Accreditations and Memberships

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) and the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) is a two-campus consolidated entity accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is known by its authorized name, the University of Colorado Denver (the “University”), and by its working name, the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus. The university's accreditation status was reaffirmed in 2021; the next comprehensive evaluation will occur in 2031.

Higher Learning Commission

230 South LaSalle Street
Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
info@hlcomission.org
Phone: 800-621-7440/312.263.0456
Web: https://www.hlcommission.org/component/directory/?Action=ShowBasic&Itemid=&instid=1040

History of University Consolidation & HLC Accreditation

In 2004 the University of Colorado Board of Regents approved a consolidation of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (abbreviated as UCHSC) and the University of Colorado at Denver (abbreviated as UCD). This single entity became known as the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center (abbreviated as UCDHSC). The schools and college previously referred to as UCHSC now comprise the Anschutz Medical Campus.

Prior to their consolidation, UCHSC and UCD were accredited as independent institutions by the HLC. Prior to 1980 the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center was accredited as part of the University of Colorado system. The Health Sciences Center underwent comprehensive reviews by the HLC in 1980, in 1988, and in 1998. In December 2004, the consolidated university submitted a report to the HLC requesting that the Commission consider UCDHSC as one accredited institution. The HLC team that conducted a focused visit in January 2005, recommended approval of this change and the HLC subsequently approved this change.

In October 2007 the consolidated institution became known as the University of Colorado Denver. This was the authorized name not only with the HLC but with other entities also. We currently also use University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus as a working name for the university.

In April 2011, the University of Colorado Denver submitted a self-study encompassing both the Denver and Anschutz campuses and subsequently underwent a single and successful comprehensive visit to both campuses. Its accreditation was continued for a further ten years.

In 2021, the HCL reaffirmed the accreditation of the University of Colorado Denver for another ten-year period. The next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled for 2030-31. To verify our accreditation status, visit https://www.ucdenver.edu/university-accreditation/.

For complete information on University of Colorado Denver accreditation, see the Statement of Accreditation Status on HLC’s website.

Anesthesiologist Assistant Accreditation

The University of Colorado Anesthesiologist Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (https://caahep.org/) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (ARC-AA).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 113th Street N. #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: 727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

CHA/PA Physician Assistant Program Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of Colorado. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be in 2026. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

College of Nursing Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, Master of Science in Nursing degree program, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN Certificate program at the University of Colorado College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The programs were most recently evaluated in 2019 and granted accreditation for a 10-year term, extending to December 31, 2029.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202-463-6930
http://www.ccneaccreditation.org

Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1230
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(240) 485-1800
https://www.midwife.org/acme

The College of Nursing maintains the following memberships:

American Academy of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
National Student Nurses Association
Colorado Nurses Association
National League for Nursing
Sigma Theta Tau International

Colorado School of Public Health Accreditation

The Colorado School of Public Health is the first and only accredited school of public health in the Rocky Mountain West. Accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the Colorado School of Public Health strives to train and support the public health workforce in Colorado and regionally.

In fulfillment of our mission and vision, our accreditation documentation lays out the goals and measures by which we and the accreditation entity measure our success in providing public health education and research throughout Colorado and the greater Rocky Mountain West.

Opened as a collaborative school in 2008, CEPH first granted school-wide accreditation in October 2010. We were re-accredited in 2016 (see documents below) and are accredited through July 1, 2024. Requests for additional documentation or questions concerning documentation should be submitted to the Colorado School of Public Health via email at Colorado.SPH@cuanschutz.edu.

About CEPH

CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs outside schools of public health. Questions and formal comments concerning the Colorado School of Public Health accreditation process should be directed to:

Council on Education for Public Health
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 220
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 202.789.1050

Graduate School Accreditation

The University of Colorado Anschutz Graduate School is included with the university's institutional accreditation, which is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.

HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION

Physical Therapy Program Accreditation

CAPTE Logo

The Physical Therapy Program at University of Colorado is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; 800-999-2782; accreditation@apta.org; http://www.capteonline.org.

On November 3, 2020, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) reaffirmed the accreditation status based upon compliance with all of the evaluative criteria. The accreditation status remains in effect for the full 10 year period until 2030 at which time the accreditation status will undergo a self-study report and on-site review.

