Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 067 - Board of Nursing
Rule 067.00.22-003 - ASBN Rules, Chapter Six- Standards for Nursing Education Programs
Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 067.00.22-003
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
CHAPTER SIX STANDARDS FOR NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
SECTION I
APPROVAL OF
PROGRAMS
This chapter presents the Standards established by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing for nursing education programs that offer courses and learning experiences preparing graduates who are competent to practice nursing safely and who are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN® or RN® examination. These programs are often referred to as a prelicensure nursing program.
A.
NEW PROGRAM LEADING
TO LICENSURE
1. Institution Requirement
a. The parent institution located in an
Arkansas jurisdiction seeking to establish a new masters, baccalaureate,
diploma, associate degree or practical nursing program shall meet the following
requirements:
(1) Educational institutions or
consortiums shall be approved by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education and
be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Secretary
of Education
(2) Hospitals or
hospital consortiums shall be approved by the Arkansas Department of Health and
accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care
Organizations or equivalent accrediting organization.
(3) Each skilled nursing facility in a
consortium to provide a practical nursing program shall be approved by the
Arkansas Department of Human Services or an equivalent accrediting
organization.
(4) Institutions
offering a Practical Nurse Pathway Pilot Program shall be approved by the
Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation with
the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.
(5) The parent institution shall meet the
transfer or articulation requirements for courses in Arkansas education
institutions.
b. A
nursing education program whose parent institution is located outside of
Arkansas jurisdiction seeking to establish a new masters, baccalaureate,
diploma, associate degree or practical nursing program shall meet the following
requirements:
(1) Education institutions shall
be approved by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education and be accredited by
an accrediting body recognized by the United States Secretary of
Education.
(2) Be
approved/accredited by the Board of Nursing or equivalent agency in the state
where the Parent institution originates.
(3) The parent institution shall meet the
transfer or articulation requirements for courses in Arkansas education
institutions.
(4) Maintain the
Education Standards required of Arkansas based nursing education
programs.
2.
Prerequisite Approval
a. An institution
seeking to establish a new nursing education program leading to licensure shall
submit a letter of intent to the Board at least one year prior to submission of
a feasibility study.
b. The
institution must submit a current feasibility study, that is signed by the
appropriate administrative officers, and includes the following:
(1) Purpose for establishing the
program;
(2) Type of educational
program to be established;
(3)
Relationship to the parent institution, including an organizational
chart;
(4) Mission, philosophy,
purposes, and accreditation status of the parent institution;
(5) Financial statement of the parent
institution for the past two fiscal years;
(6) A proposed budget for each year of the
program's implementation;
(7)
Documented need and readiness of the community to support the program,
including surveys of potential students, employment availability, and potential
employers;
(8) Source and numbers
of potential students and faculty;
(9) Proposed employee positions including
support staff;
(10) Proposed
clinical facilities for student experiences, including letters of support from
all major facilities expected to be used for full program implementation,
including evidence of clinical space for additional students;
(11) Letters of support from approved nursing
and health-related programs using the proposed clinical facilities; officers,
and includes the following:
(12)
Proposed physical facilities including offices, classrooms, technology,
library, and laboratories;
(13)
Availability of the general education component of the curriculum or letter of
agreement, if planned, from another institution; and
(14) A timetable for initiating the program,
including required resources, and plans for attaining initial
approval.
(15) Other information as
requested by the Board.
c. The Board shall review all prerequisite
documents and may determine the need for an on-site survey during a regularly
scheduled Board meeting.
d. The
Board may grant, defer, or deny Prerequisite Approval.
e. If the Board denies Prerequisite Approval
the program must wait two years before submitting another proposal.
f. After receiving Prerequisite Approval
status, the institution may:
(1) Advertise for
students; and
(2) Proceed toward
compliance by following the Education Standards for Initial Approval.
3. Initial Approval
a. The institution shall secure a nurse
administrator of the program.
b.
The nurse administrator shall plan the program and
(1) Assure compliance with Board standards
and recommendations;
(2) Address
prerequisite recommendations;
(3)
Prepare detailed budget;
(4) Employ
qualified faculty and support staff;
(5) Prepare a program organizational chart
showing lines of authority;
(6)
Design the program's sequential curriculum plan;
(7) Develop student, faculty, and support
staff policies and procedures;
(8)
Attain agency affiliation agreements;
(9) Verify that proposed physical facilities
are in place; and
(10) Submit
documentation to the Board that Initial Approval Standards are met.
c. A Board representative shall
validate readiness of the program to admit students and prepare a
report.
d. The Board shall review
all documents for Initial Approval during a regularly scheduled Board
meeting.
e. The Board may grant,
defer or deny Initial Approval.
f.
