Medical College Accredited for Maximum Number of Years

After an intensive two year-long self study and a three-day site visit, the Medical College of Wisconsin has received the maximum 10-year reaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC-NCA). The reaccreditation covers all MCW programs leading to the MD, PhD, MS, MA and MPH degrees.

In its final report, the HLC said, "The Medical College of Wisconsin is to be commended for developing, achieving excellence, and maintaining the quality of education, research, and patient care. The present administration has effectively developed the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus as the primary patient care resource for Eastern Wisconsin."

The report also stated that "MCW has demonstrated the institution meets all of the (accreditation) criteria, and the Team has confidence the institution's current resources, policies and planning processes are sufficiently strong to warrant a ten-year accreditation, with the next comprehensive site visit in the academic year of 2016-2017."

MCW began working on the self study in 2004. The study included a review of the College's degree granting programs to determine if they were meeting their goals and objectives, as well as a review of the people, processes and resources in place to help the programs accomplish those goals. This included a review of the research and clinical programs, finances, leadership, affiliations, administrative departments, infrastructure, student life and community partnerships. From the self study, a report was developed and submitted to the HLC.

In November, a site visit team spent three days at the College, meeting with MCW leadership, faculty, staff and students, as well as representatives from community partners and affiliated institutions. Those meetings were organized by Joseph T. Barbieri, PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and Director of the College's Medical Scientist Training Program, and Owen W. Griffith, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, with assistance from the staff of the Graduate School, particularly Mary Beth Drapp and Linda Oelschlaeger.

Other comments from the HLC final report include:

• The Medical College provides a dynamic learning environment for medical students, residents, fellows, and graduate students.
• The Medical College of Wisconsin exemplifies a very vibrant educational, research, and patient care organization.
• MCW recognizes the diversity of its students, patients, and the people of southeast Wisconsin, who form its primary constituency. The value of diversity is evident in the hiring of faculty and staff and in student admissions.
• The institution is trusted by external constituents as evidenced by the warmth and praise emanating from the institutions with which MCW interacts.
• The financial position of MCW is strong and allows the College to respond to challenges and opportunities.
• The Board of Trustees, institutional leaders, faculty, staff and students demonstrate a commitment to providing an environment at MCW supporting all of its constituents while valuing the diversity offered in the institution.
• The Medical College is deeply engaged in the community, community organizations and statewide networks.
• The Team found the College's self-study process to be thorough and comprehensive.

"Reaccreditation is an extensive, lengthy process, that requires the efforts of so many people at or connected with the Medical College of Wisconsin," said T. Michael Bolger, JD, President and CEO.

"Receiving reaccreditation for the maximum 10 years, and receiving a very positive and upbeat report from the NCA, shows that we are committed to our mission, we are committed to our faculty, staff and students, and we are committed to our partners and the community. It shows that the College truly does Practice What We Teach."

MCW Health News presents up-to-date information on patient care and medical research by the physicians of the Medical College of Wisconsin.