IAUPR Puerto Rico Optometry School - "ACCREDITATION is in JEOPARDY" ~ AOCE, July, 2024.

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ACOE, Accreditation Council Optometric Education, Filed July 19th, 2024:

"Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry, Professional Optometric Degree
program (2025). The program’s status of Accredited was lowered to Accredited with Conditions. The
classification Accredited with Conditions indicates that the program has major deficiencies or
weaknesses with reference to the Standards of accreditation that compromise the educational effectiveness of the program. This classification indicates that the accreditation of the program is in jeopardy.

The program’s outcomes reported with its 2024 annual report associated with its 2017
matriculating class demonstrate that it is out of compliance with ACOE Standard 1.3.1. The program is
required to report on its progress related to the recommendation, and is scheduled to undergo an
interim evaluation visit encompassing all Standards areas in 2025. The decision to lower the program’s
accreditation status to Accredited with Conditions became final on August 10, 2024. No request for
reconsideration or appeal was filed by the program. Updated January 2025: Effective January 1, 2025,
Standard 1.4 of the 2025 Professional Optometric Degree Program Standards replaced Standard 1.3.1 of
the 2017 Professional Optometric Degree Program Standards."

Standard Level of Compliance
Reason for met in part or not met:
I. Mission, Goals and Objectives Met in Part Less than 80% of the program’s 2017 matriculants were
licensed to practice optometry, had passed all three parts
of the NBEO examination series, or passed the equivalent
Canadian registration examination within six years of
matriculation. (1.4)

Source: https://theacoe.org/Affiliates/ACOE...07 19 Accreditation Actions and Decisions.pdf

 

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Source: Students Achievements - Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry

 

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FYI...

There is a letter on the school admissions website from the Dean on 22 July 2026 addressing the ACOE notice : https://optonet.inter.edu/admissions/

This is from the ACOE, the letter at the website explains what the school is doing about this notice.

ACOE notice of withdrawal of accreditation

The ACOE publishes on this page programs from which it has withdrawn accreditation within the last eight years. The publication includes the date that the program withdrawal was final, a statement of the reason(s) for which the ACOE withdrew accreditation, and any statement the program may wish to make.

Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry, Professional Optometric Degree program*. At its June 17-19, 2026, Annual meeting, the ACOE made the decision to withdraw accreditation from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry professional optometric degree program. The program was notified of the decision on July 17, 2026, and the decision becomes final thirty (30) days after notification if no written petition for reconsideration or request for appeal is received. As specified in the “Adverse Actions and Program-Initiated Withdrawals” Policy, the Council may allow the program to remain in an accreditation status until the program has had reasonable time to teach-out the remainder of the program or to fulfill the obligations of any teach-out agreement to assist students in transferring or completing their programs; the Council has determined this period of time will extend no later than July 1, 2030. The reason for the withdrawal of accreditation is as follows - As specified in the ACOE Policy and Procedure, “Adverse Actions and Program-Initiated Withdrawals,” in the event a program holding an accreditation status or Preliminary Approval status does not bring itself into compliance with the applicable ACOE Standard(s) in alignment with the "Timeframe for Compliance with Standards” Policy and Procedure, the Council initiates adverse action against the program. An adverse action is defined as an official Council action resulting in the denial or withdrawal of initial accreditation status, continuing accreditation status, or Preliminary Approval status. The Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry remained out of compliance with 2025 Professional Optometric Degree Program Standard 2.7 as of the deadline for compliance of May 15, 2026. Accordingly, the Council initiated action to withdraw the program’s accreditation. *The decision will become final 30 days after program notification unless the program petitions for reconsideration and/or files an appeal.