ONE-STOP CERTIFICATION PROGRAM SET TO LAUNCH!

Beginning in a few short weeks, the conferencing and events operations of higher education worldwide will gain yet another option for showcasing their program: One-Stop Shop Certification. Instructions helpful in considering whether to pursue One-Stop Shop certification will arrive in early September. At that time you can have many of your questions answered at a Q&A page and many other pages on the www.acced-i.org website.

September is also the time when press releases will be sent to all trade media outlets, as well as postcards announcing this newest certification program to certain stakeholders within the industry. Institutions submitting application on or before October 31 will be eligible for certification with the inaugural “class” of January 1, 2007. Subsequent applications may be submitted at any time, with the evaluation and approval process typically taking 60 days.

The certification program will define and set standards for one-stop shop operations, such as the principal of a single point of contact for clients, one contract and one bill, according to Project Team chair Michael Baker of Messiah College. Other Project Team members are Maggie Baldwin, Gettysburg College; Dan Gette, University of Colorado; Susie Johnston, Baylor University; Nancy Kujak-Ford, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Helmut Mayer, NEOUCOM Conference Center, Carol McDoniel, California Baptist University, and Vicki Sussman, Denison University.

Certification will be valid for two years, at which time a straightforward recertification process will be available. Successful applicants will pay a certification fee, and will subsequently receive a logo-like “emblem of certification” for use in marketing their events and conferences. Also available will be a written "Guide to Promoting Your Certification" and other tools for promoting the One-Stop Certification to your customers and prospective customers. Simultaneously, your Association staff will be promoting the concept to meeting planners.

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