The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) and Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree programs at Lamar University have received continuing accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the commission announced recently.

Continuing accreditation is a determination by the ACEN Board of Directors that a nursing program is in compliance with all accreditation standards.

A team from ACEN visited Lamar University in October 2017, as part of its thorough review of the BSN and M.S.N. degree programs for continuing accreditation, and the visit was very positive, said Cynthia Stinson, chair of the Joanne Gay Dishman School of Nursing at LU.

“The faculty and staff of nursing worked very hard on this for the last three years,” she said. “Affirmation of our accreditation would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of other departments here at Lamar University and the community support we received during the visit.”

The Lamar University JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree program is also fully approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. The Texas Board of Nursing does not review Master's programs.

LU awarded 272 nursing B.S.N. degrees and 18 M.S.N. degrees in 2015-2016.

For more information on nursing education at Lamar University, visit https://www.lamar.edu/arts-sciences/nursing/.

For information on accreditation standards, visit:  http://www.acenursing.net/manuals/sc2017_M.pdf and http://www.acenursing.net/manuals/sc2017_B.pdf

About The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

ACEN supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by the functions of accreditation. Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review, self-regulatory process by which non-governmental associations recognize educational institutions or programs that have been found to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality. Accreditation also assists in the further improvement of the institutions or programs as related to resources invested, processes followed, and results achieved. The monitoring of certificate, diploma, and degree offerings is tied closely to state examination and licensing rules and to the oversight of preparation for work in the profession.

ACEN provides specialized accreditation for all types of nursing programs, including clinical doctorate/DNP specialist certificate, master’s/post-master’s certificate, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and practical nursing programs. The ACEN accredits nursing programs in secondary, postsecondary, and hospital-based governing organizations that offer certificates, diplomas, or degrees.

To learn more, visit http://www.acenursing.org/