WASHINGTON, D.C., May 20, 1999 -- The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the only national accrediting agency devoted exclusively to evaluating baccalaureate and graduate nursing education programs, has announced accreditation decisions on 27 programs at four-year colleges and universities.

Established in 1996 as an autonomous arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), CCNE officially began accreditation activities in fall 1998 by conducting on-site evaluations of nursing programs that are housed in regionally-accredited institutions of higher education.

The Commission also has conducted visits to 37 nursing programs this spring; another 30 programs are scheduled for review this fall. In all, more than 300 nursing programs are scheduled for accreditation review by CCNE.

A listing of the first 27 programs accredited by CCNE is attached.

"This is an historical milestone in nursing education," says Linda K. Amos, EdD, RN, FAAN, chair of the CCNE Board of Commissioners. "It marks a new and exciting era for the advancement of quality improvement in our baccalaureate and master's degree programs in nursing. The responsiveness of our various constituencies has been impressive, and there is strong evidence of commitment to the core values and goals that are the foundation of CCNE." The CCNE Board of Commissioners is the governing and decision-making body responsible for CCNE's accreditation activities. The board, which meets twice per year, made its first accreditation decisions at its most recent meeting in Washington, D.C., on April 11-12.

CCNE is seeking recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accrediting agency and has submitted a petition to the agency for this purpose. The U.S. Department of Education requires that an agency both conduct visits and make accreditation decisions before it can be considered for recognition. CCNE expects to be included on the December 8-10, 1999 meeting agenda of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity -- the committee that meets twice yearly to make recommendations to the Secretary about recognizing accrediting agencies.

In addition, CCNE is a member of the Alliance for Nursing Accreditation, a multiple-organization partnership developed by AACN to promote and improve collegiate and specialized accreditation in nursing education. To date, representatives of CCNE and 10 nursing organizations that accredit nursing specialty education or that certify nurse specialists have met with AACN to collaborate under an alliance model. Among its objectives, the alliance is pursuing development of guidelines for conducting collaborative accreditation reviews.

CCNE Training Activities On-Going

To date, CCNE has held five comprehensive training programs for prospective on-site evaluators, who volunteer their time, effort, and expertise to conduct evaluations as part of the accreditation review process. The invitational programs, which have trained nearly 250 individuals, were held in Dallas, Texas; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Seattle, Washington; Washington, D.C.; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. CCNE has received extensive feedback from program participants indicating strong commitment to CCNE's new accreditation process and support for its purpose and values. The Commission plans to sponsor additional training and re-training programs, as needed.

The Commission also hosted its first accreditation workshop for nurse educators on November 14, 1998 in San Antonio, Texas. The workshops are an opportunity for current and prospective constituents to learn more about CCNE's standards for accreditation, and to hear educators present their programs' experiences in planning for and hosting a CCNE accreditation review. Due to overwhelming interest in the first workshop, a similar program was held in conjunction with AACN's 1999 master's education conference on April 24 in Orlando, Florida. Approximately 350 individuals attended the two workshops.

For further information on the Commission's standards, procedures, and activities, visit the CCNE Web site at www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation

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 education programs preparing effective nurses. 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.

CCNE-Accredited Baccalaureate and Master's Nursing Education Programs

The Board of Commissioners of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) took the following actions at its meeting on April 11-12, 1999.

Abilene Intercollegiate School of Nursing Abilene, TX
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review for both programs: Fall 2003

Barry University Miami Shores, FL
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review for both programs: Fall 2008

Binghamton University Binghamton, NY
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review for both programs: Fall 2008

Bluefield State College Bluefield, WV
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review: Fall 2008

California State University, Northridge Northridge, CA
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review: Fall 2003

Capital University Columbus, OH
Accredited nursing program: master's
Accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review: Fall 2003

Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY
Accredited nursing program: master's
Accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review: Fall 2003

Fairleigh Dickinson University Teaneck, NJ
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2002
Next review for both programs: Fall 2001

Fairmont State College Fairmont, WV
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review: Fall 2003

Holy Names College Oakland, CA
Accredited nursing program: master's
Accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review: Fall 2003

James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review: Fall 2008

Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WI
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review: Fall 2003

Minnesota Intercollegiate Nursing Consortium Northfield, MN
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review: Fall 2008

Molloy College Rockville Centre, NY
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review for both programs: Fall 2008

Montana State University-Bozeman Bozeman, MT
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review for both programs: Fall 2008

Nazareth College of Rochester Rochester, NY
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Baccalaureate program accredited through: June 30, 2009
Master's program accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next baccalaureate program review: Fall 2008
Next master's program review: Fall 2003

Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Baccalaureate program accredited through: June 30, 2009
Master's program accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next baccalaureate program review: Fall 2008
Next master's program review: Fall 2003

Pace University Pleasantville, NY
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2002
Next review for both programs: Fall 2001

Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review: Fall 2008

Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review for both programs: Fall 2008

Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review for both programs: Fall 2008

Spring Hill College Mobile, AL
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review: Fall 2003

Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review: Fall 2003

University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
Accredited nursing program: master's
Accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next review: Fall 2003

Washburn University of Topeka Topeka, KS
Accredited nursing program: baccalaureate
Accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review: Fall 2008

Westminster College of Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, UT
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Baccalaureate program accredited through: June 30, 2009
Master's program accredited through: June 30, 2004
Next baccalaureate review: Fall 2008
Next master's review: Fall 2003

West Virginia University Morgantown, WV
Accredited nursing programs: baccalaureate and master's
Both programs accredited through: June 30, 2009
Next review for both programs: Fall 2008

CONTACT: Jennifer Butlin
(202) 887-6791
jbutlin@aacn.nche.edu

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