CWC nursing program receives continuing accreditation

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) has granted Central Wyoming College’s associate degree nursing program continuing accreditation.

Formerly known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, the ACEN’s decision is consistent with the recommendation of the team which conducted a site evaluation of the CWC program in February, and by the Evaluation Review Panel, said Dean of Health and Science Division Kathy Wells.

“This is the final step of the three-step accreditation process,” Wells said.

In its initial recommendations, the site visit team identified strengths in three of the six of the accrediting body’s standards, which Executive VP for Academics and Student Services Jason Wood said is highly unusual unless a program goes “far beyond” expectations.

One site visitor suggested CWC present its program review process nationally, saying it was “one of the most thorough I’ve ever seen.” A CWC group is scheduled to make a presentation on its preparation for the accreditation evaluation at the national meeting of the Association of Community College Trustees in October.

The ACEN visit team also pointed out that the CWC program has outstanding administrative, Information Technology and community support.

The college is required to submit a follow-up report addressing faculty degree qualifications by fall 2015. By that time, Wells said all current full-time CWC faculty will have completed their master’s degrees. When the follow-up report is accepted, the next evaluation visit for the program will be scheduled in 2021.