Wcu-com loses dean

[Alabama doc]

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They have let the dean go mid year, in their first year. School seems really unstable, one of my friends goes there and had nothing good to say.I've heard most of the professors are terrible and inexperienced.I wouldn't be surprised if they lose provisional accreditation.

 

[Lokhtar]

I assume William Carey University - in which case this should be in the osteo forum.

Also, one dean leaving does not mean a school is in danger of losing accreditation.

 

[pingouin]

moving to osteo per request of OP

 

[DocEspana]

They have let the dean go mid year, in their first year. School seems really unstable, one of my friends goes there and had nothing good to say.I've heard most of the professors are terrible and inexperienced.I wouldn't be surprised if they lose provisional accreditation.

I had written a huge response to this, but it was too big and lumbering. So I'm condensing. You really can't judge any school by its first year. This is especially true of non-expansion sites. The first year is notorious for being guinea pigs and discovering huge problems by running head first into them. Being the first class at a new school sucks.

I've said it before: it takes three or four years for an education to really hone in. The accrediting boards (COCA in this case) understand this and they exist to bitch out the schools and get them to fix what they are doing ass backwards. Deans quit for whole bunches of reasons and the schools continue on as if nothing happened. While I'd always recommend US anything over caribbean, I'd recommend taking a year off and reapplying again over being the guinea pig class for a brand new school (or going to the islands).

So while I fully welcome you to say what you heard for the sake if it being on the public record, be a bit more aware that some crazy things you'd think were unacceptable are the norm the first year or two at every new school just because faculty and administration dont know what the student body needs, no matter how perfect they think they set it up. It takes time to adapt and you really cant judge a school until its 4th or 5th class enters. With 2-3 sets of board scores and at least 1 match list it might be appropriate to judge a place harshly.

This, sadly, should also be applied to Rocky Vista too. We (people on this board) tend to hate on it so much. Its okay to air worries and admit potential weaknesses. But don't confuse vocalizing concerns with judging it prematurely.

 

[Alabama doc]

found this article
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011101200340

 

[JaggerPlate]

found this article
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011101200340

Makes it sound far less controversial IMO. I thought he was randomly let go without prior warning. It sounds like the school, like they said, hired this doc because he knew how to get it off the ground and running, not because he was someone they wanted for the long term. It's a shame though, because it does sound like he did a good job and wanted his contract extended. My guess is that he'll find another well paid admin position without a problem, and I'm sure the school will find (lure 😉) another talented dean.

 

[Lokhtar]

Makes it sound far less controversial IMO. I thought he was randomly let go without prior warning. It sounds like the school, like they said, hired this doc because he knew how to get it off the ground and running, not because he was someone they wanted for the long term. It's a shame though, because it does sound like he did a good job and wanted his contract extended. My guess is that he'll find another well paid admin position without a problem, and I'm sure the school will find (lure 😉) another talented dean.

I said it in the second post that losing a dean doesn't mean anything re: accreditation but that explanation is the biggest media-pleasing joke ever.

The board isn't going to call out the dean incompetent in the media and they're certainly not going to fire the dean in the middle of the school year if he indeed did a really good job setting up the whole school from scratch.

Anyway, I'm sure there were some differences in how things should be run, something came to a head, and he was let go after his contract expired.

It's like every time an executive is 'fired', he actually resigns - it just looks better for everyone.

Not a big deal, it does happen quite often. I wouldn't worry if I were a student there. 🙂

 

[LyricalAssassin]

I haven't heard much about why the dean's contract wasn't renewed, but my experience with WCU-COM has been very positive so far. I met Dr. Murphy when I interviewed there last October, and he seemed very professional. I spoke with quite a few first year students when I was there, and I remember no negative comments about the faculty. Most seemed to really like their teachers and Dr. Murphy as well. Anyway, just wanted to post my observations (whatever they're worth) from the short time I was there.

