CAAHEP Communiqué

April 2025

From the President

Barry S. Eckert, Ph.D., FASAHP

2023-2025 CAAHEP President

Greetings,

CAAHEP has been devoting considerable time to discussing the meaning of messaging and decisions from the current administration and the Department of Education, particularly those focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Board, CoAs, programs, and CAAHEP staff are working to understand the potential impacts of the 2023 Supreme Court Decision on affirmative action and the more recent Department of Education interpretations of that ruling. Following this decision, several states enacted anti-DEI laws that have gone beyond admissions decisions. As a result, several CAAHEP programs have expressed concerns over the impact of both the court decision and the Department of Education’s interpretations. We communicated with programs (a copy of the message is below), CoAs, and the Board. I want to summarize our current thoughts and position to serve all who receive the Communique.

The 2023 Supreme Court decision specifically focused on the use of race/ethnicity information in admission decisions. The Department of Education expanded the interpretation of this decision to include banning the use of race/ethnicity in other decisions, including, but not limited to, prioritizing student activities, scholarships, awards, and other functions. This broader interpretation gave these examples, but left the scope of implementation open-ended. This has led to considerable concern among higher education leaders about violating this policy.

As part of the CAAHEP Mission of “setting standards for quality assurance in health professions education,” we have, with input from legal counsel, carefully examined our practices and governing documents in the context of the above decision and interpretation. The Board of Directors, Executive Director Scarboro, and I monitor and discuss information as it becomes available. CAAHEP conducted an audit of our governing documents and Standards to identify terminology recently prohibited in Federal guidance. It should be noted that the words diversity, equity, and inclusion do appear in these documents in the context of ensuring that CAAHEP governing bodies have broad representation. This representation includes the professions, sponsoring organizations, educational institutions, and programs; decisions are based upon fair practice and consistent expectations. The Board evaluated the full audit results, recommending no changes in these CAAHEP documents.

It must be made clear, however, that high-quality health care is based upon understanding and sensitivity to patients/clients. People who receive care represent a variety of identities and differences and are in different parts of their lifespan. It is fundamental that CAAHEP programs prepare students/professionals to provide excellent care to patients from a broad range of backgrounds. This approach to preparing students is not in conflict with the decisions and interpretations mentioned above, and we will continue to support that aspect of our mission.

I anticipate that there will continue to be discussions about this topic among CAAHEP-accredited programs, members, and the public, so we will remain engaged with our communities of interest on the subject. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to CAAHEP or to me, and we will do our best to provide the most current information available.

Barry S. Eckert, Ph.D., FASAHP

President

(Questions about this article may be directed to Dr. Eckert at beckert@caahep.org)

Supporting CAAHEP-Accredited Programs in a Changing Regulatory Landscape

The following was originally sent to CAAHEP's communities of interest on March 3, 2025.

As part of our commitment to supporting excellence in allied health education, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is providing information to help programs navigate the evolving regulatory environment. Recent developments, including the February 14, 2025, Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) issued by the United States Department of Education (USDE), Frequently Asked Questions About Racial Preferences and Stereotypes Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act published February 28, 2025, and new executive orders regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), may raise questions for some institutions about how these changes align with accreditation standards.

While CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and not by the USDE, we remain dedicated to assisting our programs in adapting to these changes. The DCL, titled “Dear Colleague Letter: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act in Light of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard,” outlines the USDE's interpretation of Title VI requirements under federal civil rights laws and the Equal Protection Clause.

Annual Business Meeting of the Commission

Business Meeting of the Commission

The 2025 Annual Business Meeting of the Commission will take place virtually on April 25, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM Eastern. Registration is required. The agenda, including election details, will be sent 30 days before the meeting. While open to all, only Commissioners can vote.

National Academies Proceedings Available

In October 2024, CAAHEP President Barry S. Eckert participated in a workshop produced by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on "Exploring the Changing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Legislation and Policy Landscape and Its Impact on Health and Public Health's Workforce, Education, Training, and Research."

The proceedings-in-brief have been released and are available for review here, free of charge.

Gain Essential Insights at the

CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop

In the dynamic landscape of allied health education, maintaining the highest standards is paramount. Accreditation by CAAHEP signifies a commitment to quality and excellence, fostering trust among students, employers, and the public. To navigate the accreditation process successfully and ensure the continued vitality of your programs, attending the upcoming CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop is not just beneficial – it's essential.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is strategically designed for a diverse range of individuals involved in higher education allied health programs seeking or maintaining CAAHEP accreditation. This includes:

Program Directors and Administrators will gain valuable insights into the accreditation standards, self-study reports, and ongoing reporting and compliance requirements.
Faculty Members will take away real-world strategies and best practices that will contribute to the accreditation success of your program, curriculum development, and assessment.
Clinical Coordinators will learn the strategies for managing successful affiliates that align with CAAHEP standards.
Institutional Leaders will understand the value of CAAHEP accreditation and how it contributes to the overall reputation and success of the institution.
Individuals new to CAAHEP accreditation will gain a foundational understanding of the accreditation process, key requirements, and connections with new colleagues and CAAHEP leaders.

This is a Solid Investment in Your Program's Future

Attending the CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop offers a multitude of benefits that will empower you and your program. You'll learn from sessions on:

Decoding Accreditation: How to Read and Interpret CAAHEP Standards
Annual Reports: Shifting, Streamlining, and Simplifying
Most Common Citations and How to Avoid Them
AI Policies in Higher Education: Where Should Educators Start?
Responding to the Standards in a Self-Study Report or a Citation
New Program, No Problem: A Practical Guide to Getting Started
Pay for Learning: Registered Apprenticeships, Employer-Sponsored Opportunities, and Accredited Programs
CAAHEP & CoA Collaboration
Inheriting a Program that is at Risk of Losing Accreditation
What I wish I had Known Before Becoming a Program Director
Strategies for Better Communication: How to Have Difficult Conversations
Interprofessional Education and Practice: Real World Strategies for Programs to Include Interprofessional Education (IPE)

Plus, you can join the networking roundtables and visit sponsoring exhibitors to learn about their services and products.

