— Coordinate with members of other ASA
committees and sections to solicit their input in
developing the proposal
2008 Accreditation Communications
— Present the proposal within 24 months to the
“Figures Fool When Fools Figure”
ASA Board of Directors for review
by Nicholas Fisher, March
“Canadian Model for Accrediting
Members of the ad hoc committee have done
Professional Statisticians”
admirable work, and the association is grateful for
by Judith-Anne Chapman, April
their contribution. They evaluated accreditation
models in Australia, Canada, and the UK. They fos- “Individual Accreditation: A Review of
tered a dialogue on the issue and engaged a variety Programs from Around the World”
of groups and individuals in a thoughtful exchange,
by Monica Johnston and
all the while considering the needs of the varied
Jesse Albert Canchola, May
constituencies in the association and discipline. As
charged, they drafted a proposal for an accredita-
“ASA’s Journey to Consider Accreditation
tion program. You are invited to review their Amstat
Long”
News communications in the March, April, May,
by Mary Batcher, July
July, and October 2008 issues, which can be found
at www.amstat.org/publications/amsn. Additional
“Statistical Accreditation: The Royal
information about accreditation is available at
Statistical Society Experience”
www.amstat.org/committees/accreditation.
by Martin Lee, October
Given the challenge and sensitivity of this situ-
Read online at www.amstat.org/publications/
ation, further review and refinement are necessary.
amsn.
The need for further review is not a reflection of
the work that has been conducted so far, but rather
it underscores the importance and complexity of
this issue. Therefore, the Executive Committee of
the ASA Board has appointed a panel to examine
anticipate the group will make a recommendation
the ad hoc committee’s proposal. This Individual
by the end of 2009.
Accreditation Proposal Review Group consists of
The primary goal of this review is to have within
Jon Kettenring (Chair), Mary Ellen Bock, Roger
the next year a thorough and beneficial discussion
Hoerl, Nancy Kirkendall, Robert Mason, David
about accreditation, leading to either a suitable
Morganstein, Vijay Nair, Robert O’Neill, and
accreditation program or a reasoned decision that
Leonard Oppenheimer. ASA Executive Director
such a program is not necessary for the ASA. As with
Ron Wasserstein will serve as an ex officio member
all ASA decisions, the context for this discussion is
and provide staff support.
defined by the association’s strategic plan, which can
The review group will have complete freedom as to
be found at www.amstat.org/about/strategicplan.cfm.
the scope of its review. It may suggest modifications to
In closing, please note that voting opens on
the proposed accreditation program, a different pro-
March 16 for ASA president, vice president, and
gram, or that such a program is not necessary for the
section officers. I encourage you to consider careful-
ASA. I greatly appreciate the willingness of the group
ly the slate of excellent candidates. Last year’s elec-
members to enter into this discussion with an open
tion turnout was the largest in ASA history. Let’s try
mind and contribute their time and energy to this
to make the 2009 count the new maximum. Please
important task for the association and discipline.
remember to cast your vote, as every vote counts!
The review group has been asked to make a rec-
As always, I welcome your ideas and suggestions
ommendation to the ASA Board, which will then
at any time. Thank you.
vote on whether to approve that recommendation.
The time line is under consideration, given that
the group has just been constituted. However, we
4 AMSTAT NEWS MARCH 2009
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