---
title: "MISSION AND GOVERNANCE"
canonical: "https://resources.acenursing.org/space/SC1/1997963266/MISSION%20AND%20GOVERNANCE"
format: markdown
---
### The ACEN requires programs to report changes to the mission and/or governance of a nursing program/institution involving:
## **Ownership, Legal Status, or Form of Control**
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in ownership, legal status, or form of control require reporting to the ACEN.
Prior Approval from ACEN Required: **Yes**
Focused Visit: **Title IV: Required; Non-Title IV: Possible**
Timeframe for Submission to the ACEN: **Four (4) months prior to implementation** | **Examples include:**
- a change from limited partnership to corporation
- a change from a not-for-profit corporation to a for-profit corporation
- a change from a private to a public
- the sale or transfer to a new owner of all, or a majority portion, of the governing organization’s assets
- the combination or transfer of the assets of at least two distinct governing organizations to create a newly-formed governing organization (merger) | **Form for Reporting:** |
## **Mission/Objectives**
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes to the established mission or objectives refer to significant changes that alter the purpose or scope of the governing organization. This does not include a revision/update in the governing organization’s written mission statement.
Prior Approval from ACEN Required: **Yes**
Focused Visit: **Title IV: Required; Non-Title IV: Possible**
Timeframe for Submission to the ACEN: **Four (4) months prior to implementation** | **Examples include:**
- changing from a vocational school to a college
- changing from a hospital-based school to a college
- changing from a college to a university
- changing from an on-ground institution to an online only institution
- changing from a local community college to serving students located across the globe
- changing from an associate degree granting college [with a few baccalaureate degrees] to an institution granting graduate degrees) | **Form for Reporting:** |
## **Nurse Administrator Change**
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The nurse with responsibility and authority for the administrative and instructional activities of a nursing education unit and nursing programs within the governing organization (e.g., dean, chairperson, director, etc.). The ACEN does not consider the nurse administrator a faculty member, regardless of the teaching responsibilities or classification by the governing organization.
Prior Approval from ACEN Required: **No**
Focused Visit: **No**
Timeframe for Submission to the ACEN: **No later than one (1) month after permanent or interim nurse administrator assumes duties/responsibilities** | A change in Nurse Administrator1 must be reported to the ACEN no later than one (1) month after the permanent or interim nurse administrator assumes duties/responsibilities. | **Form for Reporting:** |
## **Nursing Education Organizational Structure**
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in organizational structure are reported if there is a significant change in the organizational structure of the nursing education unit that would place a nursing program in non-compliance with ACEN Standards and Criteria. | **Examples include:**
- The nurse administrator no longer has the authority to administer the program budget.
- The nurse administrator now oversees several programs and may no longer have sufficient time or resources to fulfill the role responsibilities. | **Form for Reporting:** |
## **Composite Score**
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The governing organization’s most recently published [Financial Responsibility Composite Score](https://studentaid.gov/data-center/school/composite-scores) being 1.0 or less | **Note**: Only applies to governing organizations that are proprietary or private nonprofit. | **Form for Reporting:** |
For more information please review [Policy #14 Reporting Substantive Changes](https://www.acenursing.org/accreditation/accred-manual/policy14)