Accreditation FAQs

What is the overall purpose of accreditation and the Medical School Self-study (MSS)?

As a process of evaluation, accreditation seeks to answer three general questions:

  1. Has the medical school clearly established its mission and goals for the educational program?
  2. Are the program's curriculum and resources organized to meet its mission and goals?
  3. What is the evidence that the program is currently achieving its mission and goals and is likely to continue to meet them in the future?

The MSS process and the resulting findings are central to these aims. In the process of conducting its self-study, a medical school brings together representatives of the medical school administration, faculty, student body, and other constituencies to:

  1. Collect and review data about the medical school and its educational program,
  2. Assess the medical education program’s performance on accreditation standards and elements,
  3. Identify areas that require improvement, and
  4. Define strategies to ensure that any problems are addressed effectively.

The MSS report, the ISA report, and the completed DCI with its appendices need to be submitted to the visiting team three months prior to the visit.

The report resulting from the self-study process provides an evaluation of the quality and effectiveness of the medical education program and the adequacy of resources to support it. The usefulness of the self-study as a guide for planning and change is enhanced when participation is broad and representative, when the results and conclusions are widely disseminated, and when the participants have engaged in a thoughtful process of analysis and reflection.

Why am I being contacted for information related to accreditation?

The first step in the accreditation process is the completion of the Data Collection Instrument (DCI), which is a collection of forms and information to be completed by the School.

The DCI collectively is comprised of one overview document and twelve additional files that relate to specific accreditation standards, which contain the elements of the standard, their requirements, and associated data indicators.

The accreditation team must complete the DCI in advance of the Medical School Self-study. The responses in the DCI, which commonly contain data, tables, charts, and appendices, are what comprise the final MSS, to be submitted in advance of the visit in fall 2023.

If you are contacted for information, your quick response is very much appreciated as the sub-committees have already started to use the DCI information to create the MSS. Sufficient information to create the MSS is essential for a comprehensive and accurate representation of our medical school.

What are the possible results of accreditation?

As per CACMS, there are three possible accreditation statuses for each of the elements within the 12 standards that exists in the MSS.

Satisfactory (S): The required policy, process, resource, or system is in place and, if specified by the element, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that it is effective.

Satisfactory with a need for Monitoring (SM):

  1. The medical education program has the required policy, process, resource, or system in place, but there is insufficient evidence to indicate that it is effective. Therefore, monitoring is required to ensure that the desired outcome has been achieved.
  2. The medical education program’s performance currently is satisfactory with respect to the element, but there are known circumstances that could directly result in unsatisfactory performance in the near future. Therefore, monitoring is required.

Unsatisfactory (U): The medical education program has not met one or more of the requirements of the element. The required policy, process, resource, or system either is not in place or is in place but has been found to be ineffective.

What are the standards that are completed and reviewed during accreditation?

Medical schools are expected to achieve compliance with each of the 12 standards. Compliance with a standard will be based on satisfactory performance in the elements associated with the standard.

Standard 1: Mission, Planning, Organization, and Integrity
Standard 2: Leadership and Administration
Standard 3: Academic and Learning Environments
Standard 4: Faculty Preparation, Productivity, Participation, and Policies
Standard 5: Educational Resources and Infrastructure
Standard 6: Competencies, Curricular Objectives, and Curricular Design
Standard 7: Curricular Content
Standard 8: Curricular Management, Evaluation, and Enhancement
Standard 9: Teaching, Supervision, Assessment, and Student and Patient Safety
Standard 10: Medical Student Selection, Assignment, and Progress
Standard 11: Medical Student Academic Support, Career Advising, and Educational Records
Standard 12: Medical Student Health Services, Personal Counseling, and Financial Aid Services

Contact

For all accreditation related matters and questions, please email Jenny Krista in the UME office.