<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4OK5bD_1H3KPorC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4OK5bD_1H3KPorC00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>Photo by Noam Rios | The Triangle</figcaption></figure>In July 2026, Drexel University’s physician assistant program was placed on accreditation-probation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant following an evaluation that identified 40 areas of noncompliance with accreditation standards.Accreditation-probation is a temporary accreditation status granted to programs when they do not meet necessary standards or are incapable of providing an “acceptable educational experience” to their students. The designation does not mean that accreditation has been withdrawn. The University City program remains accredited and can continue educating students while working to address the deficiencies, but failure to meet accreditation requirements could ultimately result in the withdrawal of accreditation.The program itself has been accredited since September 1972, and will face additional focused reviews over the next two years, until the July 2028 commission review. This includes an initial focused visit scheduled ahead of the July 2027 commission meeting, followed by a focused probation visit before the January 2028 meeting.This status applies exclusively to the University City PA program, housed in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Drexel also operates a separate PA program, Salus at Drexel, at its Elkins Park campus through the College of Medicine. That program maintains accreditation-continued status and is not affected by the decision.The ARC-PA found noncompliance in university oversight and administration, faculty qualifications, student support, and clinical education and curriculum. The decision requires these deficient areas to be addressed.Dr. Emily Roper, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, acknowledged the college’s responsibility in the circumstances that led to the accreditation-probation designation, and that action is being taken to address the identified issues. “While the findings identified by ARC-PA relate to specific program standards, the college acknowledges that effective program leadership, appropriate resources, institutional oversight, and ongoing assessment are shared responsibilities,” she told The Triangle.“This includes strengthening program leadership, increasing the frequency of communication and oversight between the dean’s office and program leadership, and establishing a systematic process for monitoring progress toward addressing each ARC-PA finding.”Since the decision, the college has increased its involvement in overseeing the program's corrective efforts. According to Roper, the program now has an interim program director, an associate program director, and newly appointed leadership for clinical education. The Dean's office has also increased its administrative oversight, with Roper meeting weekly with program leadership to monitor progress.The college is also implementing a standards-tracking process to identify the evidence needed to demonstrate compliance, assign responsibility for corrective actions, and monitor progress toward addressing each finding.Roper said the college recognizes that resolving the deficiencies requires more than addressing individual citations. "It requires strengthening the systems, processes, and culture of continuous improvement that support the program over time," she continued.The accreditation decision also raises questions about the potential impact on students pursuing their degrees and professional certification. ARC-PA states that probation is an active accreditation status, meaning students entering a program on probation are still enrolling in an accredited program. Graduation from an ARC-PA-accredited program is an important eligibility requirement for taking the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, which graduates must pass to become nationally certified.For current and incoming students, the college's immediate priority is maintaining accreditation while addressing the commission's findings. Roper emphasized that the college is committed to maintaining regular communication with students about the process and providing support and guidance should the program's accreditation status change.Despite the number of deficiencies identified, Roper expressed confidence in the program's ability to make the necessary improvements, pointing to the new oversight structure, increased faculty and staff development opportunities, and a more systematic approach to evaluating program outcomes."Importantly, the program's student outcomes continue to be strong," Roper said. "Maintaining these outcomes while addressing the identified deficiencies is a priority for the college."Restoring accreditation-continued status, however, will require the program to demonstrate sustained compliance with ARC-PA standards. There are two focused evaluations scheduled before its next full review in July 2028, so the University City PA program faces an extended period of corrective action and institutional oversight.Students in the PA program and the PA-Bridge program declined to comment due to concerns about sharing information regarding the program. Individuals contacted by The Triangle stated that they are unable to publicly discuss specific details of the program and that any information traced back to them personally could potentially jeopardize their standing in the program.</div></body>

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In July 2026, Drexel University’s physician assistant program was placed on accreditation-probation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant following an evaluation that identified 40 areas of noncompliance with accreditation standards. Accreditation-probation is a temporary accreditation status granted to programs when they do not meet...

Drexel's physician assistant program faces accreditation probation

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In July 2026, Drexel University’s physician assistant program was placed on accreditation-probation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for

Drexel's physician assistant program faces accreditation probation

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