1. Orientation for New Site Visitors
CIDA’s Mission, Value, and the Guiding Principles of Peer Review

2. Introduction
This presentation addresses CIDA’s mission, values, and the guiding principles of peer review. Before participating in a site visit, you should review the training presentations on CIDA’s website, the Site Visitor Handbook, and attend an in-person training workshop.

3. CIDA’s Mission
The Council for Interior Design Accreditation provides the foundation for future excellence in the interior design profession by setting standards for education and accrediting academic programs that meet those standards.

4. Value of CIDA
Accreditation is a quality assurance process that replaces government regulation of higher education.
Accreditation is a process that includes program self-evaluation and peer review.
CIDA is a specialized (discipline-specific) accreditor.
CIDA accredits interior design programs that culminate in a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

5. Value of CIDA
Accreditation promotes the achievement of high academic standards
Accreditation makes education responsive to students and society by maintaining standards that accurately reflect the evolving requirements of the profession.

6. Value of CIDA CIDA ensures quality in interior design education by:
Setting standards for postsecondary interior design education.
Evaluating and accrediting interior design programs at colleges and universities.
Facilitating outreach and collaboration with all stakeholders in the interior design community.

7. Value of CIDA Setting Standards:
A core responsibility of CIDA is to set and periodically update standards for interior design education.
CIDA exercises a well-established protocol in developing educational standards.
CIDA’s Standards Committee stewards the standard-setting process.

8. Value of CIDA Evaluating and accrediting interior design programs:
The accreditation process includes program self-study and an on-site review conducted by CIDA site visitors.
CIDA’s Accreditation Commission (composed of 5 experienced site visitors, 1 accredited program representative, and 1 public representative) decides to grant or deny accreditation depending on a program’s level of compliance with the Standards.

9. Value of CIDA Facilitating outreach:
CIDA consistently communicates with all relevant stakeholders in the interior design community.
This communication guides CIDA’s outreach efforts and actions.
These efforts and actions utilize brainstorming, teamwork, and consensus-building to address issues and concerns in the interior design community.

10. Value of CIDA Examples of CIDA outreach efforts include:
Interior Design Profession’s Body of Knowledge, 2005 and 2009 Updates, joint sponsorship with 5 other design associations.
Careers in Interior Design Website –
Video competitions hosted by IDEC, CIDA, NCIDQ, and other partners if appropriate

11. Value of CIDA As a site visitor, you will assist CIDA in serving:
Academic programs
Parents and students
The interior design profession

12. Value of CIDA CIDA serves academic programs by:
Facilitating self-assessment and development by requiring programs to complete a self-study process.
Acting as a strong marketing tool and helping programs fulfill enrollment goals.

13. Value of CIDA CIDA serves student and parents by:
Assisting them in selecting the right school by serving as a strong indicator of program quality.
Providing an objective third-party assessment of programs.

14. Value of CIDA CIDA serves the profession by:
Assuring potential employers and clients that interns and potential employees with CIDA-accredited degrees have received an education that meets specific standards of competency.
Serving interior design professional organizations’ commitment to enhancing and strengthening education and the profession.

15. Guiding Principles of Peer Review
Site visitors serve as ambassadors of CIDA by promoting understanding of it’s mission and work in the interior design community.
Site visitors are drawn from interior design practice and education.
Site visitors participate in the peer review process by gathering evidence and making informed decisions regarding program compliance using CIDA’s Professional Standards for evaluation.

16. Guiding Principles of Peer Review
The goal of peer review is to evaluate a program’s compliance with CIDA Standards and to document the evaluation clearly in a written report.
You must always use unbiased judgment when determining program compliance.
Following good practices for peer review will help you perform well in the role of site visitor. Examples of these practices are outlined in the following slides.

17. Guiding Principles of Peer Review
Always use your background and experience to make informed judgments regarding program quality.
CIDA visiting teams consist of three members, each team includes at least one educator and one practitioner.
CIDA site visitors are experts who come together to evaluate the quality of an interior design program.

18. Guiding Principles of Peer Review
The visiting team must focus only on criteria included in CIDA’s Standards for evaluation.
The visiting team’s evaluation must not be excessively influenced by one team member’s area of expertise or ideas regarding the necessary requirements for practice.

19. Guiding Principles of Peer Review
Accreditation uses threshold standards as a measure of quality – CIDA accreditation status makes no distinction between programs that meet standards and those that exceed standards.
Not all programs will exceed CIDA Standards.
When reviewing a program, be objective.
Comparisons to other programs are strictly prohibited.

20. Guiding Principles of Peer Review
As a site visitor, you must observe appropriate protocols.
Professional courtesy sets the stage for respectful dialogue between site visitors, program representatives, and others engaged in the review process.

21. Follow-up
Thank you for reviewing the Peer Review presentation. Please complete a brief quiz using the link below: This quiz will take approximately 10 minutes. CIDA staff will review your responses and forward you the results.