News Release

Sept. 29, 2005

WNMU Nursing Program Reaccreditation Recommended

On September 27 through September 28, the Nursing Department at Western New Mexico University hosted a Site Visit Team from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). That team presented their exit report on September 28 and are recommending Continuing Accreditation for eight years.

The Associate Degree Nursing Program was granted initial accreditation in 1993 and reaccredited in 1998. It is also approved by the New Mexico Board of Nursing.

NLNAC accreditation is a voluntary peer review process to enhance quality improvement in nursing education. Accreditation provides recognition that a nursing education program has been evaluated and periodically re-evaluated by a qualified, independent group of respected and competent peers who have found it to be meeting appropriate post-secondary and higher educational purposes in a satisfactory manner. Program accreditation enables student eligibility for funding support from federal and state agencies.

The site visitors review each program on seven standards related to mission and governance, faculty, students, curriculum and instruction, resources, integrity and educational effectiveness. In preparation for the team’s visit, the nursing faculty prepared a program self study which examined the program in depth according to these standards. The teams report was read at the Exit Conference. It will undergo final revisions and be forwarded to the NLNAC. An Accrediting Review Panel will review the report and self study in February and create a final report. The full Accrediting Commission will vote on accreditation in March.

For more information on the WNMU Nursing Program, call (505) 574-5140.

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