21-04-2025
WVSOM receives 10-year accreditation from Higher Learning Commission
LEWISBURG, WV (WVNS) — The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) was granted continued accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
According to a press release, the accreditation will continue for 10 years, when the next reaffirmation will take place. The important milestone marks the product of a years-long effort to prepare for review from HLC. The commission expressed no concerns regarding the accreditation, signifying that the institution has no areas currently needing improvement.
T-Pain announced for the 100th State Fair of West Virginia
One of seven national institutional accreditors, HLC accredits approximately 950 colleges and universities, particularly in the central portion of the United States, the release stated. They serve in 19 states, stretching from institutions in Arizona to West Virginia. Besides WVSOM, 12 other osteopathic medical schools have or will be seeking accreditation from the commission.
James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., WVSOM's president, stated he is happy with the commission's findings, and expressed appreciation for the staff, administrators, and faculty that play a role in meeting the HLC requirements.
The Higher Learning Commission's report shows that WVSOM is adhering to the highest standards of compliance while preparing students for careers as competent, compassionate physicians. I'm proud of all those who have helped make this accreditation a success. A stamp of approval from a prestigious organization like the HLC will have positive implications for WVSOM for years to come.
James W. Nemitz, Ph.D. | President, WVSOM
The thorough evaluation included a review of arguments and evidence given by the institution that shows compliance with the commission's accreditation requirements, and a student survey. Also included in the review is an on-site evaluation performed by peer reviewers to score the way the institution follows and applies the requirements of the commission. The final review and action, based on the team report, was reached by an HLC body, the release stated.
Andrea Bucklew, J.D., WVSOM's Director of Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement, stated that the HLC requires institutions to demonstrate that they meet criteria.
The Fayette County Commission has grant funding for demolition of old buildings
First, we have to show that our mission statement guides our decisions. Second, we have to act with ethics and integrity. The third and fourth criteria deal with teaching: Are our students learning? Do they have good outcomes? Are they able to match to residencies? And the fifth criterion deals with planning and institutional resources.
Andrea Bucklew, J.D. | Director of Accreditation and Quality Improvement, WVSOM
Bucklew expressed that the school's high performance prompted the HLC commission to allow WVSOM to choose an 'open pathway' for its next accreditation cycle, the release stated. Institutions approved to use the open pathway are considered to have little concerns regarding accreditation, a strong culture of compliance, as well as more financial stability.
The open pathway requires an institution to determine a strategic initiative and report the progress of that initiative to the HLC. The timing is good because we're already in the process of doing that as part of our strategic planning.
Andrea Bucklew, J.D. | Director of Accreditation and Quality Improvement, WVSOM
Machelle Linsenmeyer, Ed. D., WVSOM's Assistance Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Resources state that the successful reaccreditation will lay the foundation for continuous growth.
Accreditation shows that we are a school with processes in place and continuous quality improvement projects that meet the standards not only of our programmatic accreditor, but of an institutional accreditor. We're thrilled that we got the highest recommendation, and we now have the opportunity to move forward with the open pathway, which is important for the expansions we want to make for new opportunities at WVSOM.
Machelle Linsenmeyer, Ed. D. | Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Resources, WVSOM
Concord University announces 13th President
The programmatic accreditor for the school's D.O. program is the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, the release noted. WVSOM possesses continued accreditation for the program through 2029-2030.
Linsenmeyer also stated that Bucklew's predecessor, Mary Norris, Ph. D., was vital in the process.
Dr. Norris worked closely with the on-site teams who wrote the assurance arguments and collected supporting evidence, was the editor for the final report, and oversaw the logistics of the site team visit including close communication with site visitors throughout the process. I'm thankful to her, our teams and everyone at WVSOM for successfully navigating this process.
Machelle Linsenmeyer, Ed. D. | Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Resources, WVSOM
For more information regarding the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, visit their website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
