Kent State’s College of Nursing recently received full five-year approval of its Associate of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science nursing degree programs from the Ohio Board of Nursing.

An Ohio Board of Nursing educational consultant visited nursing programs at the Kent campus and regional campuses in September 2007 as part of the approval process. During the visit, the consultant met with Provost Robert G. Frank, College and program administrators and faculty and students in groups in classroom and clinical settings. 

“We are very pleased with the report we’ve received from the Board of Nursing.  The faculty and students at Kent State are doing a wonderful job, and the Board’s approval reflects the quality of our programs and the evidence-based practice the College of Nursing is helping to build for nursing and health care,” says Dr. Laura Dzurec, dean of the College of Nursing.

Ohio Board of Nursing approval differs from accreditation in that it is legally required.  In the state of Ohio, the board must grant approval for any pre-licensure nursing program. For the College of Nursing, this includes the Associate of Applied Science degree program on the Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Tuscarawas, and Twinsburg campuses; the Bachelor of Science program on the Kent, Stark, Geauga, Salem and Trumbull campuses; and the accelerated Bachelor of Science option on the Kent Campus, says Yvonne Smith, assistant dean of nursing operations, College of Nursing. 

The 2007 visit was unique in that the consultant visited both the baccalaureate and the associate degree programs.  As a result, the review lasted five days, during which time the consultant visited the Kent, Ashtabula, Stark and Geauga/Twinsburg campuses.  Although the consultant was unable to travel to the East Liverpool, Salem, Trumbull and Tuscarawas Campuses, she had an opportunity to meet with campus program administrators and faculty, Smith added.

“During the September visit, the OBN education consultant determined the College is in compliance with the statutory and rule requirements pertaining to nursing programs.  Without this approval, the program cannot exist,” Smith says.

The consultant’s report was presented at the 2007 November meeting of the Ohio Board of Nursing at which time full five-year approval was granted to the College.

The College of Nursing is one of the most comprehensive nursing schools with undergraduate and graduate programs. It is one of the largest colleges of nursing in Ohio and ranks in the 98th percentile in size in the U.S.

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Media Contacts:
Rachel Wenger-Pelosi, 330-672-8046, rwenger@kent.edu