Fresno State said Wednesday that it will not admit any new students into its School of Nursing’s master’s program this fall because of a loss of accreditation in that program.
The master’s program typically enrolls 20 to 30 students per year. It has been accredited since 1968 and has produced about 1,500 graduates.
Dr. Jody Hironaka-Juteau, dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State, said the loss of accreditation resulted from a shortfall in satisfying certain documentation requirements of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). CCNE’s decision, announced June 5, does not affect any graduates of the master’s program, including those who received degrees in May 2019, or any other accredited programs in the School of Nursing.
CCNE said they determined that the master’s degree program failed to adequately document or provide adequate supporting data of its methods for assessing and evaluating student outcomes, curriculum, clinical experiences, faculty performance, and overall program goals. In some instances, the accrediting body noted the University had plans or policies in place to address such issues but failed to adequately document that it had implemented its policies or plans
Fresno State said they have arranged for CCNE to review the master’s nursing program during a site visit in September to consider reinstating the master’s program accreditation. Fresno State will be notified of CCNE’s accreditation decision in spring 2020.
Nursing students are encouraged to visit the School of Nursing’s website for more information including contact information.