 

[creativename]

On the subject of Dr. Murphy's contract not being renewed, it should be stated that he will be missed by many of the students and faculty. He played a pivotal role in getting WCUCOM up and running. Rumors abound as to the exact reasons. At any rate, it has not interfered with the normal academic activities of the students. This is not to say his interaction with us was of little relevance. I tend to think his legacy at the school will be that he made it possible for so many to pursue their dreams at WCU.

COCA just sent a team to visit our site. It's a normal part of our provisional accreditation to receive these on site inspections. They did a complete review of our COM, evaluated everything from the facilities to meeting with the professors to ensure their courses and qualifications meet with COCA standards. The overall performance of the school in the words of one of the team members was, "I've been doing this for eighteen years and this is one of the most impressive schools I've ever seen." They commended us on the diversity of our class and the faculty received glowing reviews. They did have several recommendations, so there will be some improvements happening in the near future in regards to the university providing greater resources to its COM students and accommodating for the higher academic standards that come with having a medical school. I think if there have been any problems it's been as a result of the university not being completely prepared and perhaps rushing into opening the school. Regardless, the faculty have been exceptionally supportive and are truly committed to the success of the COM and its students' knowledge of medicine.

Opening a new school is a process that invariably requires refining the original designs. Regardless of whether a school offers a smooth sailing curriculum solely built around the boards or boast of having the foremost talented instructors on its staff, criticism can be expected because as it just so happens medical school is hard and as such some students will hark on the minor inconveniences (I'm guilty of this myself). As another poster had mentioned before, being the guinea pigs for a new school has many disadvantages, mainly dealing with the doubts that come from being in the experimental phase. Honestly, you do begin to question the quality of your education as there is no precedent. Thankfully no significant flaws were cited by COCA so that at least offers us some reassurance that we won't walk away with a substandard education.

 

[SmokD]

The overall performance of the school in the words of one of the team members was, "I've been doing this for eighteen years and this is one of the most impressive schools I've ever seen."

COCA told us(TouroCOM) the exact same thing last year, verbatim. I suddenly feel less special.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I suddenly feel less special.

You are NOT a unique and beautiful snowflake.

 

[dermpathdoc]

I assume William Carey University - in which case this should be in the osteo forum.

Also, one dean leaving does not mean a school is in danger of losing accreditation.

deans leaving mean lots less than say a president leaving or perhaps being fired...those have happened in other new schools...the main challenge is how does a school weather the situation..a stellar school takes it's lumps and moves on wiser

 

[creativename]

COCA told us(TouroCOM) the exact same thing last year, verbatim. I suddenly feel less special.

What? Of all the no good, fake compliments I've been paid vicariously this one really takes the cake. I can't believe I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I really thought those kudos were genuine and straight from the <3. I guess I'll put a stop order on that custom trophy. Too bad, because I really thought the personalized plate I came up with was catchy, "We're number 1 (at this stage of progress, of all DO schools that were started in the last 18 years(2011))".

SmokD, I hope you don't come to view our school as a floozy homewrecker that's trying to steal your fan over at COCA. There are plenty of explanations for how this now trite comment can be interpreted. Since my ego refuses to believe he would have said it as a canned remark, I've included several other totally believable reasons that come to mind and are compatible with my denial.

1) WCU impressed them even more than you guys did last year.
2) He has Alzheimer's
3) He uses the term "most impressive" loosely
4) He watches the Empire Strikes Back before every site inspection
5) His standards slip more and more every year along with his ability to make relative assessments
6) He died last year immediately after visiting your school and was cloned like in the movie The 6th Day, which robbed his clone of the experience with you guys

I think number 6 offers both of us the most comfort from this two timing, sweet-talker's game with our hearts. Honestly, even though it does cheapen the remark, I won't discount it completely but rather just take it with a grain of salt. It's premature to think our program is superior to any other without yet measuring the students' performance on the COMLEX series.