This post was written by Diana Kugel, Opinions editor.

The School of Medicine and Health Sciences, after having its accreditation placed on probation this fall, is now actively taking steps to cease being the only medical school in the nation currently on probation.

Dean James Scott is taking responsibility for his school being placed on probation in the first place and says a report is underway to present plans in January to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education to get the school back on track as quickly as possible. Consultants from both within and outside the University have been hired, and a steering committee has been meeting regularly.

All of these are constructive measures, and SMHS administrators are on the right track in finally being open with the GW community about the probation issue. Still, the initial LCME report has never been released. Openness about the remedy process will never have as large an impact as it potentially could as long as we are kept in dark about the report that placed the school on probation in the first place.

If there is a good reason for the report to stay out of the public eye, at least release that reason. Otherwise, any successes SMHS has in the coming months or years will be dimmed by the initial secrecy over the report.