Lander University's William Preston Turner School of Nursing has received accreditation for its bachelor's and master's degree nursing programs.
The school's interim dean, Dr. Robbie South, said the Clinical Nurse Leader master's was accredited for five years, which is normal for a first-time evaluation, while the bachelor's program received full reaccreditation for 10 years.
The designations were awarded by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education,(CCNE) an autonomous accrediting agency, which describes accreditation as a voluntary, self-regulatory process.
South said the evaluation procedure for both programs was rigorous. Faculty from the nursing school conducted a year-long self-study review based on CCNE's four standards, each of which includes key elements, then compiled a voluminous report for the commission.
That was followed by an on-site campus visit by four CCNE evaluators who spent three days last fall conducting their own review to ensure compliance with the standards. Their evaluation included interviews with administrators, faculty, students and people from the local community who are interested in and support the school of nursing.
According to South, reaccreditation is a significant achievement for Lander's nursing school. "Students are looking for an accredited nursing program in order to qualify to go on to graduate school."
She added, "We are really excited to receive accreditation for the CNL master's program." She explained that several health care organizations, including the Veterans Administration, employ clinical nurse leaders and are looking to hire more. She said they will be interested in knowing that Lander's program has been accredited.
Dr. David Mash, Lander's vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost, said the requirements to achieve CCNE accreditation represent the highest standards of quality assurance and public accountability for university nursing programs. "Students can be assured that they will receive the highest caliber of instruction from Lander's excellent nursing faculty." He added, "Our status with CCNE is also an important component of our university-level accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Lander is very proud of Dr. South and her colleagues in the School of Nursing."
Lander's nursing program dates back to 1956 when it became the first college in South Carolina to begin offering an associate's degree in nursing. Thirty years later, with a grant from The Self Family Foundation in Greenwood, it made the transition to a four-year bachelor's degree program.