Multiple Cut Scores, Multiple Methods, One Examination
Robert C Shaw Jr., PhD, Program Director

The phrases cut score, passing point, and passing standard describe a value to which a candidate's test score is compared. After the comparison, a candidate passes the examination or is informed about falling short of the passing point. Most occupational credentialing programs develop one examination and compare candidates' scores to one cut score. Some credentialing programs will present one examination, but subdivide scores into multiple types while requiring a passing level for each subscore. Other programs will develop multiple examinations for one credential while each examination has a cut score. There is yet another possibility, which is the topic of this article, where one examination is developed and scores are compared to multiple cut scores. After describing some background about cut scores, I will describe a one-examination, multiple-cut score credentialing program that AMP helped facilitate while deploying multiple methods...Read Full Article.

5 Radical Changes Associations Must Consider to Remain Relevant: Evaluate and Justify Your Services

Dede Gish Panjada, MBA, Senior Vice President, Management Services

We continue with our fourth segment in a series of articles exploring the challenges that associations face and must consider for the future of their organization. "Change" is a scary word to most associations as there is a constant struggle to remain true to traditions and goals of the organization, yet meet the demands of an ever changing society. In their book "Race for Relevance: 5 Radical Changes for Associations", Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers, CAE, identify five changes associations must make to ensure survival. The changes challenge the way we operate, plan, and view our associations. Embracing them will take courage, but ignoring them could be catastrophic.

Does volume equal value? No. Most trade associations and professional societies try to do too much. They provide a full menu of programs, services, products, meetings, events, publications and activities. They continue to add offerings and rarely discontinue existing ones.

The Pareto Principle indicates that 80% of an association's value is derived form 20% of the benefits offered. Why do associations continue to spend valuable staff and volunteer time and energy and financial resources on the other 80% of the benefits? While the intentions are good, the results are likely not. There is a major flawed underlying assumption at work here: the way to add value to membership is to add more...more programs, more services, more benefits.  Existing programs and services are often continued without being challenged. Sometimes it's due to tradition, other times because programs and services having "sacred cow" status, and yet other times it's simply inertia...Read Full Article

On The Hill

Wade Delk, Director, Governmental Affairs

It is mid-term election time which typically means a lack of legislative activity while legislators focus on their re-elections and candidates who are not currently in office focus on ways to get there. Both candidates and political parties are looking for any opportunity to achieve an advantage, so when the political commercials fill the airwaves, know that you can leverage it to your organization's advantage.

The mid-term elections create a great opportunity that is often overlooked. You often hear in political commentary that it is a waste to make an effort to move legislation near election time, but that answer is short sighted. If you are looking to make it happen before the end of the year the advice might be correct. However, if it is part of the goals of your organization you have to look beyond a single legislative year.

While the campaigning is going on, constituents have the greatest and most frequent opportunities to tell their elected officials what they expect of them. The legislators want their votes so they have town halls and listening sessions. They spend the month of August going to barbeques, civic organization meetings, and state fairs. In late October and early November they make speeches, go to harvest festivals, and judge Halloween contests. In short, they are everywhere possible voters might be. So take advantage of the opportunities to talk with them.

Here are some steps you might want to consider in order to make sure your position is heard.

• Identify those legislators (state or federal) who need to hear your position on issues of interest to your organization. If you are not sure then find out what Committees are of interest and from there seek out all of its members.
• Look on their website, listen to the news, read the local paper to find out what local events they will be attending. You can even call their district office and ask them.
• Attend those events or ask your members/stakeholders to, and be armed with material you can hand them or have the file on your phone and send it to them while you are talking.
• Often if they are not well versed on the issue they will say "let me look into it and get back to you". That is an acceptable answer but don't let them leave without you saying "That is fine. I appreciate your time. When should I expect to hear from you about this?"

Business Development

The Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) is a professional membership organization dedicated to educating, training, and certifying financial counselors and educators.  AFCPE offers the AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor) program aimed at certifying professionals that possess the skills to assist individuals and families in the complex process of financial decision making, including educating on sound financial principles, overcoming financial indebtedness, and developing successful strategies for achieving financial goals. AFCPE recently selected AMP to assist them with job analysis and examination development services for the AFC® examination. The examination will be administered in the AMP Assessment Center Network.  The job analysis study is currently being conducted with test development tasks to follow soon after.   It is planned that the AFC® examination will be available for CBT administration in spring 2015.  For more information about AFCPE, please visit their website.