ACHS Leadership Attends the 2024 DEAC Fall Workshop in Portland, Oregon
Portland, OR — October 24, 2024 — The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) President Tracey Abell and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Tiffany Rodriguez attended the 2024 Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) Fall Workshop, which took place from October 20-22 in Portland, Oregon. This year’s workshop offered a valuable opportunity to delve into the revised DEAC accreditation standards, which were officially announced on September 1, 2024, and effective on January 1, 2025.

With the workshop hosted in Portland, also the headquarters for ACHS, the institution took the opportunity to highlight its innovative wellness offerings by providing an aromatherapy experience for attendees. ACHS Dean of Aromatherapy Amanda Lattin was joined by Production Lead Victoria Worden in featuring four essential oils for personal wellness – Bergamot, Lavender, Peppermint, and Fir Needle. Dean Lattin provided research resources on the wellness benefits of each oil, and attendees received a personalized aromatherapy nasal inhaler to enjoy during the workshop, highlighting a practical, low-cost, non-invasive way to bring wellness into our daily work life.
A few key takeaways from the workshop include:
- All organizations and professionals face unique challenges. Through collaboration and sharing of ideas, we can work together toward innovative solutions that benefit us all. Many people are eager to share, so don’t be shy about asking for help!
- Keynote Tina Maria King, Ed.D., shared the inspiring journey of San Diego College of Continuing Education‘s experience working toward accreditation and reminded us all that accreditation is a marathon. A peer review process, accreditation provides a framework for developing quality assurance procedures and benchmarks for measuring student outcomes. Accreditation is also an opportunity to continuously improve and demonstrate our impact and commitment to students and communities.
“We were excited to welcome DEAC and our distance education colleagues to Portland and have the opportunity to showcase our wonderful city where the ACHS Campus is also based. We made the most of the conference in our home city by providing a glimpse into ACHS’s innovative curriculum. Our Dean of Aromatherapy Amanda Lattin offered attendees an interactive aromatherapy experience to highlight practical ways to use aromatherapy for personal wellness,” shares ACHS President and DEAC Commissioner Tracey Abell.
Chief Academic Officer, Tiffany Rodriguez, Ph.D., had this to share, “The DEAC Fall Workshop was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our peers and explore how the new accreditation standards can elevate distance education. At ACHS, we believe in continuous improvement and innovation in our curriculum to support student success. We’re excited to integrate these new insights into our programs, reaffirming our commitment to delivering education that is both forward-thinking and deeply impactful.”
As ACHS continues to lead in the field of online integrative health and wellness education, participation in events like the DEAC Fall Workshop reinforces our commitment to excellence and innovation. By integrating new accreditation standards, ACHS remains dedicated to providing students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers and make a positive impact on their communities.
For more information about the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, visit https://www.deac.org/.
About ACHS:
The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS), located in Portland, Oregon, is an accredited college specializing in online integrative health and wellness education. Founded in 1978, ACHS offers a range of certificate, diploma, and degree programs in aromatherapy, herbal medicine, functional nutrition, and other complementary alternative medicine disciplines. ACHS is dedicated to providing exceptional online education based on evidence-based research, with an emphasis on sustainability and global stewardship. For questions about this press release or to schedule an interview, please contact Tracey Abell at [email protected].