Accreditation by the NAEYC is awarded to early childhood education programs that demonstrate excellence in teaching, relationship-building, curriculum, health, safety and other areas.聽

Located on Belknap Campus, ELC is for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age and provides child development services for UofL faculty, staff and students, as well as residents of the nearby Family Scholar House and the Old Louisville neighborhood.聽Every weekday, the little ones come through the doors and are transformed into Turtles, Rainbow Fish, Sweet Peas, Travelers, Jazzy Jungles or Tadpoles.聽Their days are filled with friends and toys, games and healthy snacks, naps and outside playtime.聽

鈥淓arly childhood education and experiences have tremendous impact on children鈥檚 future academic success, with studies showing effects well into high school,鈥� said Jill Jacobi-Vessels, director of ELC. 鈥淭he ELC engaged in the rigorous NAEYC accreditation process because we strongly believe that our profession is critical to the well-being of families and communities. We want to ensure that we offer our children the highest possible quality.鈥�

Jacobi-Vessels noted that ELC hosts frequent visits for area centers and schools looking for ways to enhance their own programs.聽ELC also serves as a classroom for UofL early childhood education students.

鈥淣AEYC鈥檚 accreditation criteria formed a useful framework for reflecting on our program鈥檚 strengths and areas for growth,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur team successfully engaged in a yearlong self-study to review our policies and practices and compile deep evidence to document how we meet the NAEYC standards. We are thrilled that we achieved re-accreditation with exceptionally high scores and are grateful for UofL鈥檚 ongoing commitment to the ELC and our littlest Cardinals.鈥�

ELC celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. It uses the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, focusing on child-led, play-based learning.聽

SACSCOC announced the reaffirmation at its national meeting this morning in New Orleans. SACSCOC is the recognized regional accrediting body in 11 U.S. Southern states and Latin America for institutions that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral or professional聽degrees.

鈥淭his is great news,鈥� said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. 鈥淪ACSCOC has recognized the university鈥檚 hard work in fixing our problems of the past and setting a solid foundation for our future. With this clean bill of health, we can embark on an exciting future for our students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as our community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.鈥�

UofL鈥檚 accreditation had been an issue since summer 2017 when, during the regular 10-year reaffirmation process, SACSCOC raised concerns about governance and financial matters and placed the university on probation. UofL and the University of Louisville Foundation, which manages its endowment, have since taken steps to ensure the financial strength of the institution, which was noted by SACSCOC in its review.

UofL was removed from probation in December 2017, at which point the reaffirmation process began anew. The process concluded with today鈥檚 announcement.

Accreditation by the NAPBC is granted only to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. The Brown Cancer Center first received NAPBC accreditation in 2009.

To earn accreditation, the center must demonstrate compliance with standards established by the NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease. The standards include proficiency in the areas of center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement.聽

鈥淎 breast center that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease,鈥� said assistant professor of surgery, UofL Division of Surgical Oncology, who directs the breast cancer program as a surgical oncology specialist with UofL Physicians.

鈥淚 am extremely proud of this accomplishment. The breast program at the Brown Cancer Center was the first in Kentucky and remains the longest running NAPBC accredited breast program in our region,鈥� said Beth Riley, MD, deputy director of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center and a breast cancer specialist. 鈥淭his continued commitment to excellence and quality care is evident among our dedicated team of specialists. Several areas of the program were also nominated for 鈥楤est Practice鈥� highlights on a national level which speaks to the high level of care we are able to provide.鈥�

The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of outcomes of patients with diseases of the breast. This mission is pursued through standard-setting, scientific validation and patient and professional education. Its board membership includes professionals from 20 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of breast care.聽

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 232,000 patients are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States annually. In addition, hundreds of thousands of women who deal with benign breast disease require medical evaluation for treatment options.

Receiving care at a NAPBC-accredited center ensures that a patient has access to:

• Comprehensive care, including a full range of the latest treatment services
• A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
• Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
• Quality breast care close to home

The quality and integrity of courses offered through the University of Louisville have been affirmed by the (ACCME). In March, the ACCME awarded the school Accreditation with Commendation for a six-year accreditation period.

鈥淲e were thrilled to receive the notice that we have been reaccredited to continue offering lifelong learning programming for our physicians and physicians all over the U.S.,鈥� said Daniel Cogan, EdD, assistant dean for CME and professional development at the UofL School of Medicine.

UofL鈥檚 CME office offers continuing education for physicians not only in Louisville, but throughout Kentucky and across the United States. The ACCME Commendation recognized the office鈥檚 effectiveness in addressing local and community issues such as the medical needs of diverse groups, including LGBTQ patients and other underserved populations.

