From the Item Bank

The Professional Testing Blog

Ethics & Disciplinary Programs: Mitigating Risk & Minimizing Exposure

Professional Testing, Inc. is pleased to announce its collaborative effort in publishing “Ethics & Disciplinary Programs: Mitigating Risk & Minimizing Exposure” in the CLEAR Exam Review, Fall 2024 Issue.

In this article, the authors provide strategies for identifying, avoiding, and reducing inherent risks and the related exposure for organizations associated with the administration of ethics and disciplinary programs. In a modern business environment, the identification and reduction of risk is an important mindset, and risk mitigation is a critical element of a credentialing organization’s success. Credentialing bodies routinely develop and manage ethics and disciplinary programs as a condition of accreditation and sound business practices. However, managing an ethics and disciplinary program gives rise to a number of unique or heightened risks, especially with the increased visibility of credentials, and those that are high stakes.

Understanding the risks associated with administering ethics and disciplinary programs will enable credentialing personnel to establish proper frameworks that minimize exposure to their organizations. In this article, authors identify 10 areas of risk mitigation of particular concern to any credentialing body, including: intellectual property; contractual agreements; litigation holds; reputation management; investigative processes; due process; self-reported information vs third-party verification; when to take action; and sanctions and limits of enforcement. Risk awareness and mitigation practices are also of key importance to assuring fairness, due process, and legal compliance.

Authors:

RICHARD BAR, JD, President, GKG Law, P.C.

CHRISTINE D. NIERO, Ph.D., Vice President, Professional Testing, Inc.

ANN WITHERSPOON, Compliance Officer, Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA)

JOHN ZARIAN, JD, MFin, General Counsel, CCO Certification (CCO)

Categorized in: Industry News