The Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) serves as the primary point of contact between the Kurdistan Accrediting Association for Education (KAAE) and accredited or member institutions. The ALO plays a vital role in ensuring effective communication, compliance with accreditation policies, and seamless coordination during the accreditation process.
Appointed by the institution’s president, the ALO is responsible for managing accreditation-related activities, maintaining institutional compliance, and facilitating communication with KAAE’s Commission on Higher Education (CHE). This role is instrumental in aligning institutional practices with KAAE standards and supporting continuous quality improvement.
Accreditation Liaison Officer
An Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) is an internal member of a higher education institution selected to oversee and coordinate all accreditation activities with KAAE. The ALO is responsible for ensuring that the institution meets KAAE’s foundational criteria, accreditation standards, and policy requirements.
The ALO must possess:
- Adequate authority, time, and resources to focus on accreditation responsibilities.
- Institutional knowledge and access to decision-making processes.
- Credibility, visibility, and trust within the institution.
The president of the institution is responsible for appointing the ALO and notifying KAAE of their contact details and any subsequent changes. It is important to note that:
- The president cannot serve as the ALO.
- The role cannot be assigned to an external consultant.
- The ALO must be an internal member of the institution with consistent access to leadership and strategic decision-making.
Selection Criteria
To be considered for the role of ALO, the individual must:
- Hold a position that allows access to executive decision-making and strategic planning.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of institutional governance, academic quality, and student services.
- Possess strong organizational and communication skills to effectively liaise with KAAE.
- Have the capacity to coordinate documentation, reports, and evaluations required by KAAE.
- Be committed to continuous professional development through KAAE workshops, training, and peer evaluations.
- The appointment must be communicated to KAAE formally, including the ALO's contact information and role within the institution.
Responsibilities of the ALO
Accreditation Review and Monitoring:
- Serve as the primary contact between the institution and KAAE.
- Ensure institutional leadership is informed of KAAE standards and expectations.
- Coordinate the submission of annual institutional reports and compliance documentation.
- Manage logistics for peer review visits, including site evaluations and documentation.
- Maintain an organized institutional archive of accreditation materials, reports, and action letters.
- Ensure the accuracy of data submitted to KAAE and notify KAAE of any changes to leadership or institutional structure.
- Share training opportunities, workshops, and updates from KAAE with institutional stakeholders.
Standards and Policies Compliance:
- Maintain working knowledge of KAAE’s Foundational Criteria, Accreditation Standards, and Affiliation Requirements.
- Integrate accreditation standards into the institution’s strategic and operational planning.
- Ensure compliance with accreditation standards is embedded in institutional practices.
- Distribute and explain new or revised KAAE policies to faculty, staff, administrators, and students.
- Notify KAAE of any substantive changes (e.g., mission, program offerings, governance) and manage the submission process for those changes.
Regulatory Compliance and Communication:
- Act as the primary coordinator for communication between KAAE and governmental or regulatory bodies concerning the institution’s accreditation status.
- Notify KAAE of any external audits or regulatory reviews that may impact accreditation.
- Ensure consistency between data submitted to KAAE and that provided to regulatory bodies or the Ministry of Higher Education.
- Support timely compliance with all national and regional regulations that intersect with KAAE requirements.
Stay Updated
To effectively fulfill their responsibilities, ALOs are encouraged to:
- Participate in KAAE-sponsored training sessions, conferences, and workshops to stay informed of policy changes and accreditation updates.
- Serve as peer evaluators for other institutions to gain insights into quality assurance practices.
- Engage with other ALOs and KAAE commissions to share best practices and stay informed of evolving standards.
- Regularly review KAAE policy updates, accreditation guidelines, and training materials.
Authorized Use of Title
Institutions may refer to their assigned Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) in public documents. However, it is important to note that the ALO’s role does not imply decision-making authority on behalf of KAAE. All official accreditation decisions remain the responsibility of KAAE’s Commissions and Board of Trustees.
ALO Training
This webinar provided by our partner, Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) focused on the role of the ALO as the nexus of communication regarding MSCHE policies, processes, procedures, guidelines, and reporting responsibilities; MSCHE expectations within the context of their own institution; and available resources to support the work of ALOs.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the various aspects of the role of the ALO.
- Identify the MSCHE expectations of the ALO.
- Review the Commission’s resources for ALOs.
MSCHE Webinars on ALO Role and Responsibilities: