September 8, 2005
For Immediate Release:
Plattsburgh, New York… Clinton Community College has received notification from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission that the associate degree nursing program has been granted full accreditation with the next evaluation visit scheduled for the Spring 2013.
The Director of Nursing and Allied Health, Pat Shinn, RN, MS, worked with the nursing faculty of 4 full-time and 6 part-time instructors to write a comprehensive "Self Study Report"(SSR) that was submitted to NLNAC prior to their visit in March 2005. The 200-page document included information about every aspect of the Nursing Program. In March, two NLNAC site visitors were on campus for
2 ½ days to amplify, verify and clarify what was written in the SSR. " It put an extra load on us all as
we prepared for the site visit," Shinn stated, "but the time and effort paid off in helping us identify areas we can improve and make our program stronger."
In a congratulatory letter addressed to the college president, Executive Director, Barbara R. Grummet, of the NLNAC, Inc. stated, " The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and its predecessor, the National League for Nursing, have stood for standards of excellence for all types of nursing education for over 50 years. By choosing to be accredited by NLNAC, you and your faculty have demonstrated your commitment to the highest standards of nursing education. Your successful accreditation shows that your school does indeed meet these high standards."
Clinton Community College sought initial accreditation for its nursing program through the National League for Nursing in November 1988. In 1996, accreditation was reaffirmed through 2005.
"A successful accreditation recommendation from the NLNAC is the highest affirmation of a quality educational experience a nursing program can receive," expressed CCC President, Maurice Hickey.
"It is an external assurance of the best nursing education available. We at Clinton Community College are very proud of our nursing program, our nursing faculty and the excellence recognized through this accreditation."
Clinton’s nursing program presently has 121 students. The program offers several options, a Four Semester Associate in Applied Science in Nursing, a six semester Liberal Arts in Humanities and Social Science Advising Option for students who need to spread the academic program over 3 years, and a Transition in Nursing course for LPN and transfer students. A minimum of 66 credits is required for completion of the nursing program, 35 credits (53%) in nursing and 31 credits (47%) in general education.
The nursing program attracts a wide range of students including adult learners as well as those just out of high school. It regularly draws students from areas in and around New York and Vermont and occasionally from as far away as New Mexico, Alaska and Japan. Because the demand for nurses has increased dramatically over the past several years, the college is seeing an increase in applications to the nursing program. Applicants may find themselves on a waiting list prior to entering the popular program.
For more information about Clinton Community College’s Nursing Program, call the Admissions Office at 518 562-4170 or visit the website at www.clinton.edu <http://www.clinton.edu>.
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