Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

Phase: Formerly Accredited
Status: Merged/Consolidated/Acquired
Candidacy Granted: January 1, 2003
Accreditation Granted: June 22, 2006
Accreditation Ceased: August 31, 2025

Accreditation Actions

July 31, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of February 28, 2025. To acknowledge receipt of evidence of approval, dated May 22, 2025, from the United States Department of Education (USDE) of the merger with Saint Joseph's University. To note that accreditation will cease on August 31, 2025. As of September 1, 2025, Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences is no longer accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. To note the Commission action of July 31, 2025, for Saint Joseph's University.
February 28, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of November 21, 2024. To request a supplemental information report due May 2, 2025, providing evidence of review and approval from the United States Department of Education (USDE) (Standard II and Substantive Change Policy and Procedures). The date accreditation will cease will be determined based upon receipt of final approval. To note the institution missed the deadline for submission of the supplemental information report. To remind the institution of its obligation to submit accreditation materials within established deadlines and in accordance with Commission policy and procedures.
November 21, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of September 25, 2023. To request a supplemental information report due January 10, 2025, providing evidence of review and approval from the United States Department of Education (USDE) (Standard II and Substantive Change Policy and Procedures). The date accreditation will cease will be determined based upon receipt of final approval.
November 21, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the teach-out plan requested by the Commission action of September 23, 2023. To approve the teach-out plan. To require notification when student records have been transferred to Saint Joseph's University by email to [email protected].
August 28, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to note that the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences accreditation will not cease on August 31, 2024, as set forth in the Commission's action of September 25, 2023, because the institution has not yet received final approval from the United States Department of Education. The date accreditation will cease will be determined based upon receipt of final approval.
April 29, 2024
To note the verification visit took place on May 30, 2023 to the main campus at 850 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, PA 17601.
February 15, 2024
To acknowledge receipt on January 4, 2024, of the notification of the transaction closing date of the merger of Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences with Saint Joseph's University which occurred on January 2, 2024.
September 25, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the complex substantive change request. To include the change in legal status, form of control, and ownership within the institution's scope of accreditation, effective January 3, 2024. To note the complex substantive change request includes the merger of Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences with St. Joseph's University, effective, January 3, 2024, the anticipated date of the transaction. To require notification of the date of the closing of the transaction within five calendar days of the transaction by email to [email protected] or, if there is a subsequent delay in the anticipated date of the closing of the transaction, to require immediate notification to the Commission of the revised anticipated transaction date. To note that Saint Joseph's University is the surviving institution. To further note that Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences accreditation will cease effective August 31, 2024. To note Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences will maintain accreditation for the sole purpose of implementing the teach-out plan and agreements and to effectuate the change in ownership process with the United States Department of Education per the United States Department of Education's Updated Guidance and Procedures for Changes in Ownership, dated September 15, 2022 (Electronic Announcement ID: GENERAL-22-70). To note that written approval from the following agency has been received: Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General, Orphan's Court. To request a complex substantive change supplemental information report, due June 3 2024, providing (1) the updated status of the complex substantive change; (Complex Substantive Change Policy and Procedures); (2) update on the date Pennsylvania College of Health Science's degree granting authority will cease (Requirement of Affiliation 1); (3) written evidence of approvals from all necessary licensing, regulatory, or other legal entities as necessary, including the United States Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (Standard II). To remind the institution of its obligation to immediately inform the Commission about any and all developments relevant to this action. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind this action if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision and/or the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. To note the action for Saint Joseph's University on September 25, 2023.
September 25, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the teach-out plan and teach-out agreement. To approve the teach-out agreement with Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA. The purpose of the teach-out is to provide for the equitable treatment of students to complete their education or transfer to a new institution as a result of the transaction. To require that the institution complete and submit for approval, due June 3, 2024, an updated teach-out plan that must include: (1) evidence that required notifications to all relevant stakeholders have taken place; (2) evidence that student records have been transferred to the final repository; (3) evidence of the release of transcripts; (4) evidence that communications regarding student records has occurred; (5) documentation outlining State and federal requirements for the type of teach-out plan; and (6) documentation of the status of the charter or DGA. To note that Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences accreditation will cease on August 31, 2024. As of September 1, 2024, Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences will no longer be accredited. To note the transfer of Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences student records, programs, and services to Saint Joseph's University. To note that Saint Joseph's University has been designated as the repository of all Pennsylvania College of Health Science student records. To require notification when student records have been transferred to Saint Joseph's University by email to [email protected]. To note the action for Saint Joseph's University on September 25, 2023.
June 24, 2021
To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note that the institution hosted a virtual site visit in lieu of an on-site visit in accordance with the United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 17, 2020. To reaffirm accreditation. To note that a verification visit is required by USDE guidelines and will be conducted within a reasonable period of time following the virtual site visit. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029.