Morgan State University Nursing Program Bachelor of Science Degree Receives Accreditation

All Nursing Degrees Awarded From October 2017 and Forward Accredited by CCNE

The Morgan State University School of Community Health and Policy Nursing Program’s Bachelor of Science (Nursing) degree has received its initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The program’s Master of Science (Nursing) degree received its reaccreditation in 2017 from CCNE, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. All nursing degrees awarded from October 2017 and beyond will now be accredited.

The University’s accreditation comes at a crucial time for the nursing profession, as the need for diversity and a general demand for qualified nurses remains high. With Morgan increasing its stature among accredited programs, its capacity to contribute to the nursing workforce increases significantly.

“I commend the dedicated faculty and leadership of Morgan’s School of Community Health and Policy whose tireless efforts to elevate the quality standards of the Nursing Program have successfully brought us to this point,” said David Wilson, president of Morgan State. “Earning this accreditation not only benefits the education of our students and enhances the University’s academic profile, but it also improves the health field overall by ensuring the caliber and integrity of our Nursing Program and the graduates it produces.”

Formally established in 2008, Morgan’s Nursing Program was created in response to the national nursing shortage as well as to an underrepresentation of minorities in health care, and the healthcare disparities between the residents of Baltimore and the larger society. From its inception, the program’s goal remains to provide a quality nursing education that produces graduates who are well equipped to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving healthcare system.

Under the leadership of its current director, Maija R. Anderson, DNP, RN, the program has strengthened its curriculum, adopted a student-centered learning approach, and established essential assessment practices that are consistent with the standards of the accrediting agency and Morgan State University.

“Facilitating the change required to ensure excellence in nursing education was not an easy one. Nonetheless, our nursing administration, faculty, and staff demonstrated an extreme commitment to achieving this goal for our alumni, present students and for those students thinking of matriculating into our program,” said Dr. Anderson. “We’ve achieved this milestone, but we won’t rest on our laurels. Our motto is Semper Ad Meliora (always towards better things) and we plan to continue moving forward as always, towards better things.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections 2010-2020, the Registered Nursing workforce is the top occupation in terms of job growth. It is expected the number of employed nurses will grow to 3.4 million by the year 2020. In the State of Maryland, supply and demand issues for the nursing profession remain and nursing programs, particularly those managed by minority-serving institutions, are being challenged to meet this need while maintaining their standards through accreditation.

“Healthcare is front and center as part of the national dialogue,” said Kim Dobson Sydnor, Ph.D., dean of the School of Community Health and Policy. “The accreditation of the Nursing Program, joining the accredited nutritional science and public health programs that are also housed in the school, more solidly establishes Morgan as a healthcare workforce training ground with a unique positioning due to its urban research mission and focus.”

During the next academic year, the University’s Nursing Program plans to launch an online RN to BS to MPH option. For more information about the nursing program, contact the office at 443-885-4144 or email Dr. Maija Anderson at maija.anderson@morgan.edu.

About CCNE
Established in 1998, The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and nurse residency programs.

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Larry Jones
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