Please be sure to attend a CAPACS Informational Panel and/or

CAPACS ARC & SVT Training Workshop or Webinar

CAPACS Informational Panels

The Commission on the Accreditation of Programs in Applied and Clinical Sociology (CAPACS or the Commission) periodically hosts informational panels on "CAPACS Accreditation." The panels feature an overview of CAPACS as an accreditor of higher education programs in sociological practice (applied sociology, clinical sociology, engaged public sociology, translational sociology, and forensic sociology). Panelists discuss the Commission's accreditation standards, timelines, and benefits of CAPACS accreditation for programs and the profession. Focused content covers conventional accreditation reviews vs. virtual accreditation reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic; the global demand to accredit disciplinary and professional programs in the social and behavioral sciences as a process of external quality review; and the oversight of higher education accreditation commissions.

CAPACS is hosting informational panels on "Accrediting Your Undergraduate or Graduate Program in Sociological Practice: A Workshop on Process, Benefits, and Outcomes by the Commission on the Accreditation of Programs in Applied and Clinical Sociology" at the following conferences:

• XX ISA World Congress of Sociology in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, June 26, 2023, 15:30 - 17:20, Melbourne Local Time (AEDT), at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (209 Medium Room). The congress is co-sponsored by TASA, the Australian Sociological Association. The conference theme is “Resurgent Authoritarianism: The Sociology of New Entanglements of Religions, Politics, and Economies.” CAPACS Chair, Dr. Michael Fleischer and CAPACS Vice-Chair, Dr. Norma Winston (Session Organizers), will lead panel virtually with CAPACS Treasurer, Dr, Amitra Wall (Session Chair). They will be joined on-site by Prof. Pragna Rugunanan (Sociology Department Chair) and Prof. Tina Uys of the B.A. Honours Program in Sociology, Industrial Sociology and Urban Studies at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. The Commission’s informational workshop is conjointly offered by RC46: Clinical Sociology and RC26: Sociotechnics and Sociological Practice.
• Commissioners and other interested parties can register for the XX ISA World Congress by visiting the conference web page. This web page provides information on ISA member, non-member, and presenter registration policies and fees, registration deadlines, payment options, and cancellation terms and conditions. The page also features a “Register Now” button in the upper right corner to register for the Congress on the ISA portal. Please click on the Commission's informational session link for an abstract of the CAPACS workshop and panel on accreditation. The Commission's session is scheduled on Monday, June 26, 2023, 15:30 - 17:20, Melbourne Time (AEDT) at the Melbourne Convention Centre (209 Medium Room) for non-virtual (onsite) participants and attendees.
• Please visit the ISA website for more information about the International Sociological Association and ISA and RC (research committee) memberships.

CAPACS Accreditation Review Committee and Site Visit Team Training Workshops and Webinars

The Commission on Accreditation of Programs in Applied and Clinical Sociology (CAPACS or the Commission) periodically conducts pre-conference "Accreditation Review Committee (ARC) and Site Visit Team (SVT) Training Workshops." During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission will post an ARC and SVT Training Webinar on a secure, password protected web page on the CAPACS website. The Commission will provide training materials and a passcode to invited participants for accessing the webinar. The Commission's training workshops and webinar are intended for (1) new Commissioners who will be joining the CAPACS Board of Directors, (2) current Commissioners as a "refresher" course, and (3) other professional sociologists, invited by the Commission, who are interested in participating on a CAPACS accreditation review committee or site visit team for reviewing higher education programs in sociological practice (applied sociology, clinical sociology, engaged public sociology, translational sociology, and forensic sociology). The Commission's training workshops and webinar cover the CAPACS Standards, Self-study Guidelines, Accreditation Policies and Procedures, and Review Process Guidelines. Participants who successfully complete a Commission training workshop or webinar may be eligible to join the CAPACS Board of Directors at a future date. Workshop and webinar activities include an interactive slideshow, live or recorded discussion, and exercise. There is no fee for the workshop or webinar. Training materials are furnished on-site for workshops, or by email or shared folder in Dropbox for the webinar. Please bookmark the CAPACS website and/or visit this CAPACS web page soon for more information on an upcoming CAPACS training workshop or webinar.

Who is the CAPACS Training Workshop or Webinar For?

The Commission's training workshops and webinar are intended for new Commissioners who will be joining the CAPACS Board of Directors; current Commissioners, as a "refresher" course; and other professional sociologists, invited by the Commission, who are interested in participating on a CAPACS accreditation review committee and site visit team. The Commission's training workshops and webinar cover the CAPACS Standards, Self-Study Guidelines, Accreditation Policies and Procedures, and Review Process Guidelines.

What Happens After I Complete the CAPACS Training Workshop or Webinar?

Participants who successfully complete a Commission training workshop or webinar may serve as accreditors (reviewers) on CAPACS accreditation review committees and as site visitors on CAPACS site visit teams.

• As "Accreditors," participants who successfully complete a CAPACS training workshop or webinar will be able to differentiate and apply five sets of industry-wide standards for professional programs supported by the Commission. Areas include institutional resources, program structure, practice experience, student learning goals and outcomes, and monitoring and quality control.
• As "Site Visitors," participants who successfully complete a CAPACS training workshop or webinar will be able to conduct two- and three-day site of visits (or virtual site visits during the COVID-19 Pandemic) of applicant programs to determine program quality and effectiveness. On-site and virtual site visits engage successfully trained participants in semi-structured interviews with program faculty, students, alumni, advisory boards, administrators, and internship supervisors. Areas include matriculation, advisement, resources, curriculum, marketing, and program assessment and evaluation.