The Work of Stewardship: Why Standards Revision Matters
This week, we convened a new Standards Consensus Body to begin the formal revision of our Continuing Education and Training (CE/T) Standard.
On the surface, that may sound procedural, administrative, and routine.
It is anything but.
Standards revision is not about tweaking language or modernizing terminology. It is about defining what quality looks like in a field that touches millions of learners each year; it is about stewardship.
Over 50 years ago, the continuing education unit (CEU) was created to bring structure, integrity, and trust to a rapidly expanding landscape of lifelong learning. It did not emerge casually. It was designed to answer a fundamental question:
How do we ensure that structured learning outside traditional academic degree programs maintains rigor, accountability, and credibility?
The CEU became part of that answer, and the standards surrounding it became the framework.
Today, that responsibility continues.
When we say IACET is the steward of the CEU, we do not mean we are the owner. Stewardship is guardianship; it is care. It is recognizing that something valuable has been entrusted to us for the benefit of others (especially learners).
That is why this revision matters.
What a Standards Revision Really Does
Standards influence how organizations:
- Design learning experiences
- Measure outcomes
- Qualify instructors
- Evaluate effectiveness
- Manage records
- Ensure transparency
In short, they influence how organizations earn trust.
But the goal of a standard is not to prescribe a single way of operating or to create rigidity or burden. A strong standard does something far more important:
It describes what must be true in an organization committed to excellence, while allowing flexibility in how that excellence is achieved.
That balance matters. Too much formality stifles innovation, but too little clarity erodes confidence.
The art of standard-setting lives in that tension.
The Discipline of Consensus
This revision operates under the philosophies outlined in the ANSI Essential Requirements for Standards Developers: openness, balance, due process, consensus, and the right of appeal.
These are values, not bureaucratic formalities.
They ensure that the standard is not shaped by a single organization, a dominant personality, or a passing trend. These values are forged through research, informed by practice, strengthened by experience, and tested through thoughtful disagreement.
Consensus does not mean unanimity. It means disciplined listening, intellectual humility, and allowing the best ideas to emerge, even when they are not your own; it means every voice matters.
That is how trust is built into a standard before it is ever applied in the field.
The Learner at the Center
At its heart, this work is learner-centric. Learners invest their time, energy, money, and often, their hopes.
They deserve to know that the outcomes promised are the outcomes delivered; they deserve transparency, rigor, and integrity. Every clause of a standard ultimately serves that purpose.
The learner benefits when a provider designs a course more carefully because of a standard, and learning objectives are written more clearly. Instructors are vetted more thoughtfully, and outcomes are evaluated more honestly.
That benefit compounds across industries, professions, and communities.
Why Now?
The landscape of learning is evolving rapidly:
- Technology is accelerating delivery models.
- Expectations surrounding accountability are rising.
- Trust in institutions is shifting.
- The definition of credibility is being actively renegotiated across society.
In times like this, standards matter more, not less. They serve as North Stars. They anchor quality when innovation moves quickly, and provide clarity without choking creativity.
Standards exist to ensure progress is meaningful, not to slow progress.
Continuing a Legacy
The individuals serving on this Standards Consensus Body join a lineage of volunteers stretching back over five decades.
The results of their work will ripple outward into classrooms, virtual platforms, corporate training departments, associations, government agencies, and nonprofits globally.
This is not routine work; it is foundational. It is the continuation of a mission to foster a world that learns better, and that mission matters now more than ever.
The revision process is underway, and we look forward to engaging stakeholders throughout the journey and sharing updates as this work progresses. Standards are living commitments to quality; stewardship requires movement.
About the Author
Randy is a seasoned executive leader currently serving as the President and CEO of IACET, a non-profit accrediting body in the continuing education and training sector. With a focus on strategic vision and operational excellence, he effectively leads the organization to achieve its mission and goals.
With over two decades of experience in various leadership roles, Randy has a proven track record of driving organizational success. His expertise lies in aligning technological solutions with strategic objectives, ensuring operational efficiency and sustainable growth.