The University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program s a member of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) which supports academic institutions to strive for excellence in physical therapist education. We encourage faculty, clinical educators, academic administrators and students interested in pursuing teaching to check out acapt.org.

School of Medicine Accreditation

The University of Colorado School of Medicine's medical education (MD) program is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

LCME: https://lcme.org/directory/accredited-u-s-programs/

LCME accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed process of quality assurance that determines whether the medical education program meets established standards. This process also fosters institutional and programmatic improvement. To achieve and maintain accreditation, a medical education program leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada must meet the LCME accreditation standards contained in the LCME document Functions and Structure of a Medical School. Programs are required to demonstrate that their graduates exhibit general professional competencies that are appropriate for entry to the next stage of their training and that serve as the foundation for lifelong learning and proficient medical care. While recognizing the existence and appropriateness of diverse institutional missions and educational objectives, the LCME subscribes to the proposition that local circumstances do not justify accreditation of a substandard program of medical education leading to the MD degree.

For medical education programs located in the United States, accreditation by the LCME establishes eligibility for selected federal grants and programs, including Title VII funding administered by the U.S. Public Health Service. Most state boards of licensure require that U.S. medical schools granting the MD degree be accredited by the LCME as a condition for licensure of their graduates. Eligibility of U.S. students in MD-granting schools to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) requires LCME accreditation of their school. Graduates of LCME-accredited schools are eligible for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

The University of Colorado School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ACCME accreditation seeks to assure both physicians and the public that continuing medical education activities provided by the University of Colorado School of Medicine meet the high standards of the Essential Areas, Elements and Policies for Accreditation as specified by the ACCME.

The ACCME rigorously evaluates the overall continuing medical education programs of institutions according to standards adopted by all seven sponsoring organizations of the ACCME. These are: the American Board of Medical Specialties; the American Hospital Association; the American Medical Association; the Association for Hospital Medical Education; the Association of American Medical Colleges; the Council of Medical Specialty Societies; and the Federation of State Medical Boards of the U.S., Inc. The University of Colorado School of Medicine is pleased to join an elite group of organizations in the United States that have been awarded this 6-year accreditation. The Office of Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development offers a full range of continuing medical education courses, printed and other forms of enduring materials, rural outreach, and web-based education to physicians and other healthcare professionals at the University of Colorado, within the State of Colorado, and nationally through partnerships with organizations throughout the U.S. and worldwide.

Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences Accreditation

The Doctor of Pharmacy program of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was fully re-accredited in 2016 by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the national agency for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy and providers of continuing pharmacy education. The current accreditation term extends until June 30, 2024.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process of external quality review used by higher education to inspect colleges, universities and higher education programs for quality assurance and improvement.

Aside from the promise of overall quality educational opportunities, an institution’s accreditation status provides students with the ability to qualify for federal funding and financial aid and to transfer credits to other programs that are also accredited. Accreditation can be required for professional licensure and is extremely appealing to employers.

Like all schools of pharmacy in the U.S., the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), a national agency for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy and providers of continuing pharmacy education. ACPE was established in 1932 for the accreditation of pre-service education, and in 1975 its scope of activity was broadened to include accreditation of providers of continuing pharmacy education. Once accredited, a school or college undergoes periodic renewal reviews.

Obtaining Accreditation

The process of accreditation is quite involved requiring the school to complete several steps in the accreditation process including:

Preparation and self-examination
Written self-study report of accomplishments
Site visit by a team comprised of peer reviewers, and a representative from the accrediting body
Judgment by the accrediting body
Continuous review

By accepting accreditation status, a school agrees to uphold the quality standards set by the accreditation organization and agrees to periodically submit to accreditation renewal review.

More about ACPE

ACPE is an autonomous and independent agency whose board of directors is derived through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (three appointments each), and the American Council on Education (one appointment).

To learn more about our school's accreditation status or about the accreditation process, contact ACPE.

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education: https://www.acpe-accredit.org/faq-item/University-of-Colorado-Anschutz-Medical-Campus-Skaggs-School-of-Pharmacy-and-Pharmaceutical-Sciences-PharmD/

University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus

2024-2025 Academic Catalog