The Department of Justice is now investigating Quinnipiac University's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, specifically pertaining to the physician assistant program.
The physician assistant program was recently placed on accreditation probation for at least the next two years.
In a statement, the university said they're "committed to creating a learning environment that meets the needs of our [their] diverse student body."
The program was put on accreditation probation status at the meeting of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) in September. It will remain in that status until its next review in September 2025.
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Accreditation probation is a temporary status that can be extended for up to an additional two years if the program is making progress, but needs additional time to become fully compliant.
A program can be put on accreditation probation if the ARC-PA determines it is not meeting standards or "when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened," according to the school.
Once on probation, if a program fails to comply with requirements in a timely manner, it can be scheduled for a site visit and could be subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.
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Quinnipiac University released a statement on its website about the accreditation probation saying:
"The School of Health Sciences and Quinnipiac University fully support the Physician Assistant Studies Program and are actively addressing the concerns raised by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). We remain committed to student success and delivering a high-quality nationally ranked program."
The program remains accredited despite being in accreditation probation and the status does not affect any future classes, the school added.
In a statement, the school also said in part, "This temporary Accreditation-Probation is an opportunity for us to make the improvements the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. is requiring. Fortunately, the program has already addressed many of the concerns, and we fully expect that our work will result in our return to Accreditation-Continuing by 2025.”
The university said anyone experiencing any barrier to learning should contact the Office of Student Accessibility by emailing access@qu.edu or calling 203-582-7600.
