College of Nursing Gets Accreditation Advice from Align Nursing Education Consultants
The American University of Kurdistan (AUK) is seeking accreditation at the university level, and its College of Nursing is simultaneously seeking programmatic accreditation. Dr. Heather Gable and Dr. Kara Platt, representatives of Align Nursing Education Consultants in the United States, visited the AUK campus on April 25. Their visit was made possible through the United States Department of State Grant titled “Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq.” As part of the agenda, Dr. Gable and Dr. Platt gave an overview of what to expect during the accrediting process, to be overseen by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Several AUK faculty and staff members attended the talk in the AUK Auditorium, though much of the focus was on the students in AUK’s College of Nursing, the key stakeholders.
Dr. Gable and Dr. Platt reiterated the significance of accreditation. As Dr. Gable put it: “There is a gold standard, and that is what accreditation is about.” As Dr. Platt explained, “The value [of accreditation] is that you are graduating from somewhere with a seal of approval,” and this “seal” could secure admission into a graduate program and “make or break” job prospects. They remarked that the College of Nursing took its first steps toward approval about 18 months ago, and they advised the audience that accrediting authorities will soon be examining the College of Nursing plan of study for general rigor and specific alignment to U.S. practices. They told those in attendance what questions to expect from the accreditation committee, which will touch mostly focus on the two leading indicators of quality: student progress and student satisfaction.
Dr. Gable began explaining the five criteria by which the College of Nursing and its bachelor’s program will be assessed. Firstly, there is “administration & capacity,” relating to internal oversight and the availability of instructional resources. Second comes “faculty,” since their credentials and instructional efforts are important. “Student input & support” is third, as students’ academic and personal needs are to be addressed. “Curriculum” comes fourth; Dr. Gable added that accreditors want to see evidence of coursework on pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatry, and community health. The fifth is “measurability,” as certain quantifiable benchmarks must be met to earn and maintain accreditation.
The session closed with a question-and-answer exchange. One student asked about the timing between institutional and program-level accreditations; the answer was that both accreditations are required for full effect. Another student asked about graduating before accreditation has been earned; the answer was that accreditation is not retroactive, but the program is on-target to earn it by the occasion of the first graduation, at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. AUK Library Director Gulan Ahmed asked about the resources needed for supporting the program and its students (e.g., peer-reviewed journals and electronic resources). CAPA Director Loucine Hayes wanted to know if she should be preparing continuing education courses aimed at the future alumni of the College of Nursing; Dr. Gable replied that there is no requirement for universities to offer such courses but they would serve to promote a culture of life-long learning.
