\"Certified\": Who? Why? When?

posted by bosela, Oct 17, 2009 8:11 AM — 2 comments










I want to suggest that the new administration address the long standing confusion regarding the designation of "Certified" here at SXC.

It is not my intention to detract from the accomplishments of those who have achieved the certified designation. But without the declaration of specific criteria used in awarding the honor, it represents nothing more than an ambiguous pat on the head by former administrations.

This is the description of the process found in the FAQ section. "Certified users either have an above average gallery or they are very active in the community. We regularly check portfolios and add new users. If you've got what it takes, you may be the next one!"

How is "an above average gallery" determined? Is it above average in quality, if so how is quality determined? Does the number of images or downloads have any role in establishing the "quality" of a portfolio? What does it mean to be "very active in the community"? Does it mean frequent or substantive participation in the forums? What role, if any, does blog development play in the process? I don't think that you could infer anything about those who are designated "certified" based upon the above statement.

I also question the seeming lack of regard or significance suggested by the way the selection process has been conducted and publicized. My first take was to construe certification as an important status within the community, but when I attempted to track down information about those with the designation; I was unable to find even an indication of when a person was recognized as "certified". I expected to find a page that listed everyone with certification, the date they were awarded that honor, and some explanation of the basis for receiving the honor.

Who was the first person to be certified? Who were the last people to be honored? Why is there no prominent announcement displayed on the home page when new people are recognized as "certified". Wouldn't it seem appropriate to include the information about new "certified" members in the newsletter? Under previous administrations it seemed that achieving certification was something that happened under cloak of secrecy and only came to light through congratulatory member to member threads in the forum.

The most applicable definition for certification that I have come across is the following: "confirmation that some fact or statement is true through the use of documentary evidence." Without a statement of "factual" accomplishment as "evidence" of a person's achievement or contribution, the designation is without substance.

The arrival of Getty as proprietor of the site offers the opportunity to make the "certified" designation something tangibly significant or to shed the dubious honor.

I hope that this blog provides a forum for the exchange of views and articulation of group thinking about what the "certified" status should become in the future.

[I published a blog with essential the same content over a year ago. The former administration deleted that blog without any explanation of their reasons.]


(1) Certification. (n.d.). WordNet 3.0. Retrieved May 12, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/certification