1. (a) New programs.

   1. (1) Proposal to develop a professional pre-licensure or post-licensure nursing program.

      1. (A) A governing institution accredited by a board recognized approval/accrediting body is eligible to submit a proposal to develop a professional nursing program. Notice of intent to establish a nursing program shall be submitted in writing 12-18 months prior to the anticipated start of the program.
      2. (B) The proposal shall be completed under the direction/consultation of a registered nurse who holds at least a master's degree in nursing and who has teaching and administrative experience in the type of program being proposed.
      3. (C) The proposal shall include information outlined in board guidelines.
      4. (D) The proposal will be considered by the board following a public hearing at a regularly scheduled meeting of the board. The board may approve the proposal, may defer action on the proposal, or may deny further consideration of the proposal.

   2. (2) Application for initial accreditation.

      1. (A) Following approval to develop a professional nursing program, a director, faculty, and support staff shall be employed to develop the application for initial licensure as outlined in an Order of the Board.
      2. (B) Initial accreditation must be granted prior to admission of students.
      3. (C) The director and faculty shall plan the program of learning.
      4. (D) The application shall include information outlined in board guidelines.
      5. (E) The board shall review the application and supporting evidence at a regularