Accreditation
HISTORY OF ACCREDITATION IN THE GSN
1996: The GSN received initial accreditation from the National League for Nursing (NLN). The site visit took place from November 5-8, and the visitors were Mary K. Alexander, Ed.D., and M. Christine Alichnie, Ph.D. At its December 1996 meeting, the Board of Review for Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs granted an initial five-year accreditation, effective December 30, 1996 and retroactive for 12 months prior to the date of the visit.
2001: The GSN master’s degree program in nursing (MSN) received a full 10-year accreditation from both the NLN and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
2012: The master’s degree program in nursing received a full 10-year accreditation from CCNE
2014: The GSN new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree was awarded an initial five-year accreditation from CCNE.
2019: The master's (MSN) degree program and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs were each awarded a full 10-year accreditation from CCNE.
COMMISSION ON COLLEGIATE NURSING EDUCATION
The Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) master’s degree programs and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are accredited through June 20, 2029 by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001. (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE)
COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION OF NURSE ANESTHESIA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
The GSN Nurse Anesthesia Program is accredited (through 2024) by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 10275 W. Higgins Rd, Suite 906, Rosemont, IL, 60018-5603. Telephone: 224-275-9130. The program's next review by the COA is scheduled for May 2024. A list of COA accredited nurse anesthesia educational programs can be found on the COA website. (https://www.coacrna.org).
The Program at USU:
- Received a full initial 10-year accreditation in October 2013.
- Is a 36-month Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
- Data for the most recent graduating class (Class of 2023):
- Attrition: 5%
- Employment rates within 6 months of graduation: 100%
- NBCRNA NCE pass rate for first-time takers: 90%, which exceeds the COA's mandatory pass rate threshold of 80%.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF NURSING (AACN)
The PhD in Nursing Science is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Quality Indicators for Doctoral Programs. In 2007, with the approval of the Board of Directors, the AACN launched a Faculty and Doctoral Student Roster Survey to collect data on nursing faculty and doctoral (DNP & PhD) students. Student data reported includes school name, student name, type of doctoral degree pursued, year doctoral education began and student status (full/part time). According to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) this information is considered "directory information" which can be released without individual consent.