National's Assistant Dean Arick Says CCE Misrepresents Concerns in Accreditation Battle
As news of National University's accreditation struggles makes its way through the chiropractic profession its Alumni are asking tough questions that NUH's administration say they will only answer on the phone.
On June 30, 2016 the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) placed National University of Health Sciences on PUBLIC NOTICE because of concerns related to the quality of their educational programs, their assessment of student learning, and their institutional planning. According to the HLC they accredit approximately 1,000 colleges and universities that have a home base in one of 19 states that stretch from West Virginia to Arizona. HLC is a private, nonprofit regional accrediting agency.
Then, as if that wasn't enough to deal with, NUHS' two chiropractic programs were placed on PROBATION by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) on February 2, 2018 and according to the public disclosure from the CCE, the Council took this action “. . . due to noncompliance concerns related to program effectiveness, meta- competency assessment and student performance success rates.”
According to sources, National never informed its Alumni about the accreditation issues and now Alumni are wondering why and wondering what is going on.
They won't get any information publicly other than the notices posted on the Council on Chiropractic Education and the Higher Learning Commission websites however.
According to Christopher Arick, DC, MS the Assistant Dean and Chief Academic Officer of the Chiropractic Medicine program and Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences:
"If anyone would like to contact me with specific questions, they are very welcome to contact me at 630-889-6846."
According to a statement by Arick:
"I do want to echo the NUHS comment on the accreditation document that the concerns from CCE are nowhere near the measure of 'significant non-compliance' in higher education accreditation standards, however we accept CCE's concerns. In addition, Policy 56 (regarding board scores) misrepresents NUHS performance on NBCE exams to the public. The quality of the curriculum, instruction, and assessment of the chiropractic medicine program is strong at NUHS."
It seems Arick may be the only one who feels that way since two separate accrediting bodies have hit the institution with PUBLIC notices regarding the quality of their educational programs. The CCE went so far as placing them on PROBATION which National's President himself called a "death blow" in court documents.
In answering a question about the PUBLIC NOTICE NUHS was placed on by the Higher Learning Commission, Arick responded by blowing off any concerns stating the news was "a couple years old" and that the NOTICE "is most likely to be lifted" following what he described as a "superb" visit.
Frank Frydrych, a NUHS faculty member remarked about the accreditation crisis stating "It's all political B.S." adding, "I would put National students up there with the best in the profession. Hell, I believe the new ACA head is a National grad."
Frydrych did however echo the Alumni sentiment stating "I agree the school should have done a better job getting in front of this with alumni."
Another Alumna, Kirsten Harrison suggested NUHS was under accreditation fire because "NUHS is pushing limits and boundaries--anyone doing this, ESPECIALLY in the healthcare world, is going to get some crap thrown at them."
Alumna Rachel Fabbi urged a Call to Arms stating "I think this is an opportunity for us all to rally behind the school, help to support its mission, because as alumni we have a vested professional interest in the school being the BEST. None of us want to be alumni of a school who’s lost it’s credentials because it reflects on us professionally if it does. I encourage everyone to become an active alumni, donate money, and figure out how we can help NUHS thrive."
NUHS is suing the Council on Chiropractic Edcuation over the sanction of PROBATION, however NUHS lost their motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and to keep the suit SEALED with the judge opining that there was deep public interest in the outcome.
In their lawsuit against the CCE to try and stop the Council from enforcing the sanction of PROBATION, National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) makes a desperate attempt to get the court to believe that the sanction will lead to major problems for the institution. Chief among them are the concerns regarding money.
According to the suit, National claims:
"Loss of accreditation means that DCP students are ineligible to receive student aid funds under Title IV programs. The vast majority of DCP students funds their education entirely with Title IV program funds and would not be able to enroll in a DCP without access to Title IV program funds."
Bearing in mind that National has not lost accreditation but has been put on probation, National concludes for the court that even the threatened loss of accreditation is a "death blow" to a chiropractic program and states:
"Therefore a DCP’s loss of accreditation or threatened loss of accreditation, e.g., Probation, is a death blow to a DCP."
SEE BELOW for more on National's Accreditation Struggles
National Loses Appeal Regarding Accreditation Probation
National Files Lawsuit Against CCE for Placing School on Probation
National President Stiefel Under Fire & Facing Accreditation Struggles with Two Agencies
National Accreditation Placed on NOTICE by Higher Learning Commission
CLICK BELOW for LAWSUIT & RELATED DOCUMENTS
Higher Learning Commission Public Disclosure
Higher Learning Commission Action Letter
Denial of Temporary Restraining Order & Seal
National v. CCE Legal Complaint
Request for Temporary Restraining Order
Declaration of Stiefel and all Exhibits
Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Memorandum in Support
