WASHINGTON, DC, July 24, 2002 - The
U.S. Department of Education has renewed its recognition
of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Citing
no stipulations or compliance concerns, U.S. Secretary
of Education Rod Paige has concurred with the National
Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity's
(NACIQI) recommendation to continue recognition of CCNE
as a national agency for the accreditation of baccalaureate
and graduate nursing education programs.
In the notification letter dated July
10, 2002, Secretary Paige stated that CCNE "is
a required element in enabling accredited nursing education
programs to be eligible to participate in programs administered
by federal agencies." He also expressed his appreciation
for CCNE's "continuing efforts to improve the quality
of postsecondary education in the United States."
At its meeting in Washington, DC on
December 11, 2001, NACIQI concluded that CCNE was in
full compliance with the Secretary's Criteria for Recognition
of Accrediting Agencies. Of the ten accrediting agencies
reviewed at the meeting, CCNE was the only agency not
cited for any major compliance concerns or other issues.
Secretary Paige agreed with the Advisory Committee's
findings, and in his July 2002 action, granted CCNE
a five-year term, the maximum term allowable for continued
recognition.
In addition to the Department's recognition
process, CCNE received recognition by the Council for
Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) on January 21,
2002. Founded in 1996, CHEA offers formal, non-governmental
recognition of higher education accrediting bodies.
This agency also identified no compliance concerns or
other issues for CCNE to address.
An autonomous arm of the American Association
of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) -- the national voice
for university and four-year-college education programs
in nursing -- CCNE was established in 1996 as an agency
devoted exclusively to the accreditation of baccalaureate
and graduate degree nursing education programs to ensure
the quality and integrity of such programs.
CCNE is in its fifth year of accreditation
review activities. More than 60 percent of existing
baccalaureate and master's degree nursing programs in
the United States have affiliated with CCNE. To date,
CCNE has accredited 389 nursing programs located at
244 regionally accredited colleges and universities.
In the next two years, CCNE is scheduled to make accreditation
decisions for an additional 230 nursing programs at
145 institutions.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education is an autonomous accrediting agency contributing
to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures
the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate
nursing education programs. As a voluntary, self-regulatory
process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages
continuing self-assessment by nursing education programs
and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate
professional education.
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