ACEN Substantive Changes – March 2016

Notification of Substantive Change Actions
March 2016

[separator top=”10″ style=”shadow”]

The following publicly available information is provided by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) concerning actions taken on July 3 and 4, 2016, by the ACEN Board of Commissioners related to substantive changes. Commission staff will not speculate on what decision might be made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners the next time a program is reviewed. For additional information regarding ACEN accreditation process, access the Accreditation Manual at http://www.acenursing.org/accreditation-manual

Access the ACEN 2013 Standards and Criteria by program type:

Substantive Change Actions

The Commission accepted the substantive change report for the following programs:

  • Alabama Community College System (Associate, Practical) related to a change in form of control for the governing organization of the Alabama Community College System.
  • Alderson Broaddus University (Baccalaureate) Phillippi, WV related to for a decline in licensure examination pass rates and a change in status with the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WVBOE-RN); and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2019 Cycle.
  • Austin Community College (Practical) Austin, TX related to curriculum revisions, which are being implemented in Summer 2016; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2016 Cycle
  • Baptist Health System School of Health Professions (Baccalaureate) San Antonio, TX related to an increase in enrollment of greater than 25% for the RN-to-BSN program option; and affirm next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2018 Cycle.
  • Barton County Community College (Associate) Great Bend, KS related to for a decline in licensure examination pass rates; and affirm next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2016 Cycle.
  • CarePoint Health School of Nursing (Diploma) Jersey City, NJ related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates; and affirm site visit in the Fall 2015 Cycle.
  • Catawba Valley Community College (Associate) Hickory, NC related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2021 Cycle.
  • Colorado State University – Pueblo (Baccalaureate) Pueblo, CO related to the implementation of distance education; pending review of site visitors’ report from accreditation site visit in the Fall 2015 Cycle.
  • Dalton State College (Baccalaureate) Dalton, GA related to an increase in enrollment of greater than 25% and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2019 Cycle.
  • Eastern Kentucky University (Associate) Richmond, KY related to a change in status with the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBON); and affirm accreditation site visit in the Spring 2016 Cycle.
  • Eastern Oklahoma State College (Associate) Wilburton, OK related to a decline in program completion rates; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2016 Cycle.
  • Excelsior College (Master’s) Albany, NY related to curriculum revisions; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2016 Cycle.
  • Fletcher Technical Community College (Practical) Schriever, LA related to a decline in program completion rates; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2023 Cycle.
  • Illinois Eastern Community College (Associate) Olney, IL related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates and program completion rates; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2016 Cycle.
  • Jameson Health System (Diploma) New Castle, PA related to curriculum revisions, which will be implemented in the Fall 2016 Semester; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2020 Cycle
  • Jefferson Regional Medical Center (Diploma) Pine Bluff, AR related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates; pending notification of final program closure.
  • Kaplan College – Las Vegas (Practical) Las Vegas, NV related to a decline in program completion rates; and affirm accreditation site visit in the Spring 2016 Cycle, and request copies of communication with IHL for staff review.
  • Marywood University (Baccalaureate) Scranton, PA related to an increase in enrollment of greater than 25%; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2022 Cycle.
  • Mercy Hospital, A Campus of Plantation General Hospital (Practical) Miami, FL related to correspondence with the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) regarding the Hospital’s status with the Higher Education Reauthorization Act (HEA) Title IV programs; requested copies of correspondence with USDOE for staff review; and affirmed the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2016 Cycle.
  • Meridian Community College (Associate) Meridian, MS related to a decline in program completion rates; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2018 Cycle, and request copies of communication with IHL for staff review.
  • Miles Community College (Associate) Miles City, MT related to for a decline in licensure examination pass rates; pending review of the Follow-Up Report due in the Spring 2017 Cycle.
  • Morehead State University (Associate) Morehead, KY related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates and a change in status with the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBON); and affirm accreditation site visit in the Fall 2020 Cycle, and request copies of correspondence with KBON for staff review.
  • Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (Associate) Miami, OK related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates; and affirm next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2016 Cycle.
  • Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences (Associate) Lancaster, PA related to a change in status with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (PBON); and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2020 Cycle; and request copies of correspondence with PBON for staff review.
  • Regis College (Clinical Doctorate) Weston, MA related to the addition of a BSN-to-DNP program option, which will be implemented in September 2016; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2018 Cycle
  • Riverland Community College (Associate) Austin, MN related to the program’s status with the MBON related to the program’s licensure examination pass rates of below 75% for three (3) consecutive years; pending review of the program’s Follow-Up Report submitted in the Fall 2015 Cycle and request copies of correspondence with Minnesota Board of Nursing for staff review.
  • San Jacinto College – Central Campus (Associate) Pasadena, TX related to curriculum revisions, which were implemented in the Fall 2015 Semester; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2019 Cycle.
  • State College of Florida, Manatee – Sarasota (Baccalaureate) Bradenton, FL related to a decline in program completion rates for the RN-to-BSN program; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2016 Cycle.
  • State College of Florida, Manatee – Sarasota (Baccalaureate) Bradenton, FL related to an increase in enrollment of greater than 25% for the RN-to-BSN program option; remove requirement of a Focused Visit; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2016 Cycle.
  • Southern Arkansas University (Associate) Magnolia, AR related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2017 Cycle pending notification of final program closure.
  • Southern Regional Technical College (Associate) Thomasville, GA related to a merger between Southwest Georgia Technical College and Moultrie Technical College into Southern Regional Technical College; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2017 Cycle.
  • Terra State Community College (Associate) Fremont, OH related to a change in status with the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBON); request copies of correspondence with Ohio Board of Nursing for staff review; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2017 Cycle.
  • University of Rio Grande (Associate) Rio Grande, OH related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2016 Cycle.
  • Venango County Area Vocational Technical School (Practical) Oil City, PA related to a change in Higher Education Reauthorization Act (HEA) Title IV status and a decline in program completion rates. The program’s completion rates were below the program’s expected level of achievement of 65% for the 2014-2015 cohort; request copies of correspondence with the USDOE for staff review; and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2018 Cycle.
  • Western New Mexico University (Associate) Silver City, NM related to curriculum revisions, which were implemented in the Fall 2015 Semester; pending review of the Follow-Up Report in the Spring 2016 Cycle and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2021 Cycle.

