Call for public comment: Degree structure and naming convention [updated 31 Oct. 2019]
Comment period closes 6 December 2019
It is the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM)’s long-standing practice to provide notice to all relevant stakeholders and constituencies (“interested parties”) of proposed changes; give the interested parties adequate opportunity to comment on the proposed changes; and use the input received to help inform proposed changes.
At its February 2019 semi-annual meeting, the Commission approved a policy regarding degree structure and naming convention; this policy was further updated in July 2019. The Commission agrees that there is merit in providing communities of interest with an opportunity for thoughtful and data-supported additional public comment with regard to degree structure changes. To that end, the Commission is suspending full implementation of the policy in order to permit additional public comment.
The relevant policy (as updated in July 2019) may be viewed here: https://acahm.org/policies/degree-structure-and-naming-convention/
and may be downloaded here: https://acahm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ACAOM-Degree-Structure-and-Naming-Convention-Policy.pdf
The Commission has issued a position paper regarding its rationale for the uniform degree structure and naming convention adopted in February, 2019. The paper describes the key steps involved in taking the decision and evidence considered. The position paper may be viewed here: https://acahm.org/position-paper-rationale-for-degree-structure-and-naming-convention/
The Commission also issued a position paper regarding ACAOM-accreditable doctoral programs in July 2019, which provides some additional context relating to Commission naming convention and that commenters may find useful to review. The position paper may be viewed here: https://acahm.org/position-paper-acaom-accreditable-doctoral-programs/
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Interested parties are invited to comment on the proposed
revisions to the Standards outlined above, using any of the
following methods:
1. Electronically, via the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/degreestructure2019
2. By electronic mail, in the form of a letter (document attachment is acceptable), sent to info@mikes140.sg-host.com
3. By surface mail, in the form of a letter, sent to:
ACAOM
8941 Aztec Dr., Suite 2
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Attn: Public Comment – Degree
structure
Comments must be received no later than 4:30pm US Central Time on 6 December 2019. Comments must be limited to the proposed change; comments that do not pertain specifically to the proposed change will not be considered at this time.
Comments timely submitted will be considered by the Commission. ACAOM cannot guarantee that comments relating to this matter received after the due date and time will be considered.