AACN - CCNE

CCNE Call for Comments on Proposed Procedures for Accreditation
of Baccalaureate and Graduate Degree Nursing Programs

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)--a nationally recognized accrediting agency for baccalaureate and graduate degree nursing programs--invites your comments about proposed revisions to the CCNE Procedures for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Degree Nursing Programs. In accordance with its commitment to ongoing self assessment and continuous quality improvement, CCNE periodically undertakes a review of its core documents and provides opportunity for constituents to review the documents and suggest revisions.

As you review the document, you will find that the most significant changes are related to the effective date of CCNE accreditation and the review of adverse actions. The proposed language makes the effective date of the accreditation retroactive to the first day of the program’s most recent CCNE on-site evaluation. Previously, the effective date was the date of the CCNE Board’s vote to accredit the program. CCNE believes that this change will benefit new programs, in particular, affording the first class of students the opportunity to graduate from an accredited program. In addition, the proposed language provides an all encompassing process for the review of adverse actions made by the CCNE Board of Commissioners against an institution; this process provides for appeals based on factual evidence and procedural matters. Previously, these were handled using two separate processes. CCNE believes that combining these into one policy will result in a fair process that will allow for a comprehensive review of adverse actions while providing a more user-friendly format and experience for institutions. The proposed changes also assure that CCNE conforms to the 2008 Higher Education Opportunities Act (HEOA).

View the proposed Procedures document.

It is the intent of CCNE that any revisions to its procedures will serve the following purposes:

1. reflect good accreditation practices and the CCNE values;
2. ensure consistency within and among CCNE publications;
3. be responsive to constituents’ suggestions for clarifying the procedures;
4. accurately reflect what occurs in practice; and/or
5. continue to satisfy the U.S. Secretary of Education’s Criteria for Recognition and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s Recognition Policy, as CCNE is recognized by both of these entities.

CCNE looks forward to receiving your comments regarding the proposed changes to the procedures. Please submit your comments to the CCNE office by April 6, 2009. Send comments to Benjamin Murray, CCNE Assistant Director, via email at bmurray@aacn.nche.edu or fax to (202) 887-8476. Alternatively, mail comments to:

Benjamin Murray
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036

In your communication, please specify that your comments are related to the procedures for accreditation of educational programs.

CCNE values your input and will consider all written comments before adopting final changes to the procedures. If you have any questions about the proposed changes or the revisions process, please contact Benjamin Murray at (202) 887-6791 x275 or at bmurray@aacn.nche.edu.