TAMIU’s College of Nursing and Health Science Earns Prestigious ACEN Reaccreditation
Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) College of Nursing and Health Sciences has received formal notification of reaccreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
The continuing accreditation was granted by the Board of Commissioners for the Master’s nursing program, including post-master’s certification options, and also affirmed continuing accreditation of the new Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner option.
“Congratulations on this outstanding achievement,” wrote Dr. Kathy Chappell ACEN Chief Executive Officer in her official notification to TAMIU.
Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing, Dr. Marivic Torregosa, said ACEN accreditation is pivotal to the success of any nursing program.
“ACEN Accreditation means that a School's program meets or exceeds professional nursing standards and criteria for educational quality and is the hallmark of a successful nursing program. ACEN-accredited schools are periodically re-evaluated by a group of independent, qualified nursing professionals. The process fosters ongoing assessment and can identify areas for continuous improvement. We are excited to once again have the quality of our programs affirmed by our ACEN peers,” Dr. Torregosa noted.
ACEN’s assessment of TAMIU included a review of accreditation materials, a site visit by a review team, and consideration by an Evaluation Review Panel. Final decisions were made based on the ACEN’s 2023 Standards and Criteria.
The review noted key areas of strength including the Canseco School’s Master’s program’s fiscal, physical, technological, and learning resources that meet the needs of both faculty and students. The review group was impressed by a USDE Award of $2.3 million to the School’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program which has helped to create a strong online course presence, including the hiring of full-time faculty and provision of student stipends.
Reviewers also noted the positive impact of the Canseco School’s receipt of a $736,143 Nursing Shortage Grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The grant has fueled the development of an impressive spectrum of resources including technical assistance for off-campus students, tutorial videos, an online library collection and databases, and ebook collections. Other virtual resources include faculty resources for virtual lecture creation and delivery. In-person strengths noted included designated physical area and modern assessment equipment including high-tech optical and optical assessment models, as well as equipment for learning suturing, pap smears, cryotherapy, incision and drainage, and casting.
ACEN, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, is the nation's oldest accreditation agency, dating back to 1938. It is considered the leading authority in nursing education.
TAMIU's College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers bachelor's degrees in Nursing, Kinesiology, Communication Science Disorders, Public Health, and two master's degrees in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner and Nursing Administration.
In addition to ACEN accreditation, undergraduate and graduate programs in the Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences are accredited by the Texas Board of Nursing.
The College boasts a 90% through 100% National Certification Exam pass rate for FNP first-time test-takers for the past four years. Student to professor ratio is 6:1 for clinicals, and all FNP nursing graduates are offered jobs by graduation.
The College earned top spots in 2023-24 rankings released by online source EduMed that highlighted top programs based on affordability, accessibility, and commitment to student success.
EduMed recognized TAMIU's Nursing programs in the following categories:
1st in Best RN to MSN Programs in Texas for 2024 (Online & Campus)
3rd in Most Affordable Online RN to MSN Programs for 2024
11th in Best BSN Programs in Texas for 2024 (Online & Campus)
TAMIU's Online RN to BSN Program was also recently ranked second among the Best Online RN to BSN Programs in Texas in rankings released by online source Registered Nursing.
For more about TAMIU’s Nursing programs, visit https://www.tamiu.edu/conhs or call 956.326.2574. Registration for Spring 2024 begins Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.
For additional University information, please contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing, and Information Services at 956.326.2180 or email prmis@tamiu.edu.
University news and information can also be found online at tamiu.edu and on TAMIU’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, Twitter, and YouTube.
