COMMISSION ON COLLEGIATE NURSING EDUCATION RECOMMENDED
FOR MAXIMUM RECOGNITION TERM; NO STIPULATIONS OR COMPLIANCE
CONCERNS CITED
WASHINGTON, DC, December 19, 2006 - The
National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity, a panel of the U.S. Department of Education
(DOE), has voted to recommend that the Secretary of Education
continue recognition of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education (CCNE) for a term of five years as a national
agency for the accreditation of nursing programs at the
baccalaureate and graduate degree levels. At its meeting
in Washington, DC on December 4, the Advisory Committee
concluded that CCNE is in full compliance with the Secretary's
Criteria for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies. CCNE
was reviewed for continued recognition with no compliance
concerns or other issues cited. The Advisory Committee's
vote was unanimous. In addition, the committee recommended
that the Secretary of Education expand CCNE's scope of
accreditation to include distance education.
"Granting such an expansion of scope
is significant because it will make CCNE the only national
accrediting agency that is recognized for nursing education
programs offering distance education," said CCNE
Director Dr. Jennifer Butlin. "The positive review
by the Department is indicative of the CCNE Board of Commissioners'
effective leadership and the community of interest's continuing
commitment to CCNE."
In 2000, the Secretary of Education awarded
CCNE initial recognition as a national accrediting agency
for two years, the maximum term for a new accrediting
agency. In 2002, the Secretary awarded CCNE continuing
recognition for a term of five years, again the maximum
term. At that time, CCNE's recognition was also granted
with no compliance concerns or other issues cited.
In addition to the Department's recognition
process, CCNE is also recognized by the Council for Higher
Education Accreditation (CHEA). Founded in 1996, CHEA
offers formal, non-governmental recognition of higher
education accrediting bodies. In 2002, the CHEA Board
of Directors recognized CCNE for the maximum period of
10 years. No compliance concerns or other issues were
cited.
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. Celebrating
its tenth anniversary this fall, CCNE is now in its ninth
year of accreditation review activities. More than 76
percent of existing baccalaureate and master's degree
nursing programs in the United States have affiliated
with CCNE. To date, CCNE has accredited 771 nursing programs
located at 382 accredited colleges and universities throughout
the United States and Puerto Rico.
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.
Web site: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation.
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