After receiving Initial Approval, the program:
(1) May admit students;
(2) Shall proceed toward compliance by
following the Education Standards for Full Approval; and
(3) Shall follow the same standards as those
of established programs in terms of annual activities, projects, and
reports.
4.
Full Approval
a. Before graduation of the
first class, a Board representative shall validate compliance with the
Standards and prepare a report.
b.
The report and documentation shall be reviewed during a regularly scheduled
Board meeting.
c. The Board may
grant, defer, or deny Full Approval.
B.
ESTABLISHED PROGRAM THAT PREPARES
GRADUATES FOR PRACTICAL AND REGISTERED NURSING LICENSURE
1. Continued Full Approval
a. A survey shall be periodically conducted
to review the program for continued compliance with the Standards. An on-site
or paper survey for a program includes:
(1) A
newly established program shall have an on-site survey three (3) years after
receiving initial Full Approval.
(2) An established professional or practical
nurse program that has continued accreditation status with a national nursing
accreditation organization and has maintained a
NCLEX-RN® or
NCLEX-PN® pass rate of at least 75% shall have a
paper survey every five (5) years thereafter.
(3) An established professional or practical
nurse program that does not meet the criteria for accreditation with a national
nursing education accreditation organization or has failed to maintain at least
a 75% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN® or
NCLEX-PN® shall have an on-site survey visit
every five (5) years thereafter.
b. The survey report and documentation shall
be submitted to the Board and reviewed during a regularly scheduled Board
meeting.
c. A program that is
granted full approval shall maintain a NCLEX-RN®
or NCLEX-PN® pass rate above 75% for two
consecutive year prior to being considered for Continued Full
Approval.
d. The Board may grant,
defer, or deny Continued Full Approval.
2. Conditional Approval
a. If areas of noncompliance with standards
are not corrected in the timeframe established by the Board, the Board shall
award Conditional Approval.
b.
Information regarding a nursing program requested by the Board shall be
provided by the parent institution.
c. A representative of the Board may conduct
an on-site survey and complete a written report at the request of the
Board.
d. Additional information
available to the Board may be considered.
e. The Board shall review all documents
during a regularly scheduled Board meeting.
f. The Conditional Approval status shall be
in effect for a maximum of one (1) year to correct noncompliance deviations
from the standards, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
g. The program and parent institution shall
receive written notification of noncompliance deviations and the Board
action.
h. The Board may grant
continued Conditional Approval, Full Approval, or withdraw the program's
approval.
3. Satellite
Campus
a. Satellite campus programs shall be
approved by the Board prior to implementation.
(1) Continued Full Approval program may
submit a proposal for a satellite campus program.
(2) The proposal shall reflect requirements
for prerequisite approval of a new program.
b. The Board may grant, defer, or deny
approval.
c. All approved satellite
campus programs shall maintain the same standards as the parent
program.
d. Each satellite campus'
data will be included in the program's annual report and five-year survey
report.
4. Distant
Learning Sites
a. Distant learning sites shall
be approved by the Board prior to utilization.
b. Each distant learning site's data shall be
included in the program's annual report and five-year survey report.
SECTION II
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
A.
ADMINISTRATION AND
ORGANIZATION
1. Institutional
Accreditation
The parent institution shall be approved by the appropriate state body.
2. Institutional
Organization
a. The parent institution shall
be a post-secondary educational institution, hospital, or consortium of such
institutions.
b. The institutional
organizational chart shall indicate lines of authority and relationships with
administration, the program, and other departments.
c. The program shall have at least equal
status with comparable departments of the parent institution.
3. Program Organization
a. The program shall have a current
organizational chart.
b. The
program shall have specific current job descriptions for all
positions.
B.
PHILOSOPHY AND GRADUATE COMPETENCIES
1. The philosophy of the program shall be in
writing and consistent with the mission of the parent institution.
2. Graduate competencies shall be derived
from the program's philosophy.
3.
The philosophy and graduate competencies shall serve as the framework for
program development and maintenance.
C.
