Campus Tidbits Accreditors, Accreditors, Everywhere As a visitor to the campus remarked recently, "Every time I talk to an executive or employee, they're either about to have an accreditor coming, they have an accreditor on campus, or an accreditor just left." With the addition of new degrees, new specialty programs, and the new campus, it seems RVU has a revolving door of accreditors. For several days in January, the Commission on Osteopathic Colleges Accreditation (COCA) conducted a focused site visit at the Utah campus. "At the exit conference, the Chair reported...that we were doing an excellent job and moving very well in the right direction," said David J. Park, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP, Campus Dean of RVUCOM-SU. "They specifically commended us on our facilities, resources, student contentment, enrichment tracks, and our success in training physicians for the military." The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) visited the Colorado campus in February for the Standard Pathway Comprehensive Visit. This accreditation ensures RVU is able to continue accepting Title IV funding from students. The accrediting team met with students, employees, managers of various departments, executives, and the Board of Trustees over the course of two days. Clinton Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO, remarked at the close of the accreditors' visit, "They appreciated the integrity with which we represented our strengths and opportunities to improve [and] they were astounded as to the resilience we displayed in spite of the multiple accreditation visits we are experiencing." In March, HLC returned to the Colorado campus for a new programs site visit, in order to assess whether RVU has the capacity, resources, and infrastructure to launch a third degree program: the Master of Physician Assistant Studies. Any time a university makes a drastic change to its program offerings, its campus locations, its academic calendar, or other important areas, the HLC must first approve such a change to ensure the continued quality of the students' education. Upon completion of the site visit, HLC approved RVU's request to begin the new program (read more about this program on page 10).
Administrative Professionals Day at RVUCOM-SU April 25th was Administrative Professionals Day and we are so fortunate at RVUCOM-SU to have an incredible team of administrative professionals: Dawnette Hann (Osteopathic Principles and Practice), Kristin Mugleston (Primary Care and Specialty Medicine), Maye Aquino-Turkington (Student Affairs), Merilynn Lloyd (Deans Suite), Sarah Nordgran (Deans Suite), and Truman Smith (Biomedical Sciences, Medical Humanities, and Structural Medicine). In honor of them, we had a little celebration in the Deans Suite which included treats, conversation, and fun. Campus Dean David J. Park, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP, said a few words of gratitude, as well as "Every great team has to have great administrative professionals and ours are truly the best." Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Administrative professionals are organized, detailed, committed, intelligent multi-taskers, and lifesavers. We really could not keep this University running without you! Your hard work and diligence are an inspiration to everyone and you are greatly appreciated. Thank you for all you do. Enjoy this day and week, especially meant for you."
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