The Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Takes the Final Step in the Re-Accreditation Process
Posted on Oct. 30, 2009
The Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MCAOM) at Northwestern Health Sciences University is preparing for the last step in the college’s two-year long re-accreditation process. On Nov. 4-6, 2009, the University will host a team of four from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), who were specifically chosen to review MCAOM. During their visit, they will meet and interview various faculty and staff, review student records, observe classes, and meet with students that have volunteered.
Since MCAOM submitted the final self-study report in April 2009, the college has been striving to improve the program according to the recommendations that emerged from the report. For example, student, new patient, and alumni surveys were conducted and used for further assessment and evaluation of the school. “We did not receive many surprises with the survey data,” said Mark McKenzie, MOm, LAc, dean of MCAOM. “Most of it was positive and somewhat predictable. We had high satisfaction rates.” Even though this data has been collected for the final accreditation step, MCAOM will continue to review the surveys for additional feedback.
The college has also spent the last summer acquiring and compiling all the necessary documentation. These documents were posted on the University’s Moodle website in accordance with the 14 standards that the ACAOM Master’s Degree programs must meet. “We have set up this system to allow the reviewers to access the information before they arrive on campus,” said McKenzie. The site also includes the self-study and an analytical narrative, which gives an overview of the process from MCAOM’s standpoint.
MCAOM has been focusing on the re-accreditation process since October 2007. McKenzie is confident that the review will be a success. “We are extremely well-prepared for the site visit,” said McKenzie. Renee DeVries