NEWS Briefs Middle States Commission on Higher Education Reaffirms NYMC Accreditation for Maximum Term of Eight Years
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fter a two-year process of an inclusive, transparent and evidence-based selfappraisal process involving stakeholders across New York Medical College (NYMC), the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Accreditation Team of Peer Evaluators voted to reaffirm the College’s accreditation for the maximum eight-year period with no reporting requirements or recommendations while offering several commendations. The culmination of the process was a four-day virtual site visit by a six-member team, led by MSCHE Site Visit Chair Bruce Jarrell, M.D., FACS, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, who met with faculty, staff, students and administration, in April 2021. MSCHE is the regional accreditation body to ensure institutional accountability, selfappraisal, improvement and innovation, through peer review and the rigorous application of accreditation standards within the context of the institutional mission. Accreditation by regional accreditation bodies like MSCHE is a requirement for students to be eligible to receive federal financial aid. To successfully get reaffirmed for accreditation, NYMC had to meet or surpass MSCHE’s seven Standards of Accreditation and associated criteria, 14 Requirements of Affiliation and provide evidence of compliance with all accreditation-relevant federal regulations. The process included the submission of a self-study report, “Assessing the Present to Position for our Future,” including an addendum on NYMC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The official report stated there are no prescriptive negative findings and no additional reporting requirements. However, institutions including NYMC who had virtual reaccreditation site visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be required to have an in-person follow-up visit.
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C H I R O N I A N 2021 – 2022
The MSCHE also commended NYMC in the areas of: • The leadership of the NYMC co-chairs in the MSCHE re-accreditation process. • The inclusive process for the development of the campus mission and vision statement. • The Academy of Educators program. • The campus response to COVID-19. • The College’s overall Diversity and Inclusion program. • The growth in the percentage of students underrepresented in medicine enrolled in the School of Medicine. The site visit team called this growth a “model for other institutions.” • The association of NYMC with Touro University. • The long-term academic affiliation agreement with Westchester Medical Health Network. “I am proud and thankful for the dedicated members of the NYMC community who worked together not only to achieve reaffirmation of accreditation but to chart where we are as a College, where we want to go and to strategically plan how we are going to get there,” said Dana Mordue, Ph.D., chair of MSCHE accreditation; vice chancellor of accreditation and student support; associate professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology; and secretary of the Faculty Senate. “The success of the College in achieving its mission and goals is dependent on our people— faculty, staff, students, administration and senior leadership. This success belongs to all of us and reaffirms that we are doing well and moving in the right direction.” “The positive results of the MSCHE team reflect the dedication, planning, collaboration and commitment to excellence by the NYMC community. We clearly presented our ability to seek innovative ways to support our mission to educate tomorrow’s health care professionals, scientists, advocates and leaders, in an ever-changing environment,” said Jennifer Riekert, M.B.A., vice president of communications and strategic initiatives and co-chair of MSCHE accreditation. “We can all take pride in this achievement.” ■
