UPEI Faculty of Nursing receives seven-year accreditation from national body
The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Prince Edward Island has been granted the maximum seven-year accreditation from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN), the national accrediting body for nursing education in Canada.
Accreditation promotes excellence and is recognized worldwide as an important, objective method to assess professional education programs. As part of the CASN accreditation process, the Faculty of Nursing prepared self-study reports and underwent a rigorous on-site visit by members of the CASN Accreditation Bureau Review Team.
“I am so delighted that the Faculty of Nursing has received seven-year accreditation,” said Dr. Gulrose Jiwani, Dean of Nursing. “It is a result of the exemplary leadership of our faculty and staff in influencing nursing education, practice, research, and policy on Prince Edward Island and beyond.”
Dr. Jiwani added, “It takes a community to build strong programs, and our team has created just that for the Faculty of Nursing.”
Suzie Durocher-Hendriks, chair of the CASN Accreditation Bureau, wrote to Dr. Jiwani indicating that after a meeting on May 8, and, based on an on-site accreditation visit in March, UPEI had been granted accreditation for its Faculty of Nursing Educational Unit and its five undergraduate programs: Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Bachelor of Science in Nursing, advanced standing; Bachelor of Science in Nursing, first-year entry from Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN); and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, second-year entry from LPN.
Durocher-Hendriks added, “The CASN Accreditation Bureau recognizes the strengths of your educational unit and nursing education programs.”
Earlier this year, the UPEI Senate and Board of Governors elevated what was formerly known as the “UPEI School of Nursing” to the “UPEI Faculty of Nursing,” recognizing the expansion of nursing programs, stellar research and scholarship, and curriculum grounded in the philosophy of primary health care as reasons for the change.
With yearly enrolment exceeding 300 students, the Faculty is now home to 45 professionals, including tenure-track faculty, adjunct graduate faculty, clinical and sessional instructors, coordinators, and administrative assistants dedicated to advancing the Faculty of Nursing’s mission and vision.
“I am very pleased to hear the wonderful news regarding the seven-year accreditation received by the Faculty of Nursing,” said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor. “Congratulations to Dr. Jiwani as well as all of the faculty and staff who worked so diligently and contributed to this important process. I am so proud of my colleagues as this success is a testament to the quality of the Faculty of Nursing’s educational unit and programs, and its tremendous growth.”
