CAAHEP Communiqué April 2024

CAAHEP Communiqué

April 2024

From the President

Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA

2023-2024 CAAHEP President

Indiana Licenses Graduates of Non-Accredited Law Schools: Could This Happen with CAAHEP Professions?

On February 15, 2024, the Indiana Supreme Court amended its rules to allow graduates of law schools that are not accredited by the American Bar Association who meet specified requirements to sit for the Indiana bar examination.

Because of the prevalent anti-regulation sentiment within the legislative and executive branches of many state governments, those CAAHEP professions that are licensed need to be vigilant that similar legislation or regulatory action does not permit graduates of non-accredited programs to be eligible for licensure. The most persuasive argument against allowing graduates of non-accredited programs to become licensed is that the quality of services provided to ultimate consumers—for example, patients and clients—would decrease.

Section 1 of the amended rule of the Indiana Supreme Court is similar to the wording in the prior rule:

Section 1. Educational Qualifications. Each applicant for admission to the Indiana bar by written examination must establish to the satisfaction of the State Board of Law Examiners (Board) that the applicant:

(a) Has obtained a JD degree (or its equivalent) from a law school located in the United

States that at the time of the applicant’s graduation was on the approved list of the

Council of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar of the American Bar Association.

(The Indiana Supreme Court reserves the right to disapprove any school regardless of

ABA approval.);……

Section 4 of the amended rule sets forth additional eligibility pathways for the Indiana bar examination:

Section 4. Waiver of Educational Qualification. The Board may in its discretion waive the requirement in Section 1(a) for an applicant who: (1) has graduated from a law school located in the United States that is not approved by the ABA, was eligible upon graduation from that law school to take the bar examination of another state, and the Board finds is qualified by reason of education or experience to take the Indiana bar examination; or (2) has completed legal education in a jurisdiction outside the United States, has obtained a graduate degree from an ABA-approved law school in a program based on American law, and the Board finds is qualified by reason of education or experience to take the Indiana bar examination……

In the amended rule the Indiana Supreme Court provides additional direction to the Indiana State Board of Law Examiners:

The Board should grant a waiver when doing so would be in the public interest after balancing all relevant factors including the applicant’s educational history and achievement, work history and achievement, bar exam results from other jurisdictions, desire to practice law in Indiana, and familiarity with the American legal system. The Board’s decision is subject to final approval by the Court.

The amended rule takes effect July 1, 2024.

(Comments and questions may be directed to the author at dbalasa@aama-ntl.org.)

Annual CAAHEP Commission Business Meeting

The Annual Business Meeting of the CAAHEP Commission will be held on Friday, April 26, 2024, at 3:00 PM Eastern. Meeting materials have been distributed to all Commissioners, who must register for the meeting by April 25, 2024. The meeting agenda includes:

Report on CAAHEP's Finances
Nomination and Elections of new Board Members (vote)
Review of applications of a new discipline, associate member, and sponsoring organization (vote)
Reports from the CAAHEP President and Executive Director
Open discussion of Commissioners

Review the full Agenda on the CAAHEP website and register to attend. The Annual Business Meeting is an open meeting, however, only Commissioners may vote.

CAAHEP Board Activities

At its March meeting, the CAAHEP Board elected Public Commissioner Sherlynn Howard Hall, Ph.D., to her second term as a CAAHEP Commissioner and as a member of the Board of Directors. In addition, CAAHEP Commissioner representing the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions Gregory Frazer, Ph.D., FASHAP, was appointed to the CAAHEP Board, and along with Teddy Farias, D.C., MS, MTAA, CCMA, Commissioner representing the National Network of Health Career Programs in Two-Year Colleges. Their new terms begin July 1, 2024.

Sherlynn Howard Hall, Ph.D.

Gregory Frazer, Ph.D., FASHAP

Teddy Farias, D.C., MS, MTAA, CCMA

CAAHEP 2024 Accreditation Workshop

Join us for the 2024 CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop, the premier two-day event tailored to equip you with the necessary tools for navigating the CAAHEP accreditation process. This hands-on workshop is designed to help you assess your program and demonstrate compliance with the Standards. By participating, you will gain a deeper understanding of how CAAHEP accreditation can elevate your program to excellence.

Who should attend the Accreditation Workshop? Everyone who is involved in health science programs! Educators, deans, program directors (new and experienced), clinicians, and more will benefit from the general sessions, breakout workshops, networking opportunities, and time with sponsors and exhibitors.

The CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop is on July 19-20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Seize the opportunity to take your program to the next level. Check out the Agenda and register now!

The Westin Austin at the Domain

The 2024 CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop will be held at the Westin Austin at the Domain. Located in a trendy and fun Texas neighborhood, the Domain is the epitome of Austin culture, with delicious restaurants, nightlife, and upscale shopping nearby. THe hotel features a state-of-the-art fitness studio and pool. The room rate secured by CAAHEP is $229 per night.

Please make your room reservations directly with the hotel at this link.

Committee on Accreditation Position Available

The Committee on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologist Education (CoA PSG) is seeking an Executive Director to begin in November 2024. This is a part-time remote position requiring approximately 10-20 hours per week with infrequent travel.

The CoA PSG, a non-profit organization, is a member of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). CoA PSG oversees the accreditation of 38 polysomnography education programs at colleges and universities and anticipates continued growth in the number of accredited programs.

The Executive Director reports to the CoA PSG Board of Directors and serves as the representative agent of the CoA to the communities of interest. The Executive Director is responsible for daily operations and is the resource for all programmatic accreditation activities under the CoA PSG. The successful candidate should have working knowledge of the accreditation process, ideally for higher educational programs, and nonprofit organizations. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

To review additional information on the position and how to apply, download the full job announcement.

Proposed CAAHEP Policy Change Open for Comment

In accordance with the CAAHEP Policy to collect feedback on proposed policy changes, the Board of Directors is gathering input from its communities of interest on Policy 701 D. CAAHEP Accredited Program Fee. Please review the edited policy at the following link, and submit your comments. Comments on Policy 701 D. CAAHEP Accredited Program Fee are being collected until May 1, 2024, at 5:00 PM Eastern.

Proposed Policy 701 D. CAAHEP Accredited Program Fee

CAAHEP Accreditation Actions

Each profession in the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) system has a Committee on Accreditation (CoA) that consists of experts in the profession who are responsible for reviewing programs and making appropriate recommendations for accreditation to CAAHEP. CAAHEP reviews recommendations received from its CoAs in each profession, assures due process was followed, and takes final action on an accreditation status.

CAAHEP took the following actions at its March 15, 2024, meeting. Actions are identified by profession, action taken, date of the next comprehensive evaluation, and whether a progress report to improve program compliance is required. In some cases, the concentration and/or degree are also specified. To view a copy of the most recent accreditation award letter for a program, which includes information about the accreditation decision, visit the program’s listing on the Find an Accredited Program section of the CAAHEP Website. Where available, a link to the program's website is provided below.

The following program was found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and was granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2025. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Medical Assisting

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Valdosta, GA (Diploma)

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2028. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Medical Assisting

Sampson Community College, Clinton, NC (Diploma)

Specialist Blood Bank Technology/Transfusion Medicine

Rush University, Chicago, IL

University Medical Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2029. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Lorain County Community College, Elyria, OH (Abdominal-Extended)

Lorain County Community College, Elyria, OH (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Louisiana State University at Eunice, Eunice, LA (Abdominal-Extended)

Louisiana State University at Eunice, Eunice, LA (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Regis College, Weston, MA (Abdominal-Extended)

Regis College, Weston, MA (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Tarrant County College District-Trinity River Campus, Fort Worth, TX (Abdominal-Extended)

Tarrant County College District-Trinity River Campus, Fort Worth, TX (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Tarrant County College District-Trinity River Campus, Fort Worth, TX (Vascular)