Don't miss this invaluable opportunity to equip yourself and your team with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve and maintain CAAHEP accreditation. Review the complete agenda on the CAAHEP website. Join us July 18-19, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Mall of America Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. Invest in your program's future – register for the Accreditation Workshop today! Your commitment to excellence starts here.

Thank You to the 2025 Accreditation Workshop Sponsors

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 that 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 21, 2025, 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. Where available, links to each program’s website are provided. 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.

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.

Medical Assisting

Purdue University Global, West Lafayette, IN (Certificate)

Bates Technical College, Tacoma, WA (Associate)

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 2030. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Bluegrass Community and Technical College-Leestown Campus, Lexington, KY (Adult Cardiac)

Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA (Abdominal-Extended)

Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem, NC (Adult Cardiac)

Johnston Community College, Smithfield, NC (Abdominal-Extended)

Johnston Community College, Smithfield, NC (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Johnston Community College, Smithfield, NC (Adult Cardiac)

Johnston Community College, Smithfield, NC (Vascular)

Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, WY (Abdominal-Extended)

Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, WY (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, WY (Vascular)

University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO (Abdominal-Extended)

University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO (Vascular)

Emergency Medical Services Professions - Paramedic

American/Backus Paramedic Program Consortium, Norwich, CT

Blessing Hospital, Quincy, IL

Carroll Community College, Westminster, MD

Creighton University, Omaha, NE (Paramedic)

Delaware Technical and Community College, Dover, DE

EHOVE Adult Career Center, Milan, OH

Galveston College, Galveston, TX

Great Lakes Bay Consortium for EMS Education, Saginaw, MI

Lanier Technical College, Gainesville, GA

Mohave Community College, Kingman, AZ

Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City, OK

Portland Community College-Cascade Campus, Portland, OR

Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, MA

Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM

St. Johns River State College-Orange Park Campus, Orange Park, FL

University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL

Orthotist/Prosthetist

Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL

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.

Cytology

Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA

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 2034. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Exercise Physiology

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, East Stroudsburg, PA (Applied)

Medical Assisting

Baker College Cadillac, Cadillac, MI (Certificate)

Clark College, Vancouver, WA (Certificate)

Gwinnett Technical College, Lawrenceville, GA (Diploma)

Hocking College, Nelsonville, OH (Associate)

Lorenzo Walker Technical College, Naples, FL (Certificate)

McCann Technical School, North Adams, MA (Certificate)

Mitchell Technical College, Mitchell, SD (Diploma)

Moraine Valley Community College , Palos Hills, IL (Certificate)

University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK (Certificate)

Whatcom Community College , Bellingham, WA (Certificate)

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 2035. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Community Regional Medical Center, Fresno, CA (Vascular)

Community Regional Medical Center, Fresno, CA (Pediatric Cardiac)

Exercise Sciences

Vermont State University-Lyndon Campus, Lyndonville, VT

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 2030.

Emergency Medical Services Professions - Paramedic

Community Health Network, Indianapolis, IN

Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg, PA

Johnston Community College, Smithfield, NC (Associate)

Johnston Community College, Smithfield, NC (Certificate)

Massasoit Community College at Middleborough Center, Middleborough, MA

McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL

University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, Madison, WI

Medical Assisting

Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD (Certificate)

Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, MA (Certificate)

Medical Assisting

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, Roswell, NM (Certificate)

Mid Michigan College-Herbert D. Doan Center for Science & Health Technologies, Mt. Pleasant, MI (Certificate)

Houston Community College-Coleman Health Science Center, Houston, TX (Certificate)

Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI (Certificate)

Seattle Central College, Seattle, WA (Certificate)

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 2030. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.

Anesthesia Technology

Riverside City College, Riverside, CA

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Cleveland Clinic-Beachwood, Beachwood, OH (Abdominal-Extended)

Cleveland Clinic-Beachwood, Beachwood, OH (Obstetrics and Gynecology)

University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO (Adult Cardiac)

Emergency Medical Services Professions - Paramedic

Johnson County Ambulance District, Warrensburg, MO

Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, Lake Forest, IL

Premier Health and Safety Academy/Lorain County Community College Consortium, Cleveland, OH

Princeton Rescue Squad, Princeton, WV

Exercise Sciences

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA (Strength and Conditioning Add-on)

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 2033. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Art Therapy

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

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 2030.

Emergency Medical Services Professions - Paramedic

New England Institute of Technology, East Greenwich, RI

Perfusion

Emory University, Atlanta, GA

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 initial accreditation with the next evaluation to occur no later than 2033.

Art Therapy

Antioch University New England, Keene, NH

The following program had a transfer of sponsorship approved with a status of continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2030. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.

Emergency Medical Services Professions - Paramedic

Comprehensive Medical Teaching Institute/Massachusetts Maritime Academy Consortium for Paramedic Education, Quincy, MA

The following program had a correction made to the accreditation status awarded with transfer of sponsorship approval. The transfer of sponsorship was approved with a status of initial accreditation, with the next comprehensive review to occur no later than 2025.

Emergency Medical Services Professions - Paramedic

New York Institute of Technology-College of Osteopathic Medicine-Arkansas, State University, AR

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

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Supporting CAAHEP-Accredited Programs in a Changing Regulatory Landscape

Gain Essential Insights at the

﻿CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop

CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop