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November 2, 2023

Quinnipiac U. physician assistant program on accreditation probation

Photo | Contributed Quinnipiac's Mt. Carmel campus.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Quinnipiac University’s physician assistant program was put on probation by an accrediting panel, the university announced.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, or ARC-PA, took the action at its meeting in September, according to Quinnipiac’s announcement.

The program will be on probation until the commission next reviews its status in September 2025. When the commission decides to put a program on probation, it is for a minimum two-year period. 

After the two year timeframe, the commission may take the program off probation. It also has the option of extending the probation for up to an additional two years if it determines the program is making progress toward meeting required standards, but needs more time.

If the commission determines a program is failing to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, it can withdraw accreditation status.

The probation status is granted when the commission determines that the “capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened,” the announcement indicates.

Quinnipiac’s physician assistant program was originally accredited in October 1995, and continues to be accredited while the university addresses the commission’s concerns.

University officials indicated the probation status will not impact students, and stressed that the program remains accredited. 

John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations at Quinnipiac University, said via email,  “Students will continue to receive an excellent education, be able to graduate with their degrees, take the certification exam and seek licensure.” 

According to Morgan, the temporary accreditation probation is an opportunity for Quinnipiac to make improvements the commission is requiring.

“The major areas of concern include administration, curriculum and instruction, and outcomes and assessment,” Morgan said.

Morgan said the commission raised faculty sufficiency as an area of concern, for example. As of this spring, Quinnipiac has filled all open faculty positions, he said.

“Fortunately, the program has already addressed many of the other concerns, and we fully expect that our work will result in our return to Accreditation-Continuing by 2025,” Morgan said.
 

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