Howard University Statement Regarding College of Medicine Accreditation Status

WASHINGTON, DC— Howard University’s College of Medicine received official notification from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) that the College has been granted full accreditation and will remain fully accredited.

For sake of clarity, the College’s designation includes probationary status, which means close monitoring, until the next review period in February 2028. The probationary status reflects areas where the LCME has determined additional documentation and information regarding measurable outcomes are required to demonstrate sustained compliance with specific standards. It does not change our accreditation, diminish our authority to educate and graduate physicians, nor does it alter the validity of our students’ degrees.

For 158 years, the Howard University College of Medicine has stood as a pillar of excellence in American medical education. Since our founding in 1868, we have prepared generations of physicians who have advanced health equity and expanded access to care in communities too often overlooked. Following the landmark Flexner Report in 1910—when only two historically Black medical schools remained accredited—we endured. We did more than survive; we led. Our legacy is one of resilience, rigor, and responsibility to the communities we serve.

At our 2017 LCME survey, two elements were cited as unsatisfactory. Even at that time, quality-improvement initiatives were underway, and we have since accelerated and strengthened those efforts. Over the past several years, we have implemented comprehensive strategic actions, including key faculty and administrative hires, curriculum enhancements aligned with contemporary medical practice, strengthened student support systems, and targeted facilities upgrades. These efforts are not episodic—they are systemic, data-driven, and sustained.

The College of Medicine plays an indispensable role in the nation’s healthcare workforce. Our mission—to educate physicians who are committed to service and to improving the health of medically underserved communities—has never been more urgent. While we are proud of our robust research enterprise and training programs, our central focus remains preparing compassionate, competent physicians who will lead in addressing health disparities and advancing equity in care delivery.

Over the past eight years, we have continuously refined and modernized our curriculum to ensure our graduates thrive in an evolving healthcare landscape. We have strengthened our assessment processes, enhanced compliance monitoring, and deepened institutional accountability across all LCME standards. We are confident that the progress already achieved positions us strongly to return to full compliance at the next review cycle in 2028.

This moment calls not for alarm, but for alignment. It calls us to reaffirm the standard of excellence that has defined this College for more than a century and a half. We remain steadfast in our commitment to academic rigor, continuous improvement, and institutional integrity. The Howard University College of Medicine has shaped the face of American medicine for 158 years—and we will continue to do so.

Attribution:

Andrea A. Hayes-Dixon, MD, FACS Dean, College of Medicine
Senior Vice President of Health Affairs Howard University