Virginia Tech cleared two important accreditation hurdles to integrate the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine as the university’s ninth college on July 1.
Today, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) will post public notice of its approval for the medical school to become part of the university. An official letter will be sent July 3.
On June 13, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) sent the university notification of its final approval for integration, allowing Virginia Tech the ability to award the M.D. degree through the college and putting the medical school under the authority of Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors.
SACS is a regional accrediting body for 11 states, including Virginia, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. SCHEV is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s coordinating body for higher education.
Virginia Tech and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine kept both accrediting bodies aware of the plans to integrate over the last two years as the process unfolded. The notifications this week were the final approvals from each accrediting body, allowing the medical school to officially move into the university July 1.
“We are very pleased to achieve these milestones and have our accrediting bodies’ support,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “As an independent institution, the school has been an incredible success over the past decade. As a college, we hope to build on that success with the school at the center our continued plans for a robust health sciences and technology campus in Roanoke, benefiting the region, the university, and Carilion Clinic, our key partner throughout this journey.”
As an MD-granting medical school, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is also accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The school received full accreditation in 2014 after the charter class graduated for a term of five years. The LCME will have a site visit at the medical school in October to evaluate the program and integration with Virginia Tech to determine accreditation beginning in 2019 for a new term.
“Over the last two years, there have been more than 100 people from the school, Virginia Tech, and Carilion Clinic serving on integration committees to look at every detail of the medical school and figure out how to fit us into the university so that everyone benefits,” said Cynda Johnson, founding dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. “Now less than two weeks away, it’s exciting to see the final pieces fall into place to make the transition a reality.”
The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine accepted its first class of students in 2010. It has since graduated five classes that each had a 100-percent match rate to residency. Over 200 alumni are across the country in residency, fellowships, and practicing medicine.
The Class of 2022 will be the first to enroll and receive their entire education as the ninth college of Virginia Tech. About 4,000 students applied for 42 spots. The class begins their education on July 30.
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Chris Graham
