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Decisions

Calendar Year 2025

National Midwifery Institute

Lincoln, Vermont

Show Cause issued on January 10, 2025

NMI has not demonstrated compliance with Section III.G.3 or Section E of the Accreditation Handbook: Fees.

NMI is required to respond to this Show Cause Directive on why adverse action should not be taken against the institution. The response must include, but is not limited to:

  1. Agreement for Payment of Fees signed by NMI’s owners, directors, and officers to comply with the terms of the Agreement to Pay Fees in the amounts and time frames outlined in the Terms of the Agreement. The Agreement will not be modified or extended, and if payment is not made on time, the Agreement will be void, and any outstanding balance will be due in full. The signed agreement is due: January 17, 2025.
  2. Any outstanding payments within the reinstated payment plan that become due and payable under the Agreement prior to the date the Show Cause Response is due: June 16, 2025.
  3. A three-five year strategic and operational plan demonstrating financial sustainability and operational controls that assure fiduciary accountability and responsibility with an updated budget for the current fi scal year due: April 1, 2025. Thereafter, NMI must submit Compliance Reports benchmarking its progress against the specifi c goals and objectives of the plan and compliance with V.B1, V.B2 (as applicable), and V.B3 quarterly due: April 1, 2025, August 1, 2025, and December 1, 2025.

Pursuant to III.J.2 of the MEAC Policies and Procedures, the program’s show cause response will be processed in the same manner as a Compliance Report. In evaluating and resolving the show cause, MEAC may take any of the actions described in III.J.2 of the Policies and Procedures, including placing the institution on probation or taking immediate adverse action if the institution has not shown adequate cause and immediate adverse action is warranted. This could include, but is not limited to, non-compliance with the terms of the reinstated Payment Agreement.

Calendar Year 2023

  • Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery was issued a Show Cause Directive following a continued finding of Not Met for Benchmark V.D1. The Board voted to continue the show cause with additional reporting. A school response is due no later than October 15, 2023. A Board decision is due no later than December 14, 2023.
    • RESOLVED – No longer Show Cause
  • Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery was issued a Show Cause Directive following a continued finding of Not Met for Benchmark V.D1. A school response is due no later than August 2, 2023. A Board decision is due no later than September 20, 2023.
    • RESOLVED – No longer Show Cause
  • Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Direct Entry Midwife Program was issued a Show Cause Directive following a continued finding of Not Met for Benchmarks III.D1 and VII.A4. Board voted to continue with the show cause with additional reporting due October 31, 2023. A Board decision is due no later than December 14, 2023.
    • RESOLVED – No longer Show Cause

Calendar Year 2022

  • MEAC 2022 Annual Accreditation Report
  • Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Direct Entry Midwife Program was issued a Show Cause Directive following a continued finding of Not Met for Benchmarks III.D1 and VII.A4. A school response is due no later than January 30, 2023. Board decision: December 14, 2022.
  • Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery reached the end of the school’s grant of accreditation on November 30, 2022 and accreditation has expired. This expiration was planned for as a part of the institution’s closure.
  • Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery was denied approval for a teach-out period due primarily to concerns about administrative capacity. The school will be required to cease all education activities and enact teach-out agreements in a timely manner to assist in the transfer of students still enrolled. Board Decision: August 10, 2022.
  • Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery submitted a teach-out plan and institutional closure plan for review. Plan submission July 5, 2022.
  • Birthingway College of Midwifery completed the approved teach-out plan for its MEAC-accredited programs. The institution notified MEAC of completion on July 20, 2022. MEAC institutional accreditation is voluntarily withdrawn effective June 29, 2022. Final reporting pending.
  • Birthwise Midwifery School completed the approved teach-out plan and teach-out agreement for its MEAC-accredited program.  Institution notified MEAC of completion on May 31, 2022. MEAC institutional accreditation is voluntarily withdrawn effective May 30, 2022. Board acknowledgment of final reporting July 13, 2022.
  • Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery voluntarily withdrew their application for accreditation. Current grant of accreditation expires on November 30, 2022. Board acknowledgment: April 13, 2022.
  • Mercy in Action College of Midwifery received continued institutional accreditation with compliance reporting, for a period of four years from March 10, 2022 through March 9, 2026. Board Decision: March 9, 2022.
  • National Midwifery Institute received continued institutional accreditation with compliance reporting, for a period of five years from March 27, 2022 through March 26, 2027. Board Decision: March 9, 2022.
  • Birthwise Midwifery School, located at 24 S. High St, Bridgton, ME 04009, will maintain their accreditation for the duration of the teach-out period, estimated to be completed no later than June 30, 2022. Board decision: February 9, 2022.
  • Florida School of Traditional Midwifery, located at 810 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, had the Show Cause Directive vacated as the school was able to adequately show reason why adverse action should not be taken. Additional reporting was assigned to ensure the school continues to make improvements. Board Decision: February 9, 2022.
  • National Midwifery Institute received approval for a substantive change to move the school’s administrative offices to a virtual setting. Board Decision: January 12, 2022.
  • Birthingway College of Midwifery, located at 4550 SW Betts Ave #142, Beaverton, OR 97075, voluntarily withdrew their application for accreditation. Board acknowledgment: January 12, 2022.
  • Heritage School of Midwifery, located at 2575 N Toledo Blade Blvd #3, North Port, FL 34289, voluntarily relinquished preaccreditation and withdrew their application for accreditation. Board acknowledgment: January 12, 2022.

