College of Medicine's Preliminary Accreditation Placed on Probation

Belmont's College of Medicine. (Provided by Belmont University)

Belmont's Frist College of Medicine has been placed on probation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and will remain on preliminary accreditation.

"The LCME determined that the College is not currently in full compliance with certain accreditation standards and has placed the program on probation while those issues are addressed," said Belmont in a statement emailed to the Vision on Aug. 14. Belmont declined to make university officials available for interview.

The LCME gave Belmont three areas for improvement: student resources and responsiveness, governance and institutional oversight, and academic experience and learning environment, according to Belmont’s Accreditation Status FAQ web page.

So far, Belmont has expanded career advising, has created the Office of Academic Affairs and has formed more research and mentorship opportunities within the College of Medicine, according to Belmont’s FAQ page.

Despite the probationary status, Belmont said it will not affect students' ability to earn a valid degree or qualify for residencies.

First-year College of Medicine student Bowen Mansell said he has already seen changes firsthand.

"We had a whole session on research, and they said we didn't do this the year before. They didn't say why or why they're doing it now. They just said, 'We didn't do this year before,'" said Mansell.

The LCME will visit in February 2028 for a site survey to determine if Belmont will be taken off probation and progress to the next stage of accreditation.

"As a medical school committed to excellence in education, we embrace accountability and continuous improvement," said Belmont's statement. "The accreditation process provides valuable opportunities to assess our progress, strengthen our programs and ensure we are building the foundation necessary for long-term success." 

Mansell said he believes them.

"All of the faculty have been so wonderful. No faculty here has given me doubt as to the education that I'm going to receive," he said. "There seems to be so much care, so much willingness to grow from the school. And I have a lot of faith that this bump in the road will be overcome, and this will be a great institution."

Written by Olivia Abernathy