鈥淐ontinuing education for physicians in the community contributes to improved health care and a healthier population in Kentucky as well as throughout the region and the world,鈥� said Toni Ganzel, MD, MBA, dean of the UofL School of Medicine. 鈥淭he exceptional services provided by this office are a credit to the leadership and dedication of Dr. Cogan and his staff.鈥�

The office provides programming approved by the American Medical Association, AMA PRA Category 1 credit, for more than 40 major CME courses each year, as well as more than 50 regularly scheduled series programs such as Grand Rounds in UofL departments and divisions. The office provides services for local and regional partners, including Jewish Hospital, the Robley Rex Veterans Administration Medical Center, Ireland Army Community Hospital at Fort Knox, and Area Health 成人直播 Centers in the western half of Kentucky. They also provide administrative services for third-party CME providers.

鈥淲e work with joint providers to offer multi-day courses in many parts of the country and as far away as Hawai鈥檌 and the Caribbean,鈥� Cogan said. 鈥淲e also provide course development services for our partners in India. In 2017, our programs provided CME credit for more than 23,000 practicing physicians, from primary care to the most specialized practitioner, and another 20,000 non-physician health-care providers.鈥�

The school received notification this week that the baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree programs continue to meet all of the organization鈥檚 accreditation standards following review of the continuous improvement progress report submitted by the program.

鈥淎ccreditation reflects the quality of our academic programs that meet national standards for our profession of nursing,鈥� said Marcia J. Hern, EdD, RN, CNS, dean of the UofL School of Nursing. 鈥淥ur recent notice indicates that over the past six years we have continuously improved our programs to meet and even exceed some standards.鈥�

In 2011, the baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree programs at the UofL School of Nursing were accredited by CCNE for 10 years, the maximum length of time the CCNE will re-accredit nursing programs. This week鈥檚 report affirms continuous improvement for the programs, as required by CCNE standards and procedures. According to its website, CCNE is an independent organization that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and entry-to-practice nurse residency programs.

The UofL School of Nursing confers bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctorate degrees through traditional and online courses, as well as an extension program in Owensboro, Kentucky. Newer degree programs include the , which prepares nurses to be leaders in clinical, health policy and administrative positions, and the , designed for college graduates seeking to transition to a nursing career, equipping them with both bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in nursing.

SACSCOC is the accrediting agency for higher education institutions in Kentucky and 10 other southern states. The organization removed the probation after a year-long process in which the university addressed nine concerns in areas of governance, administration and finance.

鈥淲e are pleased with the decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to remove the probationary status,鈥� said UofL Interim President Greg Postel. 鈥淥ur faculty, staff and administration worked diligently to address the commission鈥檚 concerns, and we are on solid ground for the future. Our academic programs continue to be strong, and the SACSCOC decision should assure our students and alumni that a University of Louisville degree will continue to be valued.鈥�

Postel stressed that the university鈥檚 academic programs were never in question. SACSCOC had raised concerns related to UofL鈥檚 governing board, CEO evaluation/selection, board conflict of interest, board external influence and board dismissal, as well as the university鈥檚 financial stability and control of finances.

Due to the probationary status, the university鈥檚 regular SACS reaccreditation process was interrupted in December 2016. That process will resume immediately, and SACS will conduct a site visit this spring. Postel said the university is prepared for that visit and expects a positive outcome.

The Special Committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Special Committee has issued a draft report after visiting campus Sept. 19-21 to review the university鈥檚 compliance with SACS鈥� Principles of Accreditation. .

The committee reports that UofL is in compliance with Core Requirement 2.2, which relates to its governing board, and with comprehensive standards related to CEO evaluation/selection, conflict of interest, external influence, board dismissal, financial stability and control of finances.

The committee provided specific recommendations to ensure the university complies with two other issues in the Principles of Accreditation. It suggested the university sign a memorandum of understanding to clarify its relationship with the University of Louisville Real Estate Foundation, Inc., and it raised questions about the number of interim senior appointments in the university鈥檚 central administration.聽

UofL Interim President Greg Postel said the university will quickly create the memorandum of understanding. UofL鈥檚 administration currently is conducting searches to fill several of the leadership positions.

Also in the document, the SACS committee applauded the 鈥渆xtraordinary cooperation that the institution showed鈥� during the visit, and that it stated the university 鈥渃urrently operates with integrity.鈥�

The university is expected to respond to the draft by early November. The organization will rule on the university鈥檚 probationary status at its national meeting in December.

The probation focuses specifically on issues related to the Board of Trustees, including its membership, selection and evaluation of the university president, external influence and Board of Trustees dismissal.

鈥淲hile we are disappointed, it is important to note that this in no way reflects on the quality of our curriculum or our core academic strengths,鈥� said Acting President Neville Pinto. 鈥淚t focuses solely on issues related to governance of the institution. The commission鈥檚 decision to impose probation does not affect degrees, federal funding (including financial aid available to students), or research grants awarded to faculty.鈥�

A SACS committee will visit the university in fall 2017. At that time, UofL will have the chance to show it has addressed the issues for which it was placed on probation.

鈥淭he University of Louisville continues to be accredited,鈥� Pinto said. 鈥淲e are a strong institution with a great track record of demonstrating compliance in all areas of review by SACSCOC 鈥� We have much to be proud of, and we will do all that we can to meet the challenges set forth by SACSCOC.鈥�

See related video below.聽