Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

First Posted: 4/10/2013

DUNMORE — Marywood University is appealing a decision by the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) to deny continuing accreditation to the University’s Nursing program.

In an address to the nursing students and faculty today, Marywood University President Sr. Anne Munley said, “Accreditation is an independent program review process, not a determinant of whether a program remains open. Despite rumors that misconstrue the meaning of accreditation, we will not be closing our Nursing program. There are 117 nursing students in our program, and we will continue to provide these students with the same quality experience that has educated more than 1,000 nurses who are alumni of this exceptional, 25-year-old, professional program. Our nursing program remains board-certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

According to a school release, Munley told the students that a program accreditation is a voluntary process whereby a college or university asks an independent professional association to review an academic program in order to recognize that the program demonstrates the ability to meet established standards.

“Our Nursing program has been accredited by NLNAC since 1988,” she said. Munley explained to the students, according to the release, that the recent accreditation denial was based on findings that the program had not complied with certain standards. She explained that the university disagrees with those findings.

“We are disappointed with the NLNAC decision, and we will move immediately to appeal it,” Munley said. “Meanwhile, our program will go on as usual. Our first priority is our students,” she told the audience, which included parents of some students. “And we urge you to continue to focus on your studies, your clinical work, and your personal and professional goals.”

“We are very proud of our long history of a quality nursing program, exceptional facilities, outstanding relationships with clinical partners in our community, and our professional faculty,” she said. “We remain committed to acting in the best interests of our students and this University and firmly stand behind what we continue to believe is a quality program.”

Marywood University’s nursing program has been on probation in recent years because of low test scores recorded in the National Council Licensure Examination exams but it increased test scores last year and the probation veil was lifted. It’s one of five nursing schools in Luzerne or Lackawanna counties along with Misericordia University, The Unviersity of Scranton, Luzerne County Community College and Wilkes University.

Munley told the students that the university will pursue accreditation for the nursing program by another accrediting association—the Commission on Collegiate Nursing in Education—or CCNE, which is an arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

“Many college nursing programs are accredited by CCNE, and we would be proud to be a part of that prestigious association,” she said. She also said that the university will immediately re-apply to NLNAC for accreditation, as a simultaneous appeal and re-application are permitted by NLNAC.

A message left with the NLNAC, in Atlanta, Ga., was not returned Wednesday.

Marywood University spokeswoman Juneann Greco said the school will be making no additional comment on the matter.