Accreditation
Commission on Dental Accreditation – Allied Dental Education Programs
The Shoreline Community College program in Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “Approval without Reporting Requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312.440.4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 -2678.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) formally evaluates accredited programs at regular intervals. The complete standards can be found on the CODA website.
Comprehensive site visits based on a self-study are routinely conducted every seven years. The United States Department of Education (USDE) procedures require accrediting agencies to provide an opportunity for third-party comment, with respect to institutions or programs scheduled for review. Currently, the Yakima Valley College BASDH program is fully accredited by the Commission.
A complaint is defined by the Commission 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.
The Commission will review complaints that relate to a Commission-accredited education 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.
The Commission strongly encourages attempts at informal or formal resolution through the program’s or sponsoring institution’s internal processes prior to initiating a formal complaint with the Commission.