NMSU Regents Sort Through DACC Nursing Mess

KRWG - At a regular meeting Monday, the New Mexico State University Board of Regents listened to concerns from the public on the loss of accreditation for the NMSU Dona Ana Community College's Nursing Program and heard an update from DACC President Margie Huerta on the issue.
Huerta detailed communication efforts with the students to date and shared information from the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) report on the reasons cited for non-compliance.

NMSU Regent Javier Gonzales

"I want to say how disappointed and sorry we are that the nursing program accreditation has been lost. We wanted to keep our accreditation; unfortunately that did not happen," Huerta said.

Huerta said the DACC administration had remained hopeful that increases to the pass rate, which was 100 percent in December 2011, and other improvements would help them hold on to the accreditation.
Huerta said options for the students are the largest concern at the moment. She indicated that students could remain in the program as DACC applies to regain accreditation. She also indicated other options were being considered including the review of transcripts of students currently in the DACC nursing program for possible transfer to the BSN program in the NMSU College of Health and Social Services. Such a transfer option would allow students who go on to graduate to receive a bachelor's degree from a fully accredited program. CHSS does not offer an associate degree.

Barbara Couture

Another option under consideration is working with the NMSU Carlsbad campus to help DACC students complete their associate's in nursing through courses offered by NMSU Carlsbad faculty. Although this option is actively being explored, whether NLNAC would approve a plan of this sort for the DACC students, and whether there would be any implications for the accreditation of the NMSU Carlsbad program would have to be examined.
In addition to working with the NLNAC, DACC administration will be meeting with the CEOs of Memorial Medical Center, MountainView Regional Medical Center and Advanced Care and Rehabilitation Hospital to see if they will consider employment options for those students coming out of the program soon. Read full story here: News New Mexico

NMSU Regents Sort Through DACC Nursing Mess