RESOURCES
1. Financial Resources
a. There shall be adequate financial support
to provide stability, development, and effective operation of the
program.
b. The director of the
program shall administer the budget according to parent institutional
policies.
c. The director shall
make budget recommendations with input from the faculty and staff.
2. Library and Learning Resource
Center a. Each program and each satellite campus shall have a library or
learning resource center with the following:
(1) Current holdings to meet student
educational needs, faculty instructional needs, and scholarly
activities.
(2) Budget plan for
acquisitions of printed and multi-media materials.
(3) Written process for identifying and
deleting outdated holdings.
(4)
Resources and services accessible and conveniently available.
D.
FACILITIES
1. Classrooms and
Laboratories
a. Each program and satellite
campus shall have a clinical skills laboratory equipped with necessary
educational resources.
b.
Classrooms and laboratories shall be:
(1)
Available at the scheduled time;
(2) Adequate in size for number of
students;
(3) Climate controlled,
ventilated, lighted; and
(4)
Equipped with seating, furnishings and equipment conducive to learning and
program goals.
c.
Adequate storage space shall be available.
d. Facilities shall be in compliance with
applicable local, state, and federal rules related to safety and the Americans
with Disabilities Act.
2. Offices
a. The director of the program shall have a
private office.
b. Faculty members
shall have adequate office space to complete duties of their positions and
provide for uninterrupted work and privacy for conferences with
students.
c. There shall also be
adequate:
(1) Office space for clerical
staff;
(2) Secure space for
records, files, equipment, and supplies; and
(3) Office equipment and supplies to meet the
needs of faculty and clerical staff.
3. Clinical Facilities
a. Clinical facilities and sites shall
provide adequate learning experiences to meet course objectives.
b. Clinical sites shall be adequately staffed
with health professionals.
c. The
program shall have a current and appropriate written agreement with each
clinical site.
d. Written
agreements shall include a termination clause and be reviewed
annually.
e. Students shall receive
orientation to each clinical site.
E.
PERSONNEL
1. Program Director
a. The program director shall have a current
unencumbered registered nurse license to practice in Arkansas and be employed
full time.
b. The practical nursing
program director shall have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in nursing.
Directors appointed prior to January 1, 2004, shall be exempt for the duration
of their current position.
c. The
baccalaureate, diploma or associate degree program director shall have a
minimum of a master's degree in nursing.
d. The master's degree program director shall
have a graduate degree with a major in nursing and is doctorally
prepared
e. The program director
shall have previous experience in clinical nursing practice and/or
education.
f. The program
director's primary responsibility and authority shall be to administer the
nursing program.
(1) The program director
shall be accountable for program administration, planning, implementation, and
evaluation.
(2) Adequate time shall
be allowed for relevant administrative duties and responsibilities.
g. The program director shall
verify the applicant has completed the program.
2. Faculty and Assistant Clinical Instructors
a. Faculty shall hold a current unencumbered
registered nurse license to practice in Arkansas.
b. Faculty shall have had at least two years
previous experience in clinical nursing at or above the education program
level.
c. Faculty teaching in a
masters, baccalaureate, diploma, associate degree, or practical nurse program
shall have a degree or diploma above the type of education program
offered.
d. Nurses serving as
assistant clinical instructors in a masters, baccalaureate, diploma, associate
degree, or practical nurse program shall have a degree or diploma at or above
the type of education program offered.
e. Assistant clinical instructors shall:
(1) Be under the direction of
faculty;
(2) Hold a current
unencumbered license to practice in Arkansas; and
(3) Have a minimum of two years' experience
in the clinical area.
f.
All faculty shall maintain education and clinical competencies in areas of
instructional responsibilities.
g.
Non-nurse faculty shall meet the requirements of the parent
institution.
h. Faculty shall be
organized with written policies, procedures, and, if appropriate, standing
committees.
i. Nursing faculty
policies shall be consistent with parent institutional policies.
j. Program specific policies shall be
developed by nursing faculty.
k. A
planned program specific orientation for new faculty shall be in writing and
implemented.
l. Consideration shall
be given to safety, patient acuity, and the clinical area in determining the
necessary faculty to student ratio for clinical experiences. The faculty to
student ratio in clinical experiences shall be:
(1) In the acute care setting where students
are providing direct patient care the ratio is one faculty member to eight
students (1:8).
(2) In the
non-acute care setting where students are providing direct patient care the
ratio is one faculty member to ten students (1:10).
