The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Breaking News

Local News

November 22, 2012

WVSOM granted candidacy for accreditation

By Tina Alvey Register-Herald Reporter

The nation’s largest association overseeing higher education has granted the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine candidacy status for accreditation.

Notification of the candidacy status comes three years after WVSOM’s board of governors decided to seek accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The process thus far has included a rigorous self-assessment, a site visit by a team of distinguished educators and an HLC review of the site visit report.

Although HLC accreditation is not required for the Lewisburg medical school, administrators said securing the voluntary accreditation is part of WVSOM’s strategic plan to fulfill its mission of educating lifelong learners.

“It’s important for people to know that we remain fully accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association,” said Jim Nemitz, Ph.D., WVSOM’s vice president of administration and external relations. “The HLC accreditation is another gold standard that we want to attain.”

Although the candidacy term is typically four years, the institution may file for early initial accreditation after two years. School administrators will continue to work with HLC staff to ensure WVSOM is on track to meet this goal.

Nemitz said, although the past couple of years have required hard work from all members of the campus community in pursuit of the initial candidacy, having full accreditation from the HLC will be a tremendous attribute for the institution.

“We are pleased to be affiliated with the HLC as a candidate for accreditation, and we look forward to working with the HLC to attain full accreditation in the future,” he said.

Helen Baker, the WVSOM professor coordinating the self-study process, expressed appreciation for the participation from all areas of the college community.

“Our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members all pulled together in helping WVSOM achieve candidacy,” she said. “We just need to keep up the good work.”

The self-study for initial candidacy required that WVSOM assess itself based on five criteria:

- Mission and integrity

- Preparing for the future

- Student learning and effective teaching

- Acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge

- Engagement in service

Earlier this year, with the self-study in full swing and a public comment period just getting under way, Nemitz told The Register-Herald, “The accreditation process is an exercise in quality improvement. It’s a standard of quality we want to maintain.”

He added, “The self-study is a lot of work, but it’s well worth it. It’s a good thing; it’s a positive thing.”

The HLC accredits more than 1,000 colleges and universities in 19 states, including West Virginia.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com

Text Only
Local News
  • Ohio man's condition stable after rafting accident

    The condition of an Ohio man is in stable condition after being pulled from New River following a rafting accident.

    June 18, 2013

  • Coda1 Music camp to include 7 free public concerts

    Upcoming summer evenings in Fayetteville will be sweetened by the strains of professional and student musical offerings in a series of free public concerts from Coda Mountain Academy.

    June 18, 2013 3 Photos

  • Lanark shooting investigated

    June 17, 2013

  • Sisters’ memoir highlights McDowell

    Two sisters who grew up in the mountains of McDowell County have recently co-authored and published a series of stories about their past — “Luke’s Daughters: A Memoir of Northfork, West Virginia.”

    June 17, 2013

  • Lanark shooting victim identified as N.C. man

     The victim of a Sunday shooting in the Lanark area has been identified as a North Carolina resident.

    June 17, 2013

  • Calendar — Monday, June 17, 2013

    TODAY

    June 17, 2013

  • Week of events to mark sesquicentennial in Greenbrier

    A full week of events is planned in Greenbrier County in celebration of West Virginia’s 150th birthday, culminating with a free outdoor concert and fireworks show at the state fairgrounds in Fairlea.
    Sesquicentennial week kicks off today, with memoir readings presented by several Greenbrier County elders. This free event will begin at 2 p.m. today at Greenbrier Valley Theatre (GVT) in downtown Lewisburg.
    GVT will follow that up with a free Reader’s Theatre performance of “Faded Memories” by Ben Crookshanks Monday evening at 7:30.

    June 15, 2013

  • ER nurses receive special training to aid sexual assault, abuse victims

    Nurses from six local counties received specialized training this week to help individuals who have been the victim of sexual assault or abuse.
    Of the counties in southern West Virginia, including Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas and Summers serviced by the Women’s Resource Center, there is only one certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) working in an emergency room.

    June 15, 2013

  • Sheriff’s office probing apparent drowning at Blue Bend

    An investigation is in progress by the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department into the apparent drowning of a middle-age man in Blue Bend, a popular swimming spot in the region.
    Sheriff Jan Cahill identified the victim as Thomas Michael Richter, a 53-year-old resident of the White Sulphur Springs area, who was found in the water Friday morning.

    June 15, 2013

  • mayor 1 Beckley Sanitary Board

    Ground was broken Friday to mark construction of the Thomas H. Keyser Memorial Rain Garden in the traffic island at the intersection of Holliday, Painter and Tolley drives in Maxwell Hill.

    June 15, 2013 2 Photos