NAST offers three types of consultative services: 1) Consultative Visits, 2) Staff Consultation, and 3) Consultative Review by the Commission on Accreditation. Information on each is provided below.
Consultative Visits
NAST offers the service of consultants to institutions considering issues such as accreditation (new applications, reaccreditation, initiation of new curricula, substantial changes to existing curricula), institutional development, internal reviews, facility and equipment reviews, and state reviews.
During preparation of first-time accreditation applications, institutions are strongly encouraged to consider a consultative visit by a trained NAST consultant who is not a member of the NAST staff. With regard to the application process, the two purposes of a consultative visit are to 1) provide an objective analysis of an institution’s program, and 2) make recommendations reflecting comparison with NAST standards.
NAST maintains a list of consultants and facilitates consultative services at the request of institutions. Institutions may utilize NAST as a communication and financial vehicle to secure the services of a consultant; however, consultants work directly with institutions. Consultative advice does not necessarily indicate the position of the Association nor does it guarantee any specific outcome particularly regarding accredited membership. The recommendations of consultants are separate from evaluations of the on-site visit, and are therefore purely advisory in nature. Official action concerning membership is taken only after the NAST Commission on Accreditation receives and acts upon a complete, documented application, including the report of official NAST evaluators. It is NAST policy that an individual who serves as consultant to an institution will not later be assigned as an official visiting evaluator in connection with an application for membership or renewal of membership.
Consultants work directly with institutions. NAST facilitates the process by assisting institutions to secure consultative advice and by processing expense reimbursements. On-site consultative reviews are typically scheduled for and therefore billed by the day.
Consultative Visit Fees
Current consultative fees are as follows:
- Consultation fee: $500 for 1 day ($450 for the consultant, $50 National Office administrative fee); $950 for 2 days ($900 for the consultant, $50 National Office administrative fee); and $450 for each additional day.
- The consultant’s expenses (travel, meals, lodging, secretarial assistance, and so forth).
The institution is billed by NAST, which in turn, reimburses the consultant. Although consultants work directly with institutions, due to the fact that NAST serves as the financial intermediary and reimburses the consultant directly, NAST will file appropriate tax forms with the IRS (i.e., Form 1099). The institution should not duplicate these filings for the consultant.
Further Information:
Staff Consultation
The NAST National Office staff is available by phone at (703) 437-0700 weekdays from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET. The staff consults regularly at the request of theatre units engaged in the accreditation process.
There is no charge for staff consultation. However, travel-related expenses of staff associated with development and operation of joint visits, concurrent visits, custom self-studies, or similar services must be reimbursed by the institution. Please contact NAST staff for more information.
Consultative Review by the Commission on Accreditation
Institutions wishing to have informal Commission feedback on potential future programs may correspond with the Commission through the consultative review process. Guidelines for this process are articulated in the document entitled NAST Policies and Procedures for Reviews of New Curricula, which can be downloaded from the New Curricula section of the website.