Calendar Year 2021

  • MEAC 2021 Annual Accreditation Report
  • Birthwise Midwifery School, located at 24 S. High St, Bridgton, ME 04009, was permitted to conduct a teach-out plan as a part of the school closure. The teach-out plan included a teach-out agreement with Midwives College of Utah as an option for the continuation of student education. Board decision: November 10, 2021 (teach-out plan). Board delegated decision: November 30, 2021 (teach-out agreement approval).
  • Florida School of Traditional Midwifery, located at 810 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, was issued a Show Cause Directive for failure to submit multiple reports within 60 days of the due date, a consistent pattern of incomplete and/or late reporting submissions, and concerns about the school’s capacity to conduct critical administrative functions. Board Decision: November 10, 2021.
  • Bastyr University Master of Science in Midwifery Program, located at 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, WA 98028, received continuing programmatic accreditation, for a period of six years from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2027. Board decision: September 8, 2021.
  • National College of Midwifery, located at 1041 Reed St, Suite C, Taos, NM 87571, received continuing institutional accreditation, for a period of six years from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2027. Board decision: June 14, 2021.
  • College of Traditional Midwifery, located at 327 Evergreen Drive, Summertown, TN 38483, was denied institutional preaccreditation status due to the school’s inability to meet minimal standards required for preaccreditation. Board initial decision: April 1, 2021. The school was given the opportunity to appeal the decision but did not do so. Board final decision: May 6, 2021.
  • Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery, located at 3944 Murphy Canyon Rd, suite C-200, San Diego, CA 92123, received approval for a substantive change to add distance education to the school’s grant of accreditation. Director of Accreditation Decision: April 28, 2021.
  • Heritage School of Midwifery, located at 2575 N Toledo Blade Blvd #3, North Port, FL 34289, had institutional preaccreditation status take effect. Preaccreditation period April 14, 2021 through April 13, 2022. Effective date: April 14, 2021.
  • Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery, located at 213 S. Dillard St, Suite #340, Winter Garden, FL 34787, received approval for a substantive change to add distance education to the school’s grant of accreditation. Director of Accreditation Decision: April 8, 2021.
  • Birthwise Midwifery School, located at 24 S. High St, Bridgton, ME 04009, received continuing institutional accreditation, for a period of four years from March 24, 2021 through March 23, 2025. Board decision: March 10, 2021.
  • Heritage School of Midwifery, located at 2575 N Toledo Blade Blvd #3, North Port, FL 34289, was granted institutional preaccreditation status contingent upon submission of an acceptable teach out plan. (The teach out plan is a federally required student protection in the event that the school is unable to successfully complete the initial accreditation process.) Effective date to be determined. Board decision: February 10, 2021.

Calendar Year 2020

  • MEAC 2020 Annual Accreditation Report
  • Midwives College of Utah, located at 1174 E Graystone Way, suite 2, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, received confirmation of the continuation of institutional accreditation, for a period of six years from November 1, 2019 through October 31, 2025. Board Decision: September 9, 2020.
  • National College of Midwifery, located at 1041 Reed St, Suite C, Taos, NM 87571, received approval for a substantive change to add distance education to the school’s grant of accreditation. Director of Accreditation Decision: August 10, 2020.
  • Florida School of Traditional Midwifery, located at 810 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, received confirmation of the continuation of institutional accreditation, for a period of six years from December 8, 2019 through December 7, 2025. Board Decision: August 5, 2020.
  • Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Direct Entry Midwife Program, located at 1800 Broson Boulevard, Fennimore, WI 53809, received confirmation of the continuation of programmatic accreditation, for a period of six years from September 4, 2019 through September 3, 2025. Board Decision: July 8, 2020.
  • Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery, located at 213 @ Dillard St, Suite #340, Winter Garden, FL 34787, was granted initial institutional accreditation, for a period of six years from July 8, 2020 through July 7, 2026. Board Decision: July 8, 2020.
  • National College of Midwifery, located at 1041 Reed St, Suite C, Taos, NM 87571, received an extention of the current institutional accreditation period due to COVID-19 interruptions in the site visit portion of the school’s comprehensive review process.  The extension will remain in effect pending outcome of the comprehensive review, to include an in-person site visit at an as yet undetermined but reasonable date. (Extention approved as per USDE guidance 20-007 COVID-19 Accreditors from OMB 3.17 S (1)). Board decision: June 3, 2020.
  • Birthwise Midwifery School, located at 24 S. High St, Bridgton, ME 04009, has voluntarily relinquished accreditation of the Midwifery Assistant program as of January 28, 2020. Board acknowledgment: February 5, 2020.

Calendar Year 2019

  • MEAC 2019 Annual Accreditation Report
  • Maternidad La Luz, located at 1308 Magoffin St, El Paso, TX 79901, was denied approval for a continued teach out period due to concerns about the fair and equitable treatment of students and failure to follow notification requirements. Per the September 19, 2019 adverse action (see below), effective date of withdrawal of institutional accreditation is January 6, 2020 with submission of teach-out agreements for students still enrolled. Board Decision: December 4, 2019.
  • Florida School of Traditional Midwifery, located at 810 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, was granted a continuation of institutional accreditation in order to complete the normal comprehensive review process. Board decision: October 29, 2019.
  • Maternidad La Luz, located at 1308 Magoffin St, El Paso, TX 79901, was issued an adverse action following outcome of the June 12, 2019 Show Cause Directive. Institutional accreditation will be withdrawn, pending a teach-out period. Anticipated effective date of withdrawal of accreditation: August 29, 2020. Initial Board Decision: August 29, 2019. Decision finalized: September 19, 2019 having received no appeal of the decision from the institution. (Decision updated, see December 4, 2019 decision above.)
  • Maternidad La Luz, located at 1308 Magoffin St, El Paso, TX 79901, has voluntarily withdrawn their application for renewal of institutional accreditation. Board acknowledgment: August 29, 2019.
  • Midwives College of Utah, located at 1174 E Graystone Way, suite 2, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, was granted a continuation of institutional accreditation in order to complete the normal comprehensive review process. Board decision: August 14, 2019.
  • Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Direct Entry Midwife Program, located at 1800 Broson Boulevard, Fennimore, WI 53809, was granted a continuation of programmatic accreditation in order to complete the normal comprehensive review process. Board decision: August 14, 2019.
  • Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery, located at 213 S Dillard, St, Suite #340, Winter Garden, FL 34787, was granted institutional preaccreditation status, effective August 14, 2019. Board Decision: August 14, 2019.
  • Maternidad La Luz, located at 1308 Magoffin St, El Paso, TX 79901, was issued a Show Cause Directive for failure to follow MEAC substantive change policies. Board Decision: June 12, 2019.
  • Birthingway College of Midwifery, located at 12113 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97266, received approval for a teach-out plan as part of their institution closure. Accreditation will be maintained for the duration of the teach-out period, as it falls within the current grant of accreditation, estimated to be completed no later than October 31, 2022. Board decision: June 12, 2019.
  • Maternidad La Luz, located at 1308 Magoffin St, El Paso, TX 79901,was issued an adverse action following outcome of a compliance report. Adverse action was for suspension of accreditation in the 16-Month and Three-Year Midwifery programs due to noncompliance with Benchmark I.C2: Student Completion, a demonstrated pattern of incorrect, incomplete, and/or late reporting submissions, and concerns about widespread deficiencies in institutional systems, processes, and administrative capacity. Initial Board Decision: February 13, 2019. An appeal was initiated by the institution but was placed on administrative hold with the June 12, 2019 decision to issue a show cause directive (see below). Final decision superceded by the September 19, 2019 adverse action (see above).
  • Florida School of Traditional Midwifery, located at 810 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, received approval for a substantive change to offer distance education and to open an additional location. Board Decision: February 13, 2019.
  • National Midwifery Institute, located at 88 Main St, Unit 302, Middlebury, VT 05753, received continuing institutional accreditation with probation, for a period of three years from March 27, 2019 through March 25, 2022. Board Decision: January 16, 2019.