How to Become a Member of the SMCRAC:

Saint Martin’s Centre for Research & Accreditation Commission – SMCRAC members contribute with their diverse academic background and professional career to keep a wide perspective about the standards of quality assurance & professional excellence, and to consider the frame of reference of different countries and cultures. This multicultural perspective ensures a correct and non-discriminatory approach to interpret the global standards for the accreditation or external rating of any organisation globally, to recognize their professional excellence, and to provide an invaluable guide about quality assurance rating on a global scale. There are three ways to participate in the Saint Martin’s Centre for Research & Accreditation Commission – SMCRAC.

Global Members:

Organisations & the heads are welcome to join the SMCRAC global membership. Send your complete bio data or Curriculum Vitae to the SMCRAC Secretary with your request to join the SMCRAC, and a letter explaining how you intend to contribute to the mission, vision & global principals of SMCRAC and improvement of the Quality Assurance. Acceptance of any new member is a restricted privilege. If your acceptance is not immediate, we ask you to be patient. We will keep your request for membership in our files for any future options.

Requirements:

• You must hold a postgraduate level degree, doctoral candidates & senior profiles are preferred.
• You must contribute to follow the mission, vision & global principals of SMCRAC and demonstrate to work for improvement of QA with work, networking or other contributions.
• Optional: If possible, you should be recommended by other SMCRAC member, accredited institution or selected body approved by the SMCRAC.

Obligations:

• Voluntary involvement for global QA development.
• Your name will display on the SMCRAC official Web site.
• Promotion of the SMCRAC Services.
• Evaluation of the Accreditation Status of organisations for a fee.

Benefits for Global Members:

• Global Member Certification
• Networking benefits with the global fraternity
• Open Invitation to reviews, meetings, seminars & other events

You have the right to receive SMCRAC Global member certificate & to be listed as such in the SMCRAC esteemed member list.

Financial Profits:

It is easy to generate financial gains being part of the SMCRAC. Commission & fees will be coordinated each time with the SMCRAC Secretary on case to case basic electronic.

Discounted Accreditation & Rating Services:

If you are a professor, academic or staff at some institution of education, you may recommend the acceptance of such institution in the list of SMCRAC accredited institutions of education at no cost or nominal fees, provided the fact the institution meets the accreditation standards set forth by the Education Quality Accreditation Commission, or an approved equivalent accreditation. This selection is presented for information purposes only, and with the intent of providing references about the existing norms applicable.

SMCRAC is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the global establishment of worldwide accepted quality standards. If you consider that you may join the SMCRAC in any of the above described categories, you should write an email to the SMCRAC Secretary with your request. The SMCRAC Secretary will coordinate all the administrative requirements. Email us at smcracoffice@gmail.com

Join Us:

Code of Conduct:

High standards of honesty, integrity and impartiality by SMCRAC evaluators are essential to the proper performance of the accreditation process. SMCRAC evaluators must agree to the Code of Conduct for On-Site Evaluators prior to volunteering for SMCRAC. All Accrediting Commissioners, Evaluators, Subject Specialists, Consultants, Administrative Staff, Appeals Panel Members, and employees of the SMCRAC must:

• Annually read, sign and agree to abide by SMCRAC’s Conflict of Interest Policy
• Sign and complete SMCRAC’s Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form for each institution they review.

Note: In addition to the above, all on-site evaluators must annually read, sign and agree to abide by SMCRAC’s Code of Conduct for On-Site Evaluators. More information and electronic versions of each form are available using the list below:

Conflict of Interest Policy:

Annually, each Accrediting Commissioner, Evaluator, Subject Specialist, Consultant, Administrative Staff, Appeals Panel Member, or employee of SMCRAC shall be provided with and asked to review a copy of this policy and to acknowledge in writing that he or she has done so. An electronic version of Conflict of Interest Policy is available to complete online.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form:

Before reviewing an institution, each Accrediting Commissioner, Evaluator, Subject Specialist, Consultant, Administrative Staff Member, Appeals Panel Member, or employee of SMCRAC shall complete a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form identifying any relationships, positions or circumstances in which he/she is involved that he/she believes could present a Conflict of Interest with that institution. An electronic version of the form can be reviewed and completed online.

