What roles does a site visit team typically include?

• A. A team chair/lead evaluator and several peer evaluators who review evidence, interview stakeholders, and observe relevant processes.
• B. A single external auditor who makes all decisions.
• C. Students acting as primary evaluators.
• D. A panel of external regulators with no program representation.

Answer: (A)

Site visit teams are built around collaborative, peer-based evaluation led by a chair or lead evaluator. This structure combines a lead who coordinates the process with several peer evaluators who review evidence, interview stakeholders, and observe relevant processes. The idea is to triangulate information from multiple sources—documentation, interviews with program directors, faculty, students, and staff, and direct observations of clinical or educational activities—to form a thorough, balanced assessment. Having multiple evaluators helps ensure consistency, reduces individual bias, and brings different professional perspectives to the review, which strengthens the credibility of the findings.

A single external auditor would lack the breadth of perspective and cross-checking that a team provides, increasing the risk of missed issues or biased conclusions. Students acting as primary evaluators would not have the experience or judgment typically expected in this role, potentially compromising rigor. A panel of external regulators with no program representation would similarly lack the necessary context and relevance to the program being evaluated, and could undermine the meaningfulness of the review.