St. Scholastica nursing programs earn reaccreditation

The College’s nursing baccalaureate, post-grad Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certificates and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs have received reaccreditation status from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). During an on-site evaluation in April 2022, evaluators found no areas of non-compliance and granted the programs a ten-year accreditation period, the longest accreditation currently attainable.

“We were very pleased with the feedback received from the site evaluators,” said Sheryl Sandahl, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, MPH, dean of the School of Nursing. “There were no compliance concerns which is incredibly rare.”

The process began in July 2021 and included strategic planning, self-study, interviews, on-site evaluation and a post-evaluation report.

CCNE uses standards, in addition to the accreditation procedures, to serve as the basis for evaluating the quality of the educational programs offered and to hold nursing programs accountable to the educational community, the nursing profession and the public. The key standards considered by the evaluation team, the Accreditation Review Committee, and the Board of Commissioners include:

1. Program Quality: Mission and Governance
2. Program Quality: Institutional Commitment and Resources
3. Program Quality: Curriculum and Teaching-Learning Practices
4. Program Effectiveness: Assessment and Achievement of Program Outcomes

To fellow faculty and staff, Dr. Sandahl shares her highest appreciation. “Thank you for all of your hard work to educate our students to be nurse leaders at the bedside and beyond.”

A five-year continuous improvement progress report will be due in 2027 with the next on-site evaluation due spring of 2032.

There’s much to look forward to with the renewed ten-year accreditation period. The School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences are expected to merge to form the School of Health Professions effective with the 2023-2024 academic year. Additionally, Dr. Sandahl will be stepping down as the dean of nursing after 22 years of service to the College and will continue in a remote role later this year. “Nursing, as a department in the new School of Health Professions, will continue to educate and innovate to meet the nursing needs of our communities for now and into the future,” shared Dr. Sandahl.

For over 100 years, The College of St. Scholastica has been preparing nurses for successful careers in healthcare. The College’s nursing programs respond to the health care needs of both rural and urban areas, especially underserved populations, and residents with mental health needs.

The local community offers professional internships and applied learning opportunities along with unique social venues and activities in the great outdoors. Campuses throughout the region provide flexible formats, including online and in-person educational experiences. To learn more, visit the School of Health Professions page.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at The College of St. Scholastica are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.