(3) In the community setting where the
students have indirect or direct patient care with a community partner the
ratio is one faculty member to fifteen students (1:15).
m. The minimum number of faculty shall be one
(1) full-time member in addition to the director.
n. Faculty meetings shall be regularly
scheduled and held. Minutes shall be maintained in writing.
o. Faculty members shall participate in
program activities as per policies and procedures.
3. Support Staff
There shall be secretarial designated support staff sufficient to meet the needs of the program.
F.
PRECEPTORS
1. Preceptor Utilization
a. Preceptors shall not be utilized in
foundation or introductory courses.
b. Preceptors shall not be considered in
clinical faculty-student ratio. The ratio of preceptor to student shall not
exceed 1:2.
c. There shall be
written policies for the use of preceptors, that include:
(1) Communications between the program and
preceptor concerning students;
(2)
Duties, roles, and responsibilities of the program, preceptor, and student;
and
(3) An evaluation
process.
d. All
preceptors shall be listed on the annual report by area, agency, and number of
students precepted.
2.
Preceptor Criteria a. Masters, baccalaureate, diploma, associate degree, or
practical nurse program student preceptors shall hold a current unencumbered
license to practice as a registered nurse in Arkansas. Practical nurse student
preceptors shall hold a current unencumbered license to practice as a
registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or licensed psychiatric technician
nurse in Arkansas.
b. Preceptors shall have a
minimum of one-year experience in the area of clinical specialty for which the
preceptor is utilized.
c.
Preceptors shall participate in evaluation of the student.
3. Student Criteria
a. Precepted students shall be enrolled in
courses specific to the preceptor's expertise.
b. Precepted students shall have appropriate
learning experiences prior to the preceptorship.
c. There shall be no reimbursement to
students for the educational preceptorship.
4. Faculty Criteria
a. Program faculty shall be responsible for
the learning activity.
b. Program
faculty shall be available for consultation with student and
preceptor.
c. Program faculty shall
be responsible for the final evaluation of the experience.
G.
STUDENTS
1. Admissions, Readmissions, and Transfers
a. There shall be written policies for
admission, readmission, transfer, and advanced placement of students.
b. Admission criteria shall reflect
consideration of potential to complete the program and meet standards to apply
for licensure (See ACA §
17-3-102 and §
17-87-312).
c. Students who speak English as
a second language shall meet the same admission criteria as other students and
shall pass an English proficiency examination.
d. Documentation of high school graduation or
an equivalent, as determined by the appropriate educational agency, shall be an
admission requirement.
2. Progression and Graduation: There shall be
written policies for progression and graduation of students.
3. Student Services
a. Academic and financial aid services shall
be accessible to all students.
b.
If health services are not available through the parent institution, a plan for
emergency care shall be in writing.
c. There shall be provision for a counseling
and guidance program separate from nursing faculty.
4. Appeal Policies: Appeal policies shall be
in writing and provide for academic and non-academic grievances.
5. Program Governance: Students shall
participate in program governance as appropriate.
H.
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
1. Publications shall be current, dated, and
internally consistent with parent institution and program materials.
2. The following minimum information shall be
available in writing for prospective and current students:
a. Approval status of the program granted by
the Board;
b. Admission
criteria;
c. Advanced placement
policies;
d. Curriculum
plan;
e. Program costs;
f. Refund policy;
g. Financial aid information; and
h. Information on meeting eligibility
standards for licensure, including information on ACA §
17-3-102 and
§
17-87-312
and that graduating from a nursing program does not assure ASBN's approval to
take the licensure examination.
3. The student handbook shall include the
following minimum information:
a. Philosophy
and graduate competencies;
b.
Policies related to substance abuse, processes for grievances and appeal,
grading, progression, and graduation; and
c. Student rights and responsibilities.
I.
EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM
1. The education program shall
include curriculum and learning experiences essential for the expected entry
level and scope of practice.
a. Curriculum
development shall be the responsibility of the nursing faculty.
b. Curriculum plan shall be organized to
reflect the philosophy and graduate competencies.
c. Courses shall be placed in a logical and
sequential manner showing progression of knowledge and learning
experiences.
d. Courses shall have
written syllabi indicating learning experiences and requirements.
e. Theory content shall be taught
concurrently or prior to related clinical experience.
f. Clinical experiences shall include
expectations of professional conduct by students.
g. Curriculum plans for all programs shall
include appropriate content in:
(1)
Introduction to current federal and state patient care guidelines;
(2) Current and emerging infectious
diseases;
(3) Emergency
preparedness for natural and manmade disasters;
(4) Impact of genetic research;
(5) End of life care; and
(6) Legal and ethical aspects of nursing,
including the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act.
