'Gold standard' accreditation for forensics at Laurentian

NEWS RELEASE

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY

************************* Laurentian University becomes first school with accredited forensic programs outside U.S.

SUDBURY, ON - Laurentian University has been granted full accreditation of its forensic science degrees by the Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).

Prior to Laurentian University, FEPAC only recognized forensic programs offered by colleges in the United States.

Within the past year, Laurentian's department of forensic science petitioned FEPAC to consider forensic programs outside of the United States.

After a successful process, the FEPAC voted in favour of accrediting two Laurentian degrees: the honours bachelor of science in forensic science, and the honours bachelor of science in forensic science and chemistry.

Upon receiving the news, the founding chair of the department of forensic science stated that, "This is a significant step forward in forensic science education in Canada. With the dramatic increase in the number of forensic science programs in the United States and Canada, it has become increasingly important to measure the quality of these programs. FEPAC accreditation is the 'gold standard' in the United States by which to judge forensic science degrees. For the first time, this standard is being applied in Canada. Canadian students now have the choice of being able to pursue a FEPAC-accredited forensic science degree within Canada."

FEPAC is a standing committee of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences with a membership that includes five educators, five forensic laboratory directors, and a public member as voting members.

The mission of the FEPAC is to maintain and enhance the quality of forensic science education through a formal evaluation and recognition of college level academic programs.

The committee develops and maintains standards and administers an accreditation program that recognizes and distinguishes high-quality undergraduate and graduate forensic science programs.

Twenty-five academic programs have undergone the accreditation process since 2003.

Of these, only 13 are accredited at the undergraduate level.

For more info on Laurentian's forensic program, go here.

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