HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Quinnipiac University’s physician assistant program has been placed on probation until at least September 2025, according to an announcement from the university.

At last month’s meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) raised concerns over the program’s previous three years. The program is now on an accreditation-probation status.

Janelle Chiasera, the dean of the School of Health Sciences, called the status change “disappointing” but wants to be transparent.

“What they had found was some areas that we need to improve in,” Chiasera said.

A school is placed on the status when its program doesn’t “meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened,” according to the university.

“Some of what was detected was that we had some faculty turnover,” Chiasera said. “There was some action that we needed to take with our clinical practice paperwork and some of the learning outcomes, writing them a little bit differently.”

A list of September actions from the committee did not include Quinnipiac University.

Chiasersa said the program remains accredited, and the accreditation-probation status would not impact future students. She also said it has zero impact on current and former physician assistant students.

“This does not mean that our students are not getting any less quality education because of this,” the dean said. “This is just an opportunity for us to make the improvements that our PAs are asking us to make, and we are deeply committed to that.”

If the program doesn’t comply with requirements, the commission may visit the university. The university’s accreditation for the program could also be revoked.

Quinnipiac University’s physician assistant program was first accredited in October 1995, and according to its accreditation history, the maximum class size is 54.