Training Facilitators

A Training Facilitator assists with the Simulated Visit Training for Program Evaluator Candidates. Simulated Visit Training (which is held annually between March and June) imitates a campus visit.

Program Evaluator Candidate Training involves the use of two types of training facilitators: lead and support. Lead Facilitators manage the front of the room, promote a successful experience in training and facilitating experiential adult learning, and promote a successful experience in leading other facilitators. Using their experience as team chairs, Support Facilitators manage small groups of  program evaluators to facilitate learning.

For an in-depth overview of Program Evaluator Candidate Training Facilitator responsibilities, please review the Program Evaluator Candidate Training facilitator section of the Training Policy & Procedure Manual: Training Policy & Procedure Manual 2023

Facilitator Qualifications and Selection

Both lead facilitators and support facilitators are approved by the Accreditation Council Training Committee based upon individual qualifications as well as the projected number of facilitators needed per commission, representation across societies, and diversity.

Lead Facilitator Candidates must have previously served as a support facilitator. Candidates are identified from the pool of support facilitators by existing lead facilitators. Lead facilitator candidates must have served as co-lead with a lead facilitator and successfully demonstrated the Lead Facilitator Competencies

Support Facilitator Candidates are appointed by the Accreditation Council Training Committee. Selection is based on a combination of how a nominee meets the competencies, the number of openings and training sessions, representation across societies and commissions, and diversity.

Support facilitator candidates must:

• Be a current, experienced team chair with at least two years of team chair service.
• Be current with accreditation criteria, policies and procedures.
• Receive consistently high team chair performance evaluations.
• Be well-qualified in each of the Program Evaluator Candidate Training Facilitator Competencies.
• Be available to facilitate at least one Program Evaluator Candidate Training session per training cycle (March- June) as needed, provided currency is maintained.

Training Facilitator Competency Model

Technically Current / Open to Learning

• Engaged in life-long learning
• Picks up on the need to change personal and interpersonal behavior quickly
• Seeks feedback
• Picks up on verbal and non-verbal cues regarding their impact on others and adjusts
• Shares personal successes and failures to enhance participant learning
• Applies experience as a program evaluator and as a team chair to facilitate excellent learning and experience for participants
• Remains current in and shows an ability to apply knowledge of outcomes-based accreditation as well as accreditation procedures and requirements to the learning experience

Capable of Creating an Environment for Learning

• Creates a positive and safe atmosphere for participants to experiment to enhance personal learning
• Expresses thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a clear, concise, and compelling manner
• Adjusts style to engage participants
• Assesses learning needs and adjusts as necessary
• Demonstrates a style that values different learning styles (visual, experiential, auditory) as well as backgrounds and experience (industry vs. academia)
• Brings personal background and experience as a program evaluator and as a team chair with Draft Statements, onsite experiences, etc., that contribute to participant understanding
• Makes appropriate judgments that represent ABET and member societies well
• Demonstrates competence in delivering experiential learning

Additional Competencies for Lead Facilitators

• Manages the front of the room – has an engaging presentation style and platform skills
• Promotes a successful experience in training and facilitating experiential adult learning
• Promotes a successful experience in leading other trainers
• Demonstrates an ability to lead support facilitators
• Treats facilitators as valued members of the training team
• Intervenes as necessary to ensure facilitators are fully contributing members of the training team, enhancing the learning of participants

Interpersonally Skilled

• Builds trust
• Listens and places input into context
• Maintains an open mind and avoids personal bias
• Finds common ground and gets cooperation easily
• Diffuses high tension situations
• Displays culturally sensitivity
• Communicates well
• Provides constructive feedback to participants to assist in their learning
• Deals tactfully with participants who don’t complete training requirements
• Makes an objective evaluation of a participant’s potential as a program evaluator
• Communicates effectively concerns to individuals

Training Facilitator Responsibilities

• Be available to observe Program Evaluator Candidate Simulated Visit Training and to attend facilitator training during the cycle nominated.
• After training, be available to facilitate at least one Program Evaluator Candidate Simulated Visit Training session per training cycle as needed, provided currency is maintained.