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title: "POLICY #5\nNOTIFICATION OF COMMISSION DECISIONS"
canonical: "https://resources.acenursing.org/space/AP/1828061219/POLICY%20%235%0ANOTIFICATION%20OF%20COMMISSION%20DECISIONS"
format: markdown
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A nursing program seeking ACEN initial or continuing accreditation explicitly agrees that information pertaining to the program shall be made available within 30 calendar days of the accreditation decisions made by the Board of Commissioners. In accordance with the table below, the ACEN will provide written notification to:

1. The nurse administrator of the nursing program<sup>1,5</sup>.
2. The Chief Executive Officer of the governing organization<sup>1,5</sup>.
3. U.S. Department of Education Secretary<sup>1,2,4,5</sup>.
4. U.S. Department of Education Case Management Teams<sup>1,2,5</sup>.
5. State regulatory agencies for nursing<sup>1,2,5</sup>.
6. State Departments/Ministries of Education (as applicable)<sup>1,2,5</sup>.
7. Council for Higher Education Accreditation<sup>1,2,5</sup>.
8. Institutional accrediting agencies recognized by the ACEN for governing organizations<sup>1,2,5</sup>.
9. Peer evaluators that reviewed the program<sup>1</sup>.
10. Higher Education Publications, Inc.<sup>1,2,5</sup>.
11. The public (through posting on the ACEN website)<sup>1,2,3,4,5</sup>.

Superscripts are identified in the Report Category column below. The reporting of the following information applies to all governing organizations/nursing programs seeking initial or continuing accreditation:

 

|  |
| --- |
| <span style="color: #ffffff">**ACEN Dispersal of Accreditation Information**</span> |
| **As Necessary** |
| Proposed changes within the ACEN that alter the scope of recognition or compliance with requirements<sup>3,4 </sup>such as policy, procedures, and the ACEN Standards and Criteria. |
| **Within 10 Business Days** |
| Voluntary withdrawal of a governing organization/nursing program from ACEN accreditation<sup>2</sup>.<br>Within 10 business days of receiving voluntary withdrawal letter, it will be posted on ACEN website within 1 business day of sending written notification to governing organization/nursing program. |
| **Within 30 Calendar Days** |
| ACEN Board of Commissioners’ accreditation decision<sup>1</sup>.<br>Within 30 calendar days of the decision, it will be posted on the ACEN website within 1 business day of sending written notification to the governing organization/nursing program. |
| Outcome of appeal process and reason(s) following outcome of appeal<sup>5</sup>.<br>Within 30 calendar days of the Appeal Committee decision, it will be posted on the ACEN website within 1 business day of sending written notification to the governing organization/nursing program. |
| Outcome of arbitration process and reason(s) following outcome of arbitration<sup>5</sup>.<br>Within 30 calendar days of the Arbitration Panel award, it will be posted on the ACEN website within 1 business day of sending written notification to the governing organization/nursing program. |

|  |
| --- |
| **Annually in the June Publication of the ACEN Report to Constituents** |
| ACEN Board of Commissioners’ accreditation decision<sup>1</sup>. |
| Outcome of appeal process and reason(s) following outcome of appeal<sup>5</sup>. |
| Outcome of arbitration process and reason(s) following outcome of arbitration<sup>5</sup>. |
| Summary of major accreditation activities<sup>3,4</sup>. |
| **Available Online** |
| Directory of accredited programs<sup>3, 4</sup>. |
| Directory of candidate programs<sup>3</sup>. |
| Voluntary withdrawal of a governing organization/nursing program from ACEN accreditation<sup>2</sup>. |

 The ACEN will submit to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary information regarding a program’s compliance with federal student aid program requirements if the Secretary requests such information, or if the ACEN believes that the program is failing to meet its <u>Title IV</u> responsibilities, or is involved in fraud and abuse with respect to its <u>Title IV</u> activities. If circumstances permit and to the extent feasible, then prior to submission of information, the program will be provided an opportunity to comment on findings.


<u>**Policy #5 History**</u>

Revised July 2015

Revised March 2019

Revised July 2020

Edited June 2023