Accreditation

Accreditation Statement

The Southwestern College Program in Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and has been granted the status of “approval without reporting requirements (July 2015).” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education and can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.

Third-Party Comments

Definition

A comment/complaint is defined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation as one alleging that a Commission-accredited educational program, a program which has an application for initial accreditation pending, or the Commission may not be in substantial compliance with Commission standards or required accreditation procedures.

Program Requirements & Procedures

NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO FILE COMPLAINTS: In accord with the U.S. Department of Education’s Criteria and Procedures for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, the Commission requires accredited programs to notify students of an opportunity to file complaints with the Commission.

Each program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation must develop and implement a procedure to inform students of the mailing address and telephone number of the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The notice, to be distributed at regular intervals, but at least annually, must include but is not necessarily limited to the following language:

The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program's compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for treatment received by patients or individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.

A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission's policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678 or by calling 1-800-621-8099 x4653.