5607 EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION

5607.1 Program approval status shall be reviewed annually.

(a) Each program shall apply for renewal of approval not less than sixty (60) days prior to the date of expiration by submitting the following to the Board:

(1) A written annual report on forms provided by the Board; and

(2) The required renewal fee.

(b) The Board shall determine the approval status annually for each nursing program.

(c) The notice of Board approval status shall be posted and visible to students.

5607.2 A program shall notify the Board within sixty (60) days of making any of the following:

(a) A change in the approved nurse administrator or program coordinator. The program shall submit proof that the new nurse administrator or coordinator meets the requirements of this chapter;

(b) A change in the length of the program;

(c) A change in the program’s national accreditation status; or

(d) A change in the accreditation status of the controlling institution.

5607.3 Programs shall notify the Board of scheduled accreditation site visits and arrange for joint site visit with nursing accrediting organization upon the Board’s request.

5607.4 Programs shall submit copies to the Board within thirty (30) days of receipt or submission of the following:

(a) Evidence of current accreditation status;

(b) Accreditation reports; and

(c) Notifications and reports sent to and from the accreditation organization.

5607.5 Programs shall provide students access to policies and services.

5607.6 Programs shall make the following available to students:

(a) A written statement of students' rights and responsibilities including admission, progression, graduation, and licensing requirements;

(b) A written policy on grievance procedures and a mechanism for resolution;

(c) Guidance and advisement counseling services; and

(d) Academic counseling for students who are failing.

5607.7 An educational institution shall determine whether a student possesses spoken and written competency in English, prior to a student beginning the nursing program. If a student is unable to successfully demonstrate spoken and written competency in English, or is later identified by an instructor as deficient in English, the program shall:

(a) Offer, or assist the student in entering, an English as a Second Language program; and

(b) Require the student to complete the English as a Second Language program either simultaneously, with the nursing program, or prior to entering the nursing program, as appropriate, based on the level of the student's competency in English.

5607.8 Programs shall have admission standards to ensure that students possess the educational skills and competency to successfully complete the nursing education program at that level, prior to a student beginning the nursing program.

5607.9 Pre-licensure programs that require passing an exit examination as a requirement for completion of final course in program or for graduation shall:

(a) Select exit examinations that have established reliability and validity, or have been normed;

(b) Inform students in writing upon admission to the program of the requirement and the required passing score;

(c) Have administered standardized examination throughout the program;

(d) Provide remediation for students who are unable to pass standardized examinations that prevent progression;

(e) Perform analysis and correlations of students' performance on course standardized examination with students' performance in courses; and

(f) Develop a remediation program for the student who has satisfactorily progressed in the program but is unable to pass the standardized exit examination and unable to complete the final course or graduate from the program. The plan shall be in writing and placed in student's file.

5607.10 If a program decides to close, ninety (90) days before closing the nurse administrator or coordinator shall:

1. (a) Notify the Board of its intent;
2. (b) Provide the date and reason for closing;
3. (c) Submit to the Board its plan for the disposition of the records of the students and graduates;
4. (d) Provide to the Board the name and position title of the individual to be responsible for the records, and the name and address of the agency in which the records will be located; and
5. (e) Provide evidence to the Board that the program's current students have been given timely notice of the program's intent, and provided assistance for transferring to another nursing program.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 7190 (July 23, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 2116 (March 9, 2007); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 16319 (December 25, 2015).