News & Updates
Public Disclosure Notice – International Academy of Classical Homeopathy (IACH)
This is a Public Disclosure Notice regarding to the withdrawn candidacy status of the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy – Distance Learning North American Program (IACH). This action was effective August 24, 2021.
Commensurate with page 23 of the ACHENA Policy and Procedure Manual, it is ACHENA’s responsibility to inform the homeopathic community and the general public regarding school accreditation status, including the reasons for this action and a response from the school under consideration.
ACHENA has withdrawn IACH’s accreditation status for the following reasons:
- IACH was informed via a Site Visit Report that to meet ACHENA accreditation standards, the school would need to: 1) make improvements in the structure of its clinical program, and 2) obtain legal authorization to offer educational programs in Arizona or some other state or province in North America. IACH was provided a clear pathway to meet ACHENA standards as well as sufficient time to do so;
- IACH has not communicated with ACHENA with regards to meeting accreditation standards and did not follow the procedures for disagreement with an adverse accreditation decision. Rather, IACH threatened legal action against ACHENA;
- IACH published on its website unapproved language regarding its accreditation status, which is a violation of ACHENA policy because it misrepresents to current and potential future students, and the larger community, IACH’s accreditation status;
- After being informed that IACH should correct the misrepresentation of its status with ACHENA, it was observed that rather than correcting the unapproved language, IACH removed all reference to ACHENA accreditation status from its catalog and website;
- IACH was afforded three opportunities to respond to these concerns and was offered the opportunity to voluntarily withdraw its application for accreditation, but has not responded;
- IACH was informed that ACHENA cannot continue to work with a school that fails to respect policies and procedures for dealing with adverse accrediting decisions and fails to follow guidance regarding public disclosure of its accreditation status. Since receiving its site visit report, IACH has made no demonstrable progress toward meeting ACHENA accreditation standards, ceased communication with ACHENA, and did not respond to communication inquiring whether IACH would like to voluntarily withdraw its application for accreditation. As a result, ACHENA has been forced to withdraw IACH’s accreditation status.
Right of IACH to Provide a Response to Withdrawal of Their Candidacy
IACH was informed on August 24, 2021 that they would have an opportunity to respond to this action in writing and that their response would be included in this communication alongside ACHENA’s reasons for withdrawal. However, as of the September 15, 2021 deadline, IACH did not provide a response.
Public Notice
This is a notice to the public of a change in the accreditation status of the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy – Distance Learning North American Program (IACH).
As of August 24, 2021, ACHENA has withdrawn the candidacy status of IACH.
Commensurate with page 23 of the ACHENA Policies and Procedures Manual, it is our responsibility to inform the homeopathic community and the general public regarding school accreditation status.
Within 30 days, ACHENA will share a Public Disclosure Notice that outlines the reasons for withdrawal of IACH’s candidacy status and, if provided, a formal response from the school regarding this decision.
ACHENA Endorses the Citizens’ Petition to the FDA
From Americans for Homeopathy Choice;
“A leading organization of homeopathy consumers has petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to adopt a set of rules governing homeopathic medicines that do a far better job of protecting consumer interests than the agency’s proposed rules released for comment late last year.
The FDA’s proposed rules, called “draft guidance,” would create an enforcement regime that fails to distinguish between properly manufactured and labeled homeopathic medicines, which are inherently safe, and those which are improperly labeled and which do not meet homeopathic standards.
If adopted, this guidance could lead to the removal of many popular homeopathic
medicines from the market. The FDA would be abandoning decades of practice and policy that treat homeopathic medicines as unique drugs requiring a unique approach to regulation. . .” Read the full Citizen Petition Statement
Message to Schools Regarding COVID-19
- ACHENA operates largely on a virtual basis already, with our Commissioners and reviewers scattered geographically throughout the US and Canada. This means our day-to-day operations are unlikely to be affected.
- The activity ACHENA foresees that might require modification within the next few months is our ability to conduct site visits. If your school moves forward in the accreditation process and is determined to be ready for a site visit, it may be necessary to make arrangements that do not involve Site Visit Teams traveling to your school. We will inform you if this becomes necessary.
- If your school holds either regular or intermittent in-person classes and in order to protect your students, staff and faculty, we ask that you take precautions to guard against the spread of COVID-19 that are appropriate for educational institutions and workplaces in your locality and relevant for the size, location and type of facility used. You could consider asking members of your school community to immediately inform the school if they develop symptoms of fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. You might also wish to consider conversion to audio-video conferencing instead of in-person classes.
- Regardless of whether your school runs in-person, blended or distance-learning program(s), we ask that you inform students, staff and faculty to take appropriate individual self-care measures commensurate with guidelines issued by state/province, county and/or municipal Health Departments that can help protect them from contracting COVID-19, and remind them that these information sources need to be monitored frequently. Due to varied known susceptibilities to this virus, be sure to inform your school community that additional self-care and protective measures may need to be taken by individuals who are older than 60yo and/or have certain chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or lung disease.
- If your school runs an in-person clinic, we ask that you take appropriate measures issued by your state/province, county and local Health Departments for health care facilities. Please take into account reporting requirements where relevant, as well as other precautions appropriate for your locality and stage of the outbreak. Based on these assessments, it may be advisable to convert your clinic to audio-video conferencing.
ACHENA’s 3-Year Strategic Plan
ACHENA recently approved a new and ambitious 3-Year Strategic Plan, which followed a retreat held to map out next steps for 2019 to 2021. Part of this Plan focuses on gaining initial recognition as an accrediting agency by the US Department of Education, a vital step on the path to further professionalize the practice of homeopathy. Additionally, the Plan mostly centers on implementing best practices of accrediting agencies as we strive to carry out our mission to assure educational excellence in our discipline.
How can you help? Initial recognition by the US Department of Education entails significant costs, and we need support from all of our stakeholders: practitioners, educators, students and lovers of homeopathy. Please contact us if our Strategic Plan 2019-2021 inspires you to offer your assistance as a Commissioner, Peer Reviewer or donor. Let’s work together to help move our profession forward!
ACHENA Seeking United States Department of Education Recognition.
ACHENA accredited schools have successfully demonstrated that they meet peer reviewed standards of excellence in homeopathic education and training. Homeopathic students and the larger homeopathic community will further benefit when ACHENA, as an accreditation agency, successfully demonstrates to the USDE that they have achieved nationally reviewed standards of excellence. ACHENA will continue to function as an independent, peer-monitored agency with established standards of due process and transparency. A USDE recognized, ACHENA accredited homeopathic school becomes eligible for federal student loans, student visas and other funding on behalf of the students they serve, including consumer protections under the law. For more information about nationally recognized accreditation for colleges of higher education, visit the U.S. Department of Education.
Thank you for supporting ACHENA by getting involved!
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