Policy Updates – July 2020

MEMORANDUM

To: Nurse Administrators of ACEN Accredited Nursing Programs

From: Dr. Marcy Stoll, CEO

Date: July 24, 2020

Re: Revised Federal Regulation Policies

On July 9, 2020 the ACEN Board of Commissioners approved changes to Policy #9 Disclosure of Information About an Accredited Program and Policy #34 Candidacy for a Governing Organization/Nursing Program Seeking Initial Accreditation to align with new U.S Department of Education Federal Regulation that became effective July 1, 2020. There is a significant change related to the disclosure of the accreditation or candidate status of your ACEN-accredited nursing program or ACEN candidate program. In order to stay in compliance organizations/nursing programs must adhere to all federal regulation policy changes by September 7, 2020. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Several other ACEN policies were also revised due to the new federal regulations. Accordingly, the Policy section of the ACEN Accreditation Manual was updated reflecting these changes as well as the General Information section and Glossary. You may access the Accreditation Manual at https://www.acenursing.org/accreditation-manual-july-2020/

For ACEN-accredited nursing programs (those nursing programs granted initial or continuing accreditation)

Per Policy #9

  • The governing organization/nursing program must disclose the following information as a single disclosure to all current and prospective students
  • The single disclosure must be exactly as illustrated below:

The [insert type of program*] nursing program at [insert name of governing organization this is in accordance with ACEN records] at the [insert name of campus that is in accordance with ACEN records, if applicable] located in [city, state that is in accordance with ACEN records] is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400

Atlanta, GA 30326

(404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the [insert type of program*] nursing program is [insert one of the following here]

  1. Initial Accreditation
  2. Continuing Accreditation
  3. Continuing Accreditation with Conditions
  4. Continuing Accreditation with Warning
  5. Continuing Accreditation for Good Cause

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm

*Type of program: practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master’s, master’s/post-master’s certificate, post-master’s certificate, clinical doctorate, clinical doctorate/DNP clinical doctorate specialist certificate, or DNP clinical doctorate specialist certificate.

For ACEN candidate nursing programs (those nursing programs approved for candidacy)

Per Policy #34

  • The governing organization/nursing program must disclose the following information as a single disclosure to all current and prospective students
  • The single disclosure must be exactly as illustrated below:

Effective [insert date of ACEN notification letter], the [program type*] nursing program at [insert name of governing organization this is in accordance with ACEN records] [at the [insert name of campus that is in accordance with ACEN records, if applicable] located in [city, state that is in accordance with ACEN records] is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on [insert expiration date in ACEN notification letter].

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400

Atlanta, GA 30326

(404) 975-500

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this candidate program at http://www.acenursing.us/candidates/candidacy.asp

*Type of program: practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master’s, master’s/post-master’s certificate, post-master’s certificate, clinical doctorate, clinical doctorate/DNP clinical doctorate specialist certificate, or DNP clinical doctorate specialist certificate.