The Walla Walla University School of Nursing was granted continuing accreditation for the bachelor of science nursing program with removal of warning by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) at a meeting of the ACEN on July 9-10, 2015.

This decision comes following an ACEN site visit and program review in February 2015 after WWU appealed a July 2014 decision by the ACEN to deny continuing accreditation of the program. The nursing program remained accredited throughout the appeal and review process.

“The quality of our nursing program and our graduates has been clearly demonstrated,” says Lucille Krull, dean of the School of Nursing. “ACEN has not been concerned with our curriculum or our student outcomes.”

Graduates from the WWU School of Nursing consistently outperform the national pass rates on their National Council Licensure Examinations.

The initial denial of continued accreditation was issued when the university failed to meet one standard for graduate degree credentialing of School of Nursing instructors. That standard is that all WWU School of Nursing faculty members must possess at least a master’s degree. As of January 2015, 100 percent of the nursing faculty had a master’s degree in nursing.

“Our nursing faculty are some of the most dedicated Christian professionals that I know, and I am pleased that ACEN has recognized this,” said Krull. “It is a privilege for me to work at Walla Walla University and to lead the School of Nursing.”

In addition to the ACEN accreditation, the WWU nursing program is approved by the Washington State Nursing Commission and the Oregon State Board for Nursing. Walla Walla University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

To learn more about the WWU School of Nursing, visit wallawalla.edu/nursing or call (503) 251-6115.

Posted Aug. 11, 2015