Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute receives certification from State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

20 Jul 2009

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute (VTC) has received approval from the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to operate a postsecondary institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Certification by SCHEV gives Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute degree granting authority and also makes the school eligible to apply for scholarship and grant funding such as Tuition Assistance Grants.

“The message to take away from this is teamwork – colleagues at both Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech have come together to make this a reality,” said Cynda Ann Johnson, president and dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. “That is why this school is going to be of such a high caliber – we are bringing to bear assets from two top-notch organizations.”

SCHEV certification means VTC complies with the requirements of the Virginia Administrative Code in areas such as; advertising and publications, maintenance of student records, faculty qualifications, student services, library resources and services, and student admissions standards.

In early June of this year VTC’s doctorate of medicine program received preliminary accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Preliminary accreditation means the school meets nationally accepted standards of educational quality. LCME and SCHEV approvals are necessary for the school to open as planned in the fall of 2010.

Later this fall VTC will be seeking approval from the State Association of Colleges.

VTC is a partnership between Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic, located on the Carilion Clinic campus in Roanoke, Va. It will be housed in a new, 150,000 square foot education and research facility currently under construction. The partnership between Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic allows VTC to offer a strong foundation in the basic and clinical sciences. The unique curriculum at VTC interweaves research and interprofessional disciplines throughout the four-year educational experience.

The school’s first class of 42 studnets will begin their studies in the fall of 2010 and graduate with an M.D. degree in the spring of 2014. Prospective students can apply through the American Medical College Application Service.

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute is a public-private partnership that leverages Virginia Tech’s world-class strength in basic sciences, bioinformatics and engineering with Carilion Clinic’s highly experienced medical staff and rich history in medical education. Virginia Tech Carilion will improve human health and quality of life by providing leadership in medical education and biomedical and clinical research.