Certification

• NADE Certification Website: http://www.nadecertification.net/
• NADE Certification Council Chair, Jane Neuburger

NADE Certification recognizes programs that (1) can articulate their theoretical framework; (2) meet or exceed criteria of good practices as defined by professional research and literature of the field, and (3) use a continuous assessment process to demonstrate meeting their mission and goals and to improve services and student outcomes. The program components eligible for certification are: tutoring services, adjunct instructional programs (course-based learning assistance programs), and developmental coursework programs.

The certification process requires a two-step procedure through which a program component demonstrates its use of theory, quality practices, and analysis of baseline and comparative evaluation data to demonstrate it is using assessment to improve services to students, to meet its goals and objectives, and to improve its student outcomes.

Use of theory is demonstrated by providing the theoretical framework(s) for the program. Use of quality practices is demonstrated through submitting a summary of a self-study using one of the following tools:

1. The appropriate section of the NADE Self-Evaluation Guides (which can be ordered from H&H Publishing at 800-366-4079 or 727-442-7760 or through their website)
2. The Self-Assessment Guide for Learning Assistance Programs, provided by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), available at http://cas.edu/ or by calling 202-862-1400.
3. For developmental coursework programs, the checklist in Hunter Boylan (2002). What Works: a Guide to Research-based Best Practices in Developmental Education, available from the National Center for Developmental Education, http://www.ncde.appstate.edu or by calling (828) 262-3057.

Use of continuous assessment to improve services and student learning is demonstrated by collecting, analyzing, and discussing at least two years of baseline data (generally, from time before the self-study) and at least two years of comparative data (generally, from time after implementation of changes suggested by the baseline data and the self-study) that confirms the program component is constantly improving and evolving to meet its mission and goals.