(March 11, 2009) The University of Colorado Denver College of Nursing underwent an accreditation site visit March 4-6 by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in Washington, D.C. CCNE reviewed the college’s bachelor of science and master of science degree programs for re-accreditation, and the new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program for initial accreditation.
The College of Nursing established the first DNP program in Colorado and one of the first in the United States. The five visitors from CCNE, nursing professors and practitioners from throughout the nation selected by CCNE, arrived at the College on March 4 and met with CON faculty, students, and administrators, and with UC Denver administrators. During the visit, the commission also reviewed documents provided by the college, including the College’s Self-Study Report.
“Our College met all of the standards required by the Commission for accreditation and, in addition, the site visitors had no compliance concerns about any aspect of our program, another element of their program review,” explains CON Dean Patricia Moritz, at left. “In the fall, the college will receive official notification from CCNE regarding the re-accreditation of our BS and MS programs and the initial accreditation of our DNP program.”
PhD programs are not reviewed by nursing accrediting bodies but are included with a periodic accreditation of all UC Denver programs by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Dean Moritz thanked the faculty, staff, students and UC Denver colleagues for their efforts in making the college’s accreditation visit a success. She especially acknowledging Dr. Gayle Preheim, associate professor at the CON, who led the accreditation efforts. Before departing, the CCNE site visitors commented on the beautiful new Anschutz Medical Campus and all the inter-professional learning opportunities available to students and faculty.