Southeast Missouri State University’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy has been granted continued accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), reaffirming the program’s ongoing commitment to educational excellence and student success.
The reaccreditation confirms that SEMO’s Respiratory Therapy program is in full compliance with nationally established accreditation standards for entry into professional practice. CoARC also commended the program’s dedication to continuous quality improvement in education.
“The reaccreditation process is pretty demanding. It takes six to nine months and starts with a massive self-study that documents how we meet CoARC’s standards,” said Pete Darnell, SEMO’s program director of respiratory therapy. “When the site team came to campus, they talked with students, alumni, clinical partners and administrators. The evaluation team commented on the outstanding level of support for our program. Parents of students described the environment here as a ‘family atmosphere,’ which is exactly what we hope to create for our students.”
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The next comprehensive evaluation of the program, which will include an on-site review, is scheduled to occur no later than 2035. In the meantime, CoARC will continue to monitor the program’s compliance through annual reporting based on student outcomes.
SEMO’s Respiratory Therapy program offers a robust curriculum with hands-on clinical experience in hospitals and healthcare settings across the region. Graduates are prepared to meet the evolving demands of respiratory care, especially as the field continues to grow in importance and complexity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve got a dedicated team of educators who care deeply about our students and their success,” said Dr. Jason Wagganer, chair of the Department of Allied Health, Kinesiology, and Sport Sciences. “This reaccreditation reflects their commitment to quality, and it means our students are graduating from a program that meets the highest national standards.”
Accreditation not only ensures that programs meet rigorous national standards but also reinforces graduates’ eligibility for licensure and employment in clinical settings. The CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States to ensure high-quality, competency-based instruction that meets the needs of patients, employers and the profession.
For more information about SEMO’s Respiratory Therapy program, visit semo.edu/respiratorytherapy.