2. The curriculum plan
for practical nurse programs shall include:
a.
Theoretical content and clinical experiences that focus on:
(1) Care for persons throughout the life span
including cultural sensitivity;
(2)
Restoration, promotion, and maintenance of physical and mental health;
and
(3) Prevention of illness for
individuals and groups.
b. The length of the practical nurse
curriculum shall be no less than ten (10) calendar months which includes a
minimum of thirty-five (35) credit hours in nursing content.
c. Theory content may be in separate courses
or integrated and shall include at least the following:
(1) Anatomy and physiology;
(2) Nutrition;
(3) Pharmacology and intravenous
therapy;
(4) Growth and development
throughout the life span;
(5)
Fundamentals of nursing;
(6)
Gerontological nursing;
(7) Nursing
of adults;
(8) Pediatric
nursing;
(9) Maternal/infant
nursing;
(10) Mental health
nursing; and
(11) Principles of
management in long term care, including delegation.
d. Clinical experiences shall be in the areas
of:
(1) Fundamentals of nursing;
(2) Nursing of adults;
(3) Pediatric nursing;
(4) Gerontological nursing;
(5) Maternal/infant nursing;
(6) Mental health;
(7) Administration of medications, including
intravenous therapy; and
(8)
Management in long term care, including delegation.
3. The curriculum plan for
registered nurse programs; masters, baccalaureate, diploma, or associate degree
shall include:
a. Theoretical content and
clinical experiences that focus upon:
(1) The
prevention of illness and the restoration, promotion, and maintenance of
physical and mental health;
(2)
Nursing care based upon assessment, analysis, planning, implementing, and
evaluating; and
(3) Care for
persons throughout the life span, including cultural sensitivity.
b. Course content may be in
separate courses or integrated and shall include at least the following:
(1) Biological and physical sciences content:
a. Chemistry;
b. Anatomy and physiology;
c. Microbiology;
d. Pharmacology;
e. Nutrition; and
f. Mathematics.
(2) Behavioral science and humanities
content:
a. Psychology;
b. Sociology;
c. Growth and development;
d. Interpersonal relationships;
e. Communication; and
f. English composition.
(3) Nursing science content:
a. Medical surgical adult;
b. Pediatrics;
c. Maternal/infant;
d. Gerontology;
e. Mental health;
f. Leadership, including nursing management
and delegation; and
g. Masters and
baccalaureate programs shall include community health.
(4) Clinical experiences shall be in the
areas of:
a. Medical/surgical;
b. Pediatrics;
c. Maternal/infant;
d. Mental health;
e. Gerontology;
f. Leadership and management, including
delegation;
g. Rehabilitation; and
h. Masters and baccalaureate
programs shall include clinical experiences in community health.
4. The
curriculum plan for registered nursing and practical nursing education programs
may include the use of simulation as a substitute for traditional clinical
experiences, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of its clinical hours in each
course. A program that uses simulation shall demonstrate the use of current
standards of best practice for simulation and provide evidence of compliance
that shall include:
a. An organizing framework
that provides adequate fiscal, human, and material resources to support the
simulation activities.
b.
Management by an individual who is academically and experientially qualified.
The individual shall demonstrate continued expertise and competence in the use
of simulation while managing the program.
c. A budget that will sustain the simulation
activities and training of the faculty.
d. Appropriate facilities for conducting
simulation. This shall include educational and technological resources and
equipment to meet the intended objectives of the simulation.
e. Training for faculty involved in the use
of simulation, both didactic and clinical,
f. On-going professional development in the
use of simulation, for faculty involved in simulations, both didactic and
clinical.
g. Programmatic outcome
that are linked to simulation activities.
h. Written policies and procedures on the
following:
(1) short-term and long-term plans
for integrating simulation into the curriculum;
(2) method of debriefing each simulated
activity; and
(3) plan for
orienting faculty to simulation.
i. Criteria to evaluate the simulation
activities.
j. Student evaluations
of simulation experiences on an ongoing basis.
k. Information about the use of simulation,
as requested by the Board of Nursing, on the annual report.
J.
PROGRAM
EVALUATION
1. Faculty shall be
responsible for program evaluation.
