HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION’S 2022 SITE VISIT
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC’s mission is to advance the common good through quality assurance of higher education as the leader in equitable, transformative, and trusted accreditation in the service of students and member institutions.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC’s mission is to advance the common good through quality assurance of higher education as the leader in equitable, transformative, and trusted accreditation in the service of students and member institutions.NEOMED was first accredited by the HLC in 1998 and currently participates in the Open Pathway 10-Year Cycle described below. The Open Pathway allows NEOMED to innovatively address institutional goals, while also reaffirming our mission — an institution focused on student success and quality education.
NEW: Download our 2022 HLC Assurance Argument
NEOMED Receives Full, 10-year Accreditation
December 2022
Northeast Ohio Medical University has been fully reaccredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for the next 10 years – an affirmation of the quality of the University’s educational programs and services.
That was the news recently shared by President John Langell during the campus update as he thanked the NEOMED community for its great work.
Across the University, more than 70 people worked on the 16-month process overseen by University leaders including:
- Richard Kasmer, Pharm.D., J.D., vice president for academic affairs;
- Deborah Loyet, M.S., M.A., executive director of institutional research, who serves as NEOMED’s HLC Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO); and
- Jeff Wenstrup, Ph.D., chair of NEOMED’s HLC Steering Committee.
The process culminated in a site visit in September. At that time, the University demonstrated to an external team of HLC peer reviewers that it meets the HLC’s five Criteria for Accreditation.
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“The effort and quality of the work done by teams across the University to prepare our Assurance Argument was nothing short of heroic,” said Dr. Kasmer. “Everyone stepped up to help us complete a very thorough response. The peer review team that came to NEOMED for the site visit was impressed with the level of commitment from faculty, staff and students.”
In their final report, the peer review team shared the following observations:
“NEOMED is clearly driven by its revised mission and new strategic plan. The implementation for the strategic plan includes measurable outcomes for each activity. The zero-based budgeting plan also has measurable outcomes. Diversity is an integral part of the new strategic plan and it is clear that this is important to students, faculty and staff. Everyone is doing DEI work. The current administration and BOT [Board of Trustees] value a shared governance model and communication between faculty, staff, students and administration is a strength.”
The peer reviewers were also pleased with NEOMED’s overall efforts with diversity, especially improvements made in student diversity. However, they felt similar efforts were needed to attract a diverse faculty body.
“Unfortunately, the faculty data do not show that the diversity in the faculty aligns with the mission or the student population (3C1) which is why that [component] is met with concerns,” the reported noted. “The team believes that a new diversity action plan which includes a faculty hiring plan will be a step in the right direction.”
A monitoring report on faculty diversity will be included in 2026-27 Assurance Review, which is a component of the HLC Open Pathway.
Save the Date
Celebrate NEOMED’s HLC reaccreditation at President John Langell’s State of the University address on Jan. 23. Look for details in a future Pulse.
President Langell: Thank you!
President John T. Langell thanks the NEOMED community for securing 10-year HLC accreditation
ABOUT ACCREDITATION
Validation of Quality
Institutional accreditation validates the quality of an institution and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution ranging from its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. Institutional accreditation encompasses the institution as a whole, a whole, including all academic programs, all degree levels and both onsite and online course delivery. [Source: HLC site.]
Accreditation ensures:
- Eligibility for grants and external funding
- Articulation of academic credit to and from Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
- Quality education and business practices
- Qualified students are eligible to receive federal and other forms of student financial aid
- Continuous improvement processes for students and all stakeholders, including the community
- Legitimacy of NEOMED as a reputable institution of higher education; and
- Enhancement of the employability of NEOMED alumni
The HLC Open Pathway
The Open Pathway is one of two options institutions have for maintaining their accreditation with HLC. It encompasses a 10-year cycle and, like all pathways, is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement.
The Open Pathway is unique in that its improvement component, the Quality Initiative, affords institutions the opportunity to pursue improvement projects that meet their current needs and aspirations. Learn more about the Open Accreditation Pathway in the next section.
NEOMED was last visited by the HLC for comprehensive evaluation in 2013. Following that date are a series of events that have occurred as follows:
Years 1-3: Prepare Assurance Filing
NEOMED gathers documents for its Evidence File and writers the four-year Assurance Argument for the Assurance Review
Year 4: Assurance Review
HLC institutions are required to undergo assurance review to ensure that they are meeting the Criteria for Accreditation.
Years 5-9: Quality Initiative Proposal and Report
NEOMED proposes and completes a Quality Initiative suited for its needs and objectives. The purpose of the initiative is to increase the ability of NEOMED to meet its mission. In the current cycle, NEOMED’s Quality Initiative was titled, “Collaboration between two state universities for expansion of distance education programs.”
Year 10: Comprehensive Evaluation and Site Visit for Reaffirmation of Accreditation
HLC conducts a full comprehensive accreditation evaluation. This includes a Federal Compliance Review, a review of the university’s Assurance Argument, a Student Opinion Survey, and a site visit from peer reviewers. This evaluation is designed to ensure that NEOMED meets HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation, follows U.S. Department of Education requirements, and pursues continuous improvement. NEOMED’s next visit for reaffirmation is scheduled for September 12-13, 2022.
Assurance Argument
The Assurance Argument is an opportunity for NEOMED to conduct a self-study to evaluate its ongoing compliance with accreditation criteria and to tell our story. The format of Assurance Filing is defined by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The institution prepares an Assurance Argument and Evidence File as part of its Assurance Filing. Both of these pieces must be completed in the online Assurance System before the review is scheduled to begin. In the Assurance Argument, the institution demonstrates how it meets each Criterion and Core Component. For each Criterion, the institution offers:
- An articulation of how each Core Component within the Criterion is met.
- A summary statement regarding any additional ways in which the institution fulfills the Criterion that are not otherwise covered in the statements on the Core Components.
- Links to materials in the institution’s Evidence File for each claim or argument made.
Federal Compliance Filing
As part of the reaffirmation of accreditation process, HLC will review NEOMED’s compliance with federal requirements — specifically:
- Assignment of credits, program length and tuition
- Institutional records of student complaints
- Publication of transfer policies
- Practices for verification of student identity (online)
- Publication of student outcomes data
- Standing with state and other accrediting agencies
The Federal Compliance reviewer will determine how accurately NEOMED meets applicable federal requirements. If needed and/or if the team of reviewers has concerns, NEOMED may be required to submit additional follow-up documentation.
Quality Initiative
The institution submits a proposal for a Quality Initiative project to be completed in Years 7–9.
NEOMED’s quality initiative was titled, “Collaboration between two state universities for expansion of distance education programs” and created a shared services agreement with Kent State University to respond to the learning needs of students in the NEOMED Health Systems Pharmacy Administration Program (HSPA) by offering all courses online in a high quality and cost-effective way.
NEOMED’s final quality initiative report was submitted to the HLC in May 2021 and approved in June 2021. See the letter of approval.
Student Opinion Survey
The HLC will survey NEOMED students in Spring 2022. The purpose of the survey is to provide the HLC peer reviewers who will visit NEOMED with baseline information to help them formulate questions for meeting with faculty, staff, and students during the visit.
The results will be aggregated and provided to NEOMED prior to the visit.
The survey is intended to provide students with an opportunity to participate in the accreditation process and to inform the peer review team.
Site Visit by HLC Peer Review Team
A site team of peer reviewers will be at NEOMED on Sept. 12-13, 2022, to complete a comprehensive evaluation.
A series of meetings with faculty, staff and students will be completed to review the 5 Core Criteria.
A report will be prepared that summarizes the findings and follow-up materials may be requested.
The results will be presented to the HLC Board in January 2023 and a final decision on NEOMED’s accreditation status will be available shortly thereafter.
College of Medicine
The College of Medicine’s Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree program is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Details can be found on the College of Medicine LCME website.
College of Pharmacy
The College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy degree program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). View the accreditation certificate.
Master of Public Health Program
NEOMED’s Master of Public Health program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
MASTER OF MEDICAL SCIENCE IN ANESTHESIA (ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT)
NEOMED’s Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia program began in January 2022 and is now fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (ARC-AA) of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Continuing Medical Education
NEOMED’s Office of Continuing Professional Education has been fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) since 1983, and was awarded Accreditation with Commendation in 2012. This status is awarded to less than a quarter of those who apply.
State Authorization (NC-SARA)
NEOMED is approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to offer postsecondary distance education courses and programs. See more about NC-SARA.
May 15, 2021, Finalize Project Plan for Comprehensive Evaluation
May 20, 2021, Quality Initiative Approved by HLC
August 1, 2021, Formal Project Kick Off
Sept. 1, 2021, Launch Steering Committee
Sept. 1, 2021, Launch Criterion Subcommittees
Feb. 15, 2022, First Draft of Assurance Argument
March 15, 2022, Steering Committee Identifies Gaps and Recommends Corrective Action
April 1, 2022, Student Opinion Survey conducted
June 1, 2022, Update to NEOMED Board of Trustees
July 15, 2022, Feedback from External Reviewer on Assurance Argument
August 15, 2022, NEOMED Assurance Argument Locked (submitted)
Sept. 1, 2022, Mock Site Visit
Sept. 12-13, 2022, On-site Visit by HLC Peer Review Team
CHAIR: Jeff Wenstrup, Ph.D., Professor, Anatomy and Neurobiology
Julie Aultman, Ph.D., Interim Dean, College of Graduate Studies
Seth Brownlee, Pharm.D., Sr. Associate Dean for Program Quality and Student Success, COP
Andre Burton, J.D., Vice President, Human Resources and Diversity
Jordan Cinderich, M.Ed., Process Engineer
Sandra Emerick, Ed.D., Sr. Exec. Dir., Academic Affairs and Student Services
Patrick Gallegos, Pharm.D., Chair, University Faculty Council
Allison Hawkes, M.D., Director, Accreditation, College of Medicine
Roderick Ingram Sr., M.B.A., Vice President, Communication and Chief Marketing Officer
Deborah Loyet, M.S., M.A., HLC Liaison Officer
Lacey Madison, M.B.A., Vice President for Strategy and Transformation
Eugene Mowad, M.D., Interim Dean, College of Medicine
Michelle Mulhern, M.P.A., Chief of Staff and Secretary, Board of Trustees
Moses Oyewumi, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Maria Schimer, Esq., General Counsel
Mary Taylor, M.Tax., C.P.A., Vice President, Finance and Operations
Joshua Tidd, M3, Student Trustee
From the Higher Learning Commission:
Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL 60604
800.621.7440
HLC website
NEOMED
Richard Kasmer, Pharm.D., J.D.
Vice President, Academic Affairs
rkasmer@neomed.edu
Deborah Loyet, M.S., M.A.
Executive Director, Institutional Research
HLC Accreditation Liaison Officer
dloyet@neomed.edu
Student Complaints
Information related to student complaints is available on the HLC site.
Complaint Process | Student Resources
