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PRESIDENT'S LETTER — April 2009 From the desk of Vernon R. Temple, D.C. Dear Friends and Colleagues, It has been a very exciting year and the board is looking forward to meeting with you once again at our annual delegates meeting in California. The 2008 Annual Report that will be distributed at the May meeting highlights the accomplishments and attests to the board’s fulfillment of its fiduciary responsibilities. As we look back over the past year, we are especially proud of our endeavors in testing. Renewed focus and energy on testing, along with enacting changes in governance and accountability are milestones in the recent history of the board. Concentrating on the main themes of partnership, governance, transparency, and excellence in testing, we would like to draw your attention to the following accomplishments. Partnership Undoubtedly the most important step in partnership was to stabilize a long-term financial relationship with the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB). The plan was first recommended at the May 2008 NBCE annual meeting, and the formal agreement was signed on November 8, 2008. The agreement recognizes the importance of quality chiropractic examinations to state licensing boards, as well as the need to protect the public through regulation of chiropractic. The FCLB will receive nearly five percent of NBCE annual testing revenues until 2011 at which time the amount becomes an exact five percent. This action stabilizes the FCLB and allows that organization to pursue long-term plans and projects. By basing the funding on a percentage of revenues, the contract responds to fluctuations in NBCE income. I especially appreciate the efforts of Dr. Richard Cole, who chaired the ad hoc committee, Dr. N. Edwin Weathersby, Dr. Donna Craft, Dr. Robin Lecy, and NBCE delegate Dr. Marc Gammerman. I also want to thank the FCLB for the efforts they put forth to make this a mutually beneficial agreement. Governance The NBCE board has recently developed and enacted confidentiality and conflict of interest policy statements. These statements are part of a larger plan to fully orient new directors on the legal and fiduciary responsibilities of board service to an organization. To encourage greater participation from the delegate body at the annual meetings, the board established a Minutes Advisory Committee (made up of one director and one representative from each of the five districts) to ensure a formal process to approve minutes from the previous annual meeting. This year the board of directors, taking into account the wishes of the delegate body, adopted a policy to present issues for consideration of the Bylaws Committee. The policy makes it possible for any delegates to propose an amendment up to 48 hours in advance of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, a discussion of the proposed amendment would occur, with a vote at the end of the discussion period as to whether to send the proposal to the NBCE Bylaws Committee for further consideration during the coming year. The Bylaws Committee would then present recommendations to the NBCE Board of Directors for further action. This policy enhances the current process, which will remain in place, and respects the desire of the delegate body to be involved in governance decisions. Transparency One highlight of the annual meetings is to present NBCE financials. This year, as for the past seven years, the NBCE has had a clean audit with no changes required in accounting methods. It is the responsibility of the board to make certain that funds are used to further organizational goals. They share the responsibility of approving budgets, reviewing financial reports, and presenting them to the profession at the annual meeting. The NBCE financial statements are proof that we continue to be a viable non-profit organization. Excellence in Testing The NBCE staff, charged with the responsibility of keeping up to date on the latest testing methods, was supported by the board of directors in pursuing a new format of questioning directed towards testing at a high level of understanding in clinical case management. This year a number of changes in NBCE examinations have been made to accommodate improved testing and scoring methodology, as well as to respond to advances in diagnostic treatment techniques now being taught at colleges. Part III Examination In the case of the Part III Examination, test committees and staff researched moving away from the traditional multiple-choice format to instead use case-based scenarios where there is more than one correct answer to a single question. Several chiropractic colleges have now participated in the pilot testing of Part III in its new format. Pilot testing yielded positive responses from test takers and college representatives alike, and the reformatted Part III will be launched in September 2009. The new format now offers half of its items in a case-based, multiple-choice format. Part IV Examination Another modification in testing affected Part IV Examination eligibility rules. Working in collaboration with the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, revised requirements were put into place for applicants of the May 2009 examinations. The goal of this initiative was to better accommodate the great diversity of course sequencing in the chiropractic curricula, as well as the wide range of graduation dates existing among chiropractic programs. OLD PART IV ELIGIBILITY
NEW PART IV ELIGIBILITY
The modifications in Part IV eligibility necessitated opening an additional two test sites, one at Cleveland Chiropractic College Kansas and another at Life University, to accommodate the increase in the number of examinees for the upcoming May 2009 examination. We believe the change in eligibility requirements will benefit both the graduates and state licensing boards in getting a new doctor into practice sooner. We also hope to see a reduction in student loan default rates as a result of decreasing the amount of time it takes to enter practice. Physiotherapy Examination In other news, in 2008 we asked representatives from every college in the United States to assess the content of the NBCE Physiotherapy Examination. This Delphi study gathered input from chiropractic educators about the material being taught in their Physiotherapy courses. The NBCE Physiotherapy test plan was then updated to ensure that it truly reflects those areas being taught at the colleges. Student Leadership Forum Again this year, the NBCE hosted student leaders at the leadership forum and we enjoyed the opportunity to encourage their continued leadership. Together we discussed the complexities of testing and how we at the NBCE maintain our excellence in test development and administration. We were very impressed with the students’ knowledge and professional interest in NBCE testing technology. In closing, we would not be able to do all that we do without the involvement of many. It is in a true spirit of gratitude that we thank everyone for their support of and engagement in the work of the NBCE. Thank you for the opportunity to serve; we are looking forward to seeing you at the annual meeting in May. Yours in health, Vernon R. Temple National Board of Chiropractic Examiners |