UMES Physician Assistant Program Loses Accreditation

Statue on UMES campus (Photo: Chris Weimer)

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Dozens of students in the Physician Assistant graduate program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore are working towards a degree that no longer has accreditation with the school.

After being placed on probation, UMES lost it’s accreditation after a review by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or ARC-PA.

A letter by President Juliette Bell, dated Oct. 13, stated that the university is working toward arrangements for all students in the program so that their educational pursuits are impacted as little as possible.

At this time there are three classes in the PA program. According to UMES Director of Public Relations, Bill Robinson, the class nearest graduation in December will not be impacted and, as long as the students complete their work by the end of the semester, they will graduate with a PA degree.

"Anytime an institution faces an accreditation challenge like the one we're confronting right now,” Robinson said. “There's a level of disappointment and I would say perhaps a little sadness but there's resolve as well.”

Robinson said there roughly 66 students are impacted by the school’s loss of accreditation. UMES will continue to work towards rebuilding the PA program although, officials said, that could take some time. 

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