 80% minimum has been reached and will show the documentation on your Accreditation application.

Make your own life easier by entering as much information as you can on Wednesday and adding information as it happens instead of rushing at the end of the year. We hope you find the application and process easier and as we move forward you will see all of new and exciting benefits that Achieve has to offer. If you have any questions during the year, let me know! Get excited.