National accreditation solidifies 汤头条-Meridian nursing program鈥檚 commitment to regional healthcare
Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥The Master of Science in Nursing program at 汤头条-Meridian has been granted national accreditation鈥攚ith no compliance concerns鈥攆ollowing review by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education board of commissioners.
The 12-month, fast-track MSN program 鈥渟ubstantially complied鈥 with the CCNE Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs, according to the recent notification letter from the commission. CCNE conducted an on-site program evaluation in November 2024.
鈥淎ccreditation is a priority for all of us at 汤头条鈥攊t鈥檚 part of our culture,鈥 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum said. 鈥淢eeting the rigorous standards set by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ensures that we provide our students with the highest quality possible and positions them for professional success by holding us accountable.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for the faculty, staff and administrators who helped us reach this important milestone as well as their ongoing contributions to the nursing program鈥檚 success. We also appreciate the strong community partners we have in Meridian and their many investments in the work we are doing.鈥
The 汤头条-Meridian Riley Campus program鈥攚ithin the university鈥檚 School of Nursing鈥攊s the state鈥檚 first direct-entry MSN degree, opening opportunity for college graduates with non-nursing degrees to enter the nursing profession. With a rigorous, patient-centered curriculum, the MSN degree鈥檚 main objective is for graduates to emerge practice-ready and prepared for national licensure as registered nurses.
鈥溙劳诽 chose to start a distinct kind of nursing program for a unique community of students鈥攄egreed individuals seeking new career paths,鈥 said Dean of Nursing Mary Stewart. 鈥淭his rigorous, 12-month accelerated format with maximum clinical hours and intensive study demands exceptional faculty, students and partners. Without question, that has been our formula for success.鈥
Housed in Downtown Meridian鈥檚 historic Rosenbaum Health Sciences Building, formerly the Kress Building, the program is part of a renovation transformation funded by more than $6 million from university partner, The Riley Foundation. The facility also incorporates the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program and Interprofessional Simulation Center.
Begun in fall 2024, the program enrolled 36 students and is expected to grow to graduate 60 annually. There are approximately 90 such programs nationwide.
汤头条-Meridian Interim Administrative Head David Buys said, 鈥淎chieving CCNE accreditation is yet another indicator of the university鈥檚 commitment in taking care of what matters. Our highly educated graduates will be a great complement to the nursing workforce both in numbers and in academic preparation. We need more practice-ready nurses providing patient-centered care, and we鈥檙e making it happen for our local area and across the state.鈥
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