—

The Commission accepted the substantive change report and authorized a focused visit for the following programs

  • Aquinas College (Baccalaureate) Nashville, TN related to the addition of a pre-licensure program option to be combined with accreditation site visit in the Spring 2016 Cycle.
  • Bryant & Stratton College – Akron (Associate) Akron, OH related to a change in status with the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBON).
  • Brigham Young University – Idaho (Baccalaureate) Rexburg, ID related to the addition of a pre-licensure program option to be combined with the program’s next accreditation site visit in the Spring 2018 Cycle.
  • Coastal Carolina University (Baccalaureate) Conway, SC related to the implementation of distance education and an increase in enrollment of greater than 25% for the RN-to-BSN completion program option to be combined with site visit in the Spring 2017 Cycle.
  • Denver School of Nursing (Baccalaureate) Denver, CO related to the implementation of a distance education RN-to-BSN program option and an increase in enrollment of greater than 25%.
  • Fortis College – Indianapolis (Associate) Indianapolis, IN related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates.
  • Morehead State University (Associate) Morehead, KY related to a new curriculum for the associate program.
  • Middle Georgia State College (Baccalaureate) Macon, GA related curriculum revisions in the RN-to-BSN completion program option and affirm the next accreditation site visit in the Fall 2018 Cycle.
  • Nebraska Wesleyan University (Baccalaureate) Lincoln, NE related to the implementation of a pre-licensure program option.
  • Nightingale College (Associate) Ogden, UT related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates to be combined with Focused Visit for implementation of distance education.
  • Oklahoma City University (Clinical Doctorate, Master’s, and Baccalaureate) Oklahoma City, OK related to the addition of new program options in the clinical doctorate and master’s programs and the implementation of an off-campus instructional site in the baccalaureate program.
  • Rose State College (Associate) Midwest City, OK related to the implementation of a new concept-based curriculum for the pre-licensure and career ladder program options.
  • Saint Paul College – A Community and Technical College (Practical) St. Paul, MN related to a new off-campus instructional site, which will be implemented in Spring 2016.
  • Southern Arkansas University (Baccalaureate) Magnolia, AR related to a decline in licensure examination pass rates and a change in status with the Arkansas Board of Nursing.
  • Tacoma Community College (Associate) Tacoma, WA related to a new curriculum, which will be implemented in Winter 2016.