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD

Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO

Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, CA

Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND

Coastal Pines Technical College, Waycross, GA

Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Shawnee, OK

Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, Dacula, GA

Gwinnett Technical College, Lawrenceville, GA

Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, IA

Jefferson College, Hillsboro, MO

Laredo Fire Department, Laredo, TX

Minnesota North College, Mesabi Range-Eveleth, Eveleth, MN

NHTI-Concord's Community College, Concord, NH

Northwest-Shoals Community College, Muscle Shoals, AL

Ridgewater College, Willmar, MN

Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA

Santa Rosa Junior College, Windsor, CA

Southeastern Community College, West Burlington, IA

Southeastern Technical College, Vidalia, GA

Suncoast Technical College, Sarasota, FL

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

Ventura College, Ventura, CA

Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority, Richmond, VA

Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC

Neurodiagnostic Technology

University of Holy Cross, New Orleans, LA

Recreational Therapy

Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI

The following program was found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and was granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2032. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Medical Assisting

Southeastern Technical Institute, South Easton, MA (Diploma)

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2033. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Medical Assisting

Albany Technical College, Albany, GA (Diploma)

Harper College, Palatine, IL (Certificate)

Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield, ME (Certificate)

Lake Technical College, Eustis, FL (Certificate)

Martin Community College, Williamston, NC (Associate)

Meridian Community College, Meridian, MS (Associate)

Midwest Technical Institute, East Peoria, IL (Diploma)

Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee, WI (Diploma)

Moraine Park Technical College, Fond Du Lac, WI (Diploma)

Northeast Iowa Community College-Peosta Campus, Peosta, IA (Diploma)

Sussex County Community College, Newton, NJ (Certificate)

Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC (Diploma)

The following program was found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and was granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2034. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Exercise Sciences

North Carolina Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, NC

The following programs were found to be in substantial compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines, with one or more Standards requiring a progress report to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The programs were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2029.

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Center for Allied Health Education, Brooklyn, NY

Central Community College, Grand Island, NE

College of the Mainland, Texas City, TX

Collin County Community College District, McKinney, TX

Columbia State Community College, Columbia, TN

Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY

Foothill College-Sunnyvale Center, Sunnyvale, CA

Franciscan Health Crown Point, Crown Point, IN

Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, OK

Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, SD

Madisonville Community College, Madisonville, KY

Napa Valley College, Napa, CA

Northern Essex Community College, Lawrence, MA

The following program was found to be in substantial compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines, with one or more Standards requiring a progress report to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The program was granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2031.

Recreational Therapy

Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

Medical Assisting

Mayland Community College, Spruce Pine, NC (Diploma)

Medical Assisting

H. Councill Trenholm State Community College, Montgomery, AL (Associate)

Montgomery Community College, Troy, NC (Associate)

Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg, SC (Diploma)

West Georgia Technical College, Waco, GA (Diploma)

The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted initial accreditation with the next evaluation to occur no later than 2029. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Cardiovascular Technology

Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside, Jacksonville, FL (Invasive Cardiovascular Technology, Certificate)

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Cincinnati, OH (Adult Cardiac)

Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Cincinnati, OH (Vascular)

Concorde Career College, Kansas City, MO (Abdominal-Extended)

Concorde Career College, Kansas City, MO (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Concorde Career College, Kansas City, MO (Adult Cardiac)

Itawamba Community College, Tupelo, MS (Abdominal-Extended)

Itawamba Community College, Tupelo, MS (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana-Muncie, Muncie, IN (Abdominal-Extended)

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana-Muncie, Muncie, IN (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Regis College, Weston, MA (Vascular)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (Abdominal-Extended)

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Edison State Community College, Piqua, OH

Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, IL

Western Nebraska Community College, Scottsbluff, NE

Orthotist/Prosthetist

Salus University, Elkins Park, PA

Perfusion

Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI

Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY

The following program was found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and was granted initial accreditation with the next evaluation to occur no later than 2032. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Art Therapy

Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, WI

The following programs were found to be in substantial compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines, with one or more Standards requiring a progress report to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The programs were granted initial accreditation with the next evaluation to occur no later than 2029.

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC

Lactation Consultant

Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO (Baccalaureate)

Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO (Masters)

The following programs were placed on probationary accreditation, with one or more Standards requiring critical attention and timely resolution to bring the program into compliance with the Standards and Guidelines, and a progress report required to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA).

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic

Lifework Education, Peoria, AZ

Medical Assisting

McLennan Community College, Waco, TX (Associate)

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775-7709

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