I am pleased to share news about the forthcoming national
reaccreditation of our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs. Both programs
are at present fully accredited by the National League for
Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). Planning for continued
accreditation is an ongoing process. Each nursing program
must be visited and evaluated at specified intervals to ensure
continuing compliance with accreditation standards and criteria.
The University’s School of Nursing expects to host
an NLNAC visit this fall semester.
The NLNAC accreditation process is voluntary and, as is the
current WASC accreditation process, conducted by experienced
peers. It requires that the program conduct a systematic,
data based self-study to determine to what extent the established
national accreditation standards and criteria have been met.
The self-study activities and resulting study report represent
a combined effort of University and program administrators,
faculty, staff, students, and community members. The report
and its accompanying documentation are the primary materials
used by the program evaluators, the Evaluation Review Panel,
and the NLNAC Commissioners to determine the accreditation
status of undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.
The core values of accreditation include learning, community,
responsibility, integrity, value, quality, and continuous
improvement through reflection and analysis. Each program
within the School of Nursing must measure itself by rigorous
standards that emphasize high achievement in each of these
areas and the acknowledgement of all program participants
of the program’s responsibility to provide a supportive
and humane learning environment where people interact with
a spirit of cooperation, openness, and respect.
Accreditation of our BSN and MSN programs demonstrates
to the public and to the educational community that the
programs
have clear and appropriate educational objectives and are
providing an environment in which the objectives can be
fulfilled. Other benefits include on going, future-oriented
self-examination,
professional development, and validation for faculty members;
enhancement of student recruitment, transfer and retention;
assistance for employers seeking competent graduates; and
increased student eligibility for federal, state, and foundation
financial grants.
