EWSI Accreditation Procedure
Standards for Accreditation
Policy Statement
This document establishes the standards by which THE ESTATE AND WEALTH STRATEGIES INSTITUTE AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ("THE INSTITUTE") accredits educational courses for accountants, attorneys, trust officers, planned giving officers, laypersons, financial services, insurance, and other estate and wealth professionals. These standards are designed to enable THE INSTITUTE to evaluate thoroughly the objectives, standards, content, and procedures of courses considered for accreditation..
Authority
THE INSTITUTE has the exclusive authority to accredit courses on its behalf. Accreditation by THE INSTITUTE is not intended to preempt regulation by any governing body, including but not limited to any State Bar Association, State Board of Accountancy, State Insurance Licensing Agency, or the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.
Course Content
THE INSTITUTE will consider for accreditation any course or courses related to estate and wealth strategies, including but not limited to, courses pertaining to:
development and maintenance of relationships between clients and estate and wealth strategies professionals;
accumulation, preservation, investment, or transfer of wealth personally and in business;
establishment, operation, and administration of, and fund raising for, nonprofit institutions;
passing responsibility and values to heirs;
aiding client family relationships; and
estate, gift, income, and other tax related issues.
Applicants should provide as much course information as possible, with the goal to enable prospective students to determine whether a particular course meets their educational objectives. Promotional and course materials should specify the target audience and course content and objective(s), as well as articulate how the course or courses will meet such objectives. If applicable, these materials should also specify the course level (e.g., basic, intermediate, advanced, update, overview, etc.) and articulate with specificity the knowledge, skills, and abilities students or participants may achieve. If the course requires prerequisites or supplemental study, all promotional materials should specify these requirements. Applicants must provide copies of all promotional and course materials evidencing satisfaction of these requirements.
Quality of Course Instructors and Materials
The course content must be current, technically accurate, and address the stated objectives. Individuals qualified in the subject matter and knowledgeable in instructional design should review the course before its first presentation, if practical, and applicants should provide the reviews and comments of these individuals.
Applicants must provide evidence that all instructors are qualified as to program content and the instructional methods used. Promotional and course materials should specify the background, training, education, and experience for the instructors.
If a course has qualified for continuing education by any state or federal regulatory body, a copy of the application for qualification and a copy of the approval must be provided. Each course should include an evaluation that attempts to determine, at a minimum, the following:
Did the program/instructors meet the program's stated learning objective(s)?
Were the program materials current and accurate?
Did the program materials contribute toward achievement of the learning objectives?
Was the time allotted for the program appropriate?
Were the instructors effective?
Were the program handouts satisfactory?
Does the participant have any suggestions to improve the overall effectiveness of the program or instructors?
Applicants should periodically review evaluation results to assess course and instructor effectiveness, and should inform course developers and instructors of these results.
Attendance and Recordkeeping
Applicants shall provide a certificate of completion only to those students who complete the course and meet all course requirements, as specified by the course materials. For courses of presentations other than to lay persons, applicants should enforce the attendance requirements in a reasonable manner. Applicants should retain course documentation for five years, including, but not limited to:
• records of participation
• dates and locations
• instructor names and credentials
• number of CE credits earned by participants
• results of program evaluations
• copies of all promotional and program materials
No Product or Service Endorsement
THE INSTITUTE will not endorse any product or service. If Applicant's program includes the sale or offer of any product or services, Applicant must disclose this fact and clearly delineate such sale or offer from the educational content. THE INSTITUTE will only accredit a program that is primarily education oriented.
Accreditation Period And Reaccreditation
Absent substantial alteration to the course content or qualifications of course instructors, initial accreditation by THE INSTITUTE shall be granted for a period of two years. To retain accreditation, Applicant shall apply for reaccreditation prior to the end of the second year of its initial accreditation period and every two years thereafter. Upon a showing of continued compliance with these standards, THE INSTITUTE will reaccredit the course.
If Applicant substantially alters the course content or qualifications of course instructors, Applicant must notify THE INSTITUTE in writing that it has made changes and must submit to THE INSTITUTE the actual alterations, along with a summary of the changes so made. If the alterations are such that they cause the course to substantially change, THE INSTITUTE reserves the right to reassess and reevaluate the course for accreditation.
Revocation of Accreditation
THE INSTITUTE may revoke accreditation upon determination that Applicant has ceased to exist, no longer operates in compliance with these standards, or that Applicant has substantially altered the course content or instructor qualifications without notifying THE INSTITUTE of such alterations and without THE INSTITUTE's accreditation of the alterations.
