The vote by the Board to change from an in-person conference was a difficult decision. The Board has been monitoring the sweeping changes the ACBSP membership has experienced as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the world. They surveyed the membership and learned that travel restrictions for most members extend through the semester, for many through the summer, and for some through the fall.
The most important thing has always been the health and safety of all of those who would come together to make ACBSP Conference 2020 happen as well as a broader responsibility to society's efforts to tackle this global challenge. With so much uncertainty, the Board wanted to be proactive and alleviate any concerns members might have about attending this popular event.
Responding to the Challenge
Following the recommendations of governments and public health experts, ACBSP acted quickly in mid-March, restricting all travel, closing the home office and transitioning to a fully remote work operation, allowing its team to work safely from home and continue supporting its members without disruption.
ACBSP member colleges and universities around the world responded to the pandemic by closing their physical campuses and transitioning face-to-face classes to online for the remainder of the semester. Educators and administrators with little advance notice worked quickly to make this happen and communicate plans with students. Their efforts over the last month have been nothing short of heroic.
ACBSP is committed to providing tools and resources to help its members navigate the challenges this changing landscape presents. Here are a few ways in which they are doing that:
- They are developing a series of Complimentary Webinars to support members as they work remotely. The first, An Overview of the ACBSP Accreditation Process, was offered on March 19 with 97 participants. This new series, along with the Teaching Excellence Webinar Series, are available on demand at acbsp.org.
- They are maintaining a Repository of Resources for Online Teaching provided by members and corporate partners.
- They introduced Coffee & Conversation, a weekly virtual chat that allows members to ask questions about accreditation or membership benefits.
Plans are already underway for ACBSP Virtual Conference 2020, set for June 22-24. It will be informative and engaging with virtual presentations, awards, and even a virtual exhibitor marketplace. Details will be soon be available at acbsp.org/events.
More info:
Website: acbsp.org
ACBSP Events Page: acbsp.org/events
ACBSP's Response to COVID-19 and Repository of Resources for Online Teaching: acbsp.org/coronavirus
Diana Hallerud, ACBSP Director of Training and Associate Director of Accreditation, hosting a Coffee & Conversation virtual chat.