What do you do when a school loses its accreditation?

[Brand Alexander]

Hello, I'm about 1 semester away from graduating, and our school out of nowhere dropped a bombshell that we are losing our accreditation in one week. This has set me back tremendously as I work with the federal government. I called my state board and they said I'm still able to take boards, but major hospitals in my area will not accept graduates from unaccredited programs unless they have a BSN for my state so far. I've also called accredited BSN programs and they said they will take us, but I was wanting to know if I obtain my BSN, will I be considered accredited by national standards or am I still limited? I don't want to start over. Med surg, PEDs and OB was so hard, and I can't imagine myself doing it over again. I'm an LPN transitioning to RN.

[Peter Davids, DNP]

 

When a school loses its accreditation in the USA, it can have significant implications for students, faculty, and the institution itself. Here are the typical steps that might be taken in such a situation:

1. **Notification:** The school administration will inform students, faculty, and relevant stakeholders about the loss of accreditation. This notification will detail the reasons for the loss and the timeline for the accreditation termination.

2. **Transfer Options:** Students will be advised about their options, which may include transferring to another accredited institution to complete their studies. This could involve researching and applying to other schools, transferring credits, and understanding financial aid implications.

3. **Teach-Out Plans:** The school might create a "teach-out" plan to ensure that current students have the opportunity to complete their programs before the loss of accreditation takes full effect. This plan outlines how the school will maintain necessary educational services during the transition period.

4. **Appeals and Remediation:** Some schools might appeal the decision to revoke accreditation or work on addressing the issues that led to the loss. This can involve implementing improvements in curriculum, faculty qualifications, facilities, and other areas identified as deficient.

5. **Alumni Impact:** Alumni may be affected if they need to verify their degree for employment, further education, or licensure. They should keep records of coursework, syllabi, and other documentation to demonstrate their education.

6. **Legal and Financial Implications:** The school will need to address legal and financial matters resulting from the loss of accreditation. This might include potential lawsuits, refunding tuition, and managing debts.

7. **Transcripts:** The school should continue to provide transcripts for students who have completed their programs, including those who graduated before the accreditation loss.

8. **Communication with Licensing Boards:** Students pursuing careers that require licenses (such as healthcare or law) should work with licensing boards to understand how the accreditation loss might affect their eligibility.

9. **Future Plans:** The institution may explore options to regain accreditation in the future, which often involves a thorough self-assessment, addressing deficiencies, and reapplying for accreditation.

10. **Public Perception:** The school's reputation might be affected by the loss of accreditation, and it may need to communicate its plans for improvement to rebuild trust.

It's important for students and staff to stay informed about the situation and work closely with the school administration to make informed decisions about their education and future paths.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

It seems to me if you are transferring to get your BSN and that school is accredited then when you graduate with the BSN you will have graduated with an BSN from that accredited college.  Your prior transfer credits will not interfere with that.  The important thing is that they are agreeing to accept your transfer credits as that is the main sticking point when going to an unaccredited school. 

As to clinicals, I think it would be an RN to BSN program and the clinicals would be based on their individual program requirements.  Not sure though, as it would be a grey area if you transfer before you have your RN.  But most brick and mortar school RN to BSN programs still have clinicals, but they are usually specialized like community public health or ICU or home care etc.  You would have to further investigate each school to find the one that would work the best for you re program requirements, tuition cost, financial aid options and who accepts most or all of your transfer credits.  Sadly, I don't think that is always a given even when you transfer schools that don't have these problems.