Conflict of Interest - Site Visitors

Before the site visit, program directors are given the opportunity to review the list of site visitors and identify those site visitors who would present a conflict of interest.  Declining a site visitor for reasons of race, religion, or gender is considered discrimination and is in violation of the accreditation procedures. 

A conflict of interest is considered to be any relationship (personal, professional, or financial) with the applicant program, or with any individual connected with the applicant program, that might interfere with objectivity in reviewing a program.  For example, a conflict of interest exists if:

·          the site visitor has sought employment with the applicant program;

·          the site visitor has had a close professional or personal relationship with the applicant program or with an individual connected with the program (e.g., accreditation consultant to the program, marriage, kinship, supervisor-supervisee, business partner, co-author);

·          the site visitor has trained with key personnel in the applicant program in other settings; or

·          the program director or other key personnel of the applicant program graduated from the program of the site visitor.

Site visitors are prohibited from visiting:

·          institutions where they were students or where they were employed;

·          programs located in the state or population center where the site visitor resides; and,

·          programs where a conflict of interest exists (including having served on a site visit team with someone from the program).

Site visitors are responsible for determining the degree to which they are able to make objective observations and reports.  If a conflict of interest exists, or if objectivity is not ensured (e.g., personal friendship with a member of the faculty of the applicant program, biases toward or against the program), a person must refuse to serve as a site visitor to that program.  Anyone who is unsure about a potential conflict of interest should discuss the issue with Commission staff.