Code of Conduct for On-Site Evaluators:

In addition to the above, on-site evaluators must annually review, sign, and agree to abide by SMCRAC’s Code of Conduct for On-Site Evaluators. An electronic version of the Code can be reviewed and completed online.

You can email us to get the forms at smcracoffice@gmail.com for more details and better understandings.

Apply to Volunteer:

SMCRAC’s volunteer evaluators have two primary responsibilities:

• Assess institutional or program quality and compliance. Within an institution’s context and mission, SMCRAC evaluators provide a detailed assessment of compliance with SMCRAC’s accreditation standards.
• Within the context and mission of the institution, SMCRAC evaluators offer suggestions intended to contribute to the quality of an institution’s academic offerings and to its aims toward continuous improvement.

To apply to become a SMCRAC Volunteer, please contact SMCRAC’s Director of Accreditation or Secretary; Email us at smcracoffice@gmail.com for more information.

Value of Peer Review:

Peer review is the defining characteristic of accreditation globally. SMCRAC views peer review as essential to institutional assessment and improvement. Global higher education developed peer review to examine innovations in institutions and to compare expectations for academic quality with expectations for student achievement. Peer review is an effective and meaningful way to improve and externally validate the quality of student performance and ensure that student performance meets high standards for achievement. In order to achieve this goal SMCRAC has formed various committee and honorary board of advisors those who act as volunteers and panel members for conducting the peer review wherever required.

Volunteer Profiles:

SMCRAC’s peer reviewers are evaluators and education specialists who contribute to advancing the assessment of QA in education. They bring vast expertise particularly suited to higher education in such areas as pedagogical delivery in higher education, online learning management systems, academic services, student learning outcomes assessment, and student academic success. SMCRAC has honorary list of aboard advisors which double up as representative and volunteer in that region in order to have our global presence felt worldwide. For more information check honorary list of Global Board Advisors at SMCRAC. To join us volunteer or recommend a senior profile you can send us their detailed CV along with Photograph as per of the initial screening and we shall get in touch with you over the email for confirmation.

Send request at smcracoffice@gmail.com

Volunteer Training:

Peer review in SMCRAC’s accreditation process is based on the fundamental assumption that quality assurance benchmarking is best served through a process that enables peers of the organization, informed by accreditation standards created and applied by professionals in allied field, to make the assessments essential to assuring and advancing the quality of the organisations worldwide. SMCRAC requires all volunteers to complete an online Evaluator Training Tutorial before serving as an evaluator. The tutorial is available upon request via the SMCRAC Online Training Centre. There is no cost to complete this tutorial. For assistance with SMCRAC’s Online Training Centre contact: smcracoffice@gmail.com

Volunteers:

Serving on a SMCRAC evaluation committee is often described by volunteers as “one of the best forms of professional development,” not only because of what is learned about best practices from the accreditation standards but also because of interaction with academician & education peers. SMCRAC’s accreditation process depends upon the skill and thoughtful work of individuals who are willing to serve the larger community of distance education, higher education institutions as volunteers.

Apply to Volunteer:

The credibility and effectiveness of the accreditation & rating process depend upon the contribution of volunteer evaluators.

Volunteer Profiles:

Over 200 + talented experts who represent all aspects of varied industry participate as SMCRAC volunteer evaluators.

Evaluator Documents:

SMCRAC evaluator documents set forth expectations, specific tasks and procedures for examining committee members.

Volunteer Training:

Training includes accreditation workshops, online courses and one-on-one mentoring before, during and after visits.

Value of Peer Review:

Accreditation is a practice of peer review and accountability to mutually agreed-upon standards of education quality.

Code of Conduct:

Volunteers must adhere to protocols, policies and procedures and conduct their work according to these expectations.