naturopathydigest.com -- Elevating Naturopathic Education

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Elevating Naturopathic Education

Carnegie Commission recommends giving naturopathic medicine a higher classification

In December 2005, the U.S. Department of Education hosted a two-day Ad Hoc Internal Review Panel meeting, featuring representation by members of the DoE's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Carnegie Commission of Higher Education.

What transpired at that meeting could have a profound effect on the future of naturopathy education.
The Carnegie Commission is arguably the most prestigious, nonprofit, independent organization in American higher education. The Carnegie classifications were created in 1970; at that time, there were approximately 2,800 U.S. colleges and universities. Today, more than 4,000 educational institutions offer various programs and degrees. The DoE asks for Carnegie Commission recommendations, seeing them as the leading experts on higher education. The classifications help the DoE determine such issues as which educational institutions should get government funding and how much.
Dr. William Keppler, president of National College of Naturopathic Medicine, served as an IPEDS panel member. According to Dr. Keppler, the panel's assignment was to review and revise the membership of the Carnegie Commission's "First Professional Degree" category. The associate secretary for education was in attendance throughout all of the deliberations and will have final approval over the draft white paper written by the 34 panel members.
During its discussions, the panel reviewed the current classification of naturopathic medicine as a Graduate Program and the possibility of changing that designation to First Professional Degree Program. By changing the classification, naturopathic educational programs would be placed in the same category as health care professionals such as MDs, DOs, dentists and veterinarians.
If the DoE accepts the change in classification, it will impact how Title IV student loans, grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, and private foundation grants are awarded. Each of these funding sources provides greater financial assistance to students in the First Professional Degree category than to those in the Graduate Program category. These enhanced financial opportunities would thus apply to naturopathic medical students. Licensure efforts also would be impacted positively, in that graduates residing in states seeking licensure would possess the legitimacy accorded by the DoE.
Dr. Keppler said the Carnegie Commission/IPEDS revisions will result in the most profound organizational classification changes of accredited American colleges and university programs since 1965. "The number of IPEDS classifications will be reduced from 11 to nine categories," Dr. Keppler said. "But, by far, the most important change for NCNM and America's other naturopathic colleges and licensed naturopathic doctors will be the federal government's acknowledgement that naturopathic medicine is a field of study on par with allopathic medicine."
Final action on the reclassification system is expected within the next year, making it eligible for inclusion in the 2007 federal budget.
References

E-mail correspondence with Dr. William J. Keppler, Nov. 29, 2005.
NCNM president plays key role in advancing ND recognition. Press release from National College of Naturopathic Medicine, posted online Jan. 6, 2006.
Carnegie Classification Facts. Accessed Jan. 31, 2006 at www.carnegiefoundation.org.

Written by Kathryn Feather