At its March 2021 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. ARC-PA) placed the Rocky Vista University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Rocky Vista University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in March 2023.
Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance. Probations accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA, when a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation-Provisional or Accreditation-Continued does not, in the judgement of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened. Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.
Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s). The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website here.
RVU’s Response to Accreditation-Probation
The Rocky Vista University (RVU) Physician Assistant program has been, and remains, accredited by the ARC-PA. RVU is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to award masters and doctoral degrees. The pursuit of academic excellence continues to be a primary focus of the university and all PA program faculty and staff.
While we are disappointed with the decision to place the program on probationary status, RVU emphasizes that the action does not affect currently enrolled, admitted, and prospective students on their journey toward program completion. Students can continue to apply, matriculate, graduate, take board examinations, apply to obtain state licensure, and pursue their goals to practice as a physician assistant.
RVU is committed to demonstrating and maintaining compliance with the standards of the ARC-PA and will continue to provide students with the education and training required to be eligible to become certified physician assistants.