2. A systematic evaluation plan of all
program aspects shall be in writing, implemented, and include: philosophy and
graduate competencies, curriculum, policies, resources, facilities, faculty,
students, graduates, and employer evaluation of graduates.
3. The outcomes of the systematic evaluations
shall be used for ongoing maintenance and development of the program.
4. Appropriate records shall be maintained to
assist in overall evaluation of the program after graduation.
5. The systematic program evaluation plan
shall be periodically reviewed.
6.
Students shall evaluate the courses, instructors, preceptors, and clinical
experiences throughout the program, and the overall program after
graduation.
K.
RECORDS
1. Transcripts of all
students enrolled in the program shall be maintained according to policies of
the parent institution.
a. Transcripts shall
reflect courses taken.
b. The final
transcript shall include:
(1) Dates of
admission;
(2) Date of separation
or graduation from the program;
(3)
Hours/credits/units earned, degree, diploma, or certificate awarded;
(4) The signature of the program director,
registrar, or official electronic signature; and
(5) The seal of the school or be printed on
security paper or an official electronic document.
c. Current program records shall be safely
stored in a secure area.
d.
Permanent student records shall be safely stored to prevent loss by destruction
and unauthorized use.
SECTION III
REPORTS,
LICENSURE EXAMINATION PERFORMANCE AND CLOSURE
A.
REPORTS
1. Annual report: An annual report shall be
submitted in a format and date determined by the Board.
2. Special reports/requests: The Board shall
be notified in writing of major changes affecting the program, including but
not limited to:
a. School name;
b. Director of Program; and
c. Ownership or merger of parent
institution.
3.
Curriculum changes:
a. Masters, baccalaureate,
diploma, or associate degree nurse program changes - Major changes of
curriculum or standards shall be reported to the Board prior to implementation,
including but not limited to:
(1) Philosophy,
competencies, and objectives.
(2)
Reorganization of curriculum.
(3)
Increase or decrease in length of program.
b. Practical Programs - Major changes of
curriculum and standards shall be approved prior to implementation, including
but not limited to:
(1) Philosophy,
competencies, and objectives;
(2)
Reorganization of curriculum; and
(3) Increase or decrease in length of
program.
4.
Pilot programs/projects that differ from the current approved program shall be
approved prior to implementation.
B.
LICENSURE EXAMINATION
PERFORMANCE
1. The student pass rate on
the licensure examination shall be calculated on the ASBN fiscal
year.
2. The program shall maintain
a minimum pass rate of 75% for first-time examination candidates.
3. Any program with a pass rate below 75%
shall:
a. First year:
(1) Receive a letter of concern;
and
(2) Provide the Board with a
report analyzing all aspects of the program. The report shall identify and
analyze areas contributing to the low pass rate and include plans for
resolution which shall be implemented.
b. Second consecutive year:
(1) Receive a letter of warning;
and
(2) Program director and parent
institution representative shall appear and present a report to the Board. The
report shall identify and analyze the failure of first year corrections and
additional plans for resolution of the low pass rate.
c. Third consecutive year:
(1) Be placed on conditional approval;
and
(2) Conditional approval will
be granted until two consecutive years of an above 75% pass rate is achieved or
until the Board withdraws approval status for noncompliance with the education
standards.
C.
PROGRAM CLOSURE
1. Voluntary
a. The parent institution shall submit a
letter of intent for closure at least six (6) months prior to the closure. The
letter shall include:
(1) Date of closure;
and
(2) Plan for completion of
currently enrolled students.
b. The Board must approve closure plan prior
to implementation.
c. All classes
and clinical experiences shall be provided until current students complete the
program or parent institution provides for transfer to another acceptable
program.
d. Records of a closed
program shall be maintained by the parent institution and be in compliance with
federal and state laws. The institution shall notify the Board of arrangements
for the storage of permanent student and graduate records.
2. Mandatory
a. Upon Board determination that a program
has failed to comply with educational standards and approval has been
withdrawn, the parent institution shall receive written notification for
closure of the program. The notification shall include:
(1) The reason for withdrawal of
approval;
(2) The date of expected
closure; and
(3) A requirement for
a plan for completion of currently enrolled students or transfer of students to
another acceptable program.
b. Records of a closed program shall be
maintained by the parent institution and be in compliance with federal and
state laws. The institution shall notify the Board of arrangements for the
storage of permanent student and graduate records.
3. A program that has had withdrawal of their
approval status may apply as a new program after one year from official closure
date.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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