 

The Commission denied the substantive change report for the following programs:

  • None

 

Definitions

Continuing Accreditation: A determination by the ACEN Board of Commissioners that a nursing program is in compliance with all Accreditation Standards.

Continuing Accreditation with Conditions: A measure imposed by the ACEN Board of Commissioners following the determination of non-compliance with one (1) or two (2) Accreditation Standards. Next review and follow-up action(s) are determined by the Board of Commissioners.

Continuing Accreditation with Warning: A measure imposed by the ACEN Board of Commissioners following the determination of non-compliance with three (3) or more Accreditation Standards. Next review and follow-up action(s) are determined by the Board of Commissioners.

Continuing Accreditation for Good Cause: A measure imposed by the ACEN Board of Commissioners following the determination that a nursing program has not remedied deficiencies at the conclusion of its maximum monitoring period and the program has (a) has demonstrated significant recent accomplishments in addressing ; (b) has documented that it has the potential to remedy all deficiencies within the extended period as defined by the Commission; that is, that the program provides evidence which makes it reasonable for the Commission to determine it will remedy all deficiencies within the extended time defined by the Commission; and (c) provides assurance to the Commission that it is not aware of any other reasons, other than those identified by the Commission, why the nursing program could not be continued for good cause.

Denied Initial Accreditation: A determination by the ACEN Board of Commissioners that a nursing program is in non-compliance with one or more Accreditation Standard.

Denied Continuing Accreditation: A determination by the ACEN Board of Commissioners that a nursing program on conditions, warning, or for good cause is found to be in continued non-compliance with any Accreditation Standard. Thereafter the nursing program is removed from the listings of accredited programs.

Focused Visit: A site visit authorized by the ACEN Board of Commissioners to review significant accreditation-related information disclosed about a program as a result of:

A substantive change;

Information revealed about a program between periods of scheduled review;

Information received from the governing organization’s accrediting body related to an adverse action;

Information received from the program’s state regulatory agency for nursing related to a change in its status;

Information revealed by a program during the Evaluation Review Panel process;

Information received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding a program’s compliance responsibilities under Title IV of the Higher Education Act such as information related to a program’s most recent student loan default rates, the results of financial or compliance audits, program reviews, and any other information that may be provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Follow-up Report: A report prepared by a program addressing the Standard(s) for which the nursing program was found to be in non-compliance during the program’s previous review by the ACEN Board of Commissioners.

Initial Accreditation: A determination by the ACEN Board of Commissioners that a nursing program is in compliance with all Accreditation Standards.

Remove the Conditions Status and Grant Continuing Accreditation: A determination by the ACEN Board of Commissioners that a nursing program is in compliance with the Accreditation Standard(s) that the program was found to be in non-compliance during the program’s previous review by the ACEN Board of Commissioners.

Remove for Good Cause Status and Grant Continuing Accreditation: A determination by the ACEN Board of Commissioners that a nursing program is in compliance with the Accreditation Standards that the program was found to be in non-compliance during the program’s previous review by the ACEN Board of Commissioners.

Remove the Warning Status and Grant Continuing Accreditation: A determination by the ACEN Board of Commissioners that a nursing program is in compliance with the Accreditation Standard(s) that the program was found to be in non-compliance during the program’s previous review by the ACEN Board of Commissioners.

Standard:
See ACEN 2013 Standards and Criteria
Clinical Doctorate/DNP Specialist Certificate
Master’s/Post-Master’s Certificate
Baccalaureate
Associate
Diploma
Practical

Substantive Change Report: A report submitted by an accredited program informing the ACEN of a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of a nursing program and/or nursing education unit.

Back to top