LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — The University of Wyoming is renovating its facilities to accommodate second-year medical students who have previously gone to the University of Washington for their second year of study as part of a multi-state medical education program.

The two schools are in the program with schools from Alaska, Montana and Idaho, with the goal of providing medical education in northwestern states without independent medical schools.

The program is now changing its curriculum to have medical students spend their second year in their home states.

The Wyoming program director, Marivern Easton, says UW ran the risk of losing its accreditation if not for the $1.5 million classroom renovations, which were approved last month.

The program has seen fewer than 200 students graduate in its 20 years in Wyoming, but more than 70 percent have returned to practice in Wyoming.

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