Nineteen state dental associations, including the VDA, have repeatedly urged the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) to increase flexibility in faculty-student ratios in dental education programs. 

Among the findings in a CODA-initiated survey of dental hygiene program directors over the summer, was that the ability to hire and retain qualified faculty in sufficient numbers to maintain CODA ratios was the top issue negatively affecting dental hygiene program enrollment, behind only program facility space. More than a third of program directors said that additional flexibility in faculty to student ratios would be likely or extremely likely to help address local workforce needs. 

At its August 11, 2023 meeting, the Commission took the following actions:

• directed there be no development of a policy or process for rationale that must be followed when revising Accreditation Standards related to faculty to student ratios;
• directed the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty to Student Ratios in Accreditation Standards be provided to the Review Committees that oversee dental assisting, dental hygiene, dental laboratory technology, and dental therapy education for further consideration and review, including determination if revisions of Accreditation Standards are warranted, with a report to the Commission in Winter 2024; and
• directed that the Commission on Dental Accreditation send a copy of the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty to Student Ratios in Accreditation Standards to the state dental associations.

The Washington State Dental Association has responded to the Commission’s actions and report, with a December 22 letter, stating in part that “Unless CODA takes immediate corrective action at its Winter 2024 meeting, WSDA will initiate further action to address our concerns.”

Read the Full Letter
The VDA team will remain engaged on this issue and continue working with other state dental associations to address barriers to allowing dental hygiene programs to meet the demand for the oral healthcare professionals our communities need.