How does the COE address transparency?

Q: How does the COE address transparency?

A: The COE meets the transparency requirements of the USDE, CHEA and the Code of Good Practice published by the Association of Specialized and Programmatic Accreditors (ASPA).  From the COE policies and procedures manual:

The COE provides written notice of its accrediting decisions to the USDE*, appropriate state licensing or authorizing agency*, appropriate accrediting agencies**, and the public*** according to the following requirements of the USDE:

(A) Within 30 days:

(1) A decision to award initial accreditation or pre-accreditation to a veterinary school

(2) A decision to renew or provide initial accreditation or pre-accreditation to a veterinary school

(B) At the same time the school is notified, but no later than 30 days after the decision:***

(1) A final decision to place a school on probationary accreditation

(2) A final decision to deny, withdraw, suspend, revoke, or terminate the accreditation or reaccreditation of a veterinary school****

* The USDE and appropriate state licensing or authorizing agency will be notified by letters sent electronically or by mail.

** Accrediting agencies are notified by posting written notice on appropriate list serve for regional and programmatic accreditors.

*** Please note: All public notification is provided in the public area of the AVMA web site and will include the date of the COE meeting the decision was made. This is done within 24 hours of notification of the program for (B) (1) and (2).

**** Not later than 60 days after any final decision to deny, withdraw, suspend, revoke, or terminate the accreditation or pre-accreditation of a veterinary school, the COE will notify the USDE, state and other authorizing agencies, and public with a  brief statement summarizing the reasons for the agency's decision and the official comments that the affected school may wish to make with regard to that decision, or evidence that the affected school has been offered the opportunity to provide official comment.

The COE will provide written notice to the USDE, appropriate state licensing or authorizing agency, appropriate accrediting agencies, and, upon request, the public if:

(1) A school decides to withdraw voluntarily from accreditation or pre-accreditation, within 30 days of receiving notification from the school that it is withdrawing voluntarily from accreditation or pre-accreditation; or

(2) Lets its accreditation or pre-accreditation lapse, within 30 days of the date on which accreditation or pre-accreditation lapses.

Information related to currently accredited veterinary medical colleges and schools, the accreditation status, and the date of the next accreditation or pre-accreditation site visit is published annually in the AVMA House of Delegates Report and on the AVMA website (at www.avma.org) in the public access area. The COE does not provide the AVMA with non-public information regarding accreditation decisions, except to the extent such information constitutes privileged legal information.

When the accreditation decision is finalized, each college of veterinary medicine must notify the public of its performance in educating veterinarians by posting on its website 1) the accreditor (AVMA COE), accreditation status of the college, and the date of the next site visit; 2) an explanation of the reasons for non-compliance if probationary accreditation has been assigned and the college must provide an evaluation of the impact of non-compliance on the enrolled students; 3) the NAVLE pass rate for the college compared to the pass rate required by the COE standard for Outcomes Assessment (currently 80%); and 4) any other outcomes information that the college feels would educate the public regarding the quality of education at the specific institution. Information released to the public must be readily accessible. The information released to the public must be sent to the COE for verification in the annual report of each college.