IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  3-31-06  CONTACT:  PAT MCINTIRE/PUBLIC INFO

SILVER CITY--The Western New Mexico University Nursing Department has received formal notification of the action taken by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at its meeting on February 22-24, 2006.  The Commission granted the Associate Degree Nursing Program at WNMU continuing accreditation and scheduled the next evaluation visit for Fall 2013.

The program was evaluated according to seven standards and twenty-three criteria.  There were no citations for deficiencies in any of the criteria.  The report cited one strength and three areas for development.  

The accreditation process began a year ago as the faculty developed a self-study that analyzed the program’s performance according to the standards and criteria.  A team of site visitors reviewed the program and met with faculty, students, administration, support faculty, facilities and community members in September.  Their report recommended full accreditation for eight years.  An Evaluation Review Panel met in January to consider the self-study and site visitor’s report.  The Evaluation Review Panel concurred with the site visitors and recommended eight years continuing accreditation.  The accreditation process was concluded with the meeting of the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission in February.

For a nursing program to have an accreditation report of this nature is uncommon according to Pam Kuthe, a nursing faculty member who is also an NLNAC site visitor.

“Continuing accreditation with this report demonstrates the nursing faculty commitment to quality nursing education.  It also is an example of Western's goal of excellence in teaching,” said Pat McIntire, Nursing Department Chair.

“This notice is not just about the nursing program.  It is also recognition of the support the nursing program has at the Silver City campus and Mimbres Valley Learning Center in Deming and within the community,” said McIntire.  “ Without the support of other faculty, student services and our clinical facilities and scholarship sponsors, the nursing program could not have achieved accreditation.  We wish to thank them all for their assistance in bringing excellence to the nursing program and Western as a whole.”

The Nursing Department also has started an RN to BSN completion program.  That program will seek accreditation in another year after the first class is graduated.

Nursing Faculty include:  Pat McIntire, Department Chair, Pam Kuthe, Roberta Nicholson, Charnelle Escobedo, Sharon Alba, Laura Gillispie, Joe Heidrick, Julie Mosley, David Turner, Leslie Shurts, and Christine Brickley.

For more information about the WNMU nursing program, contact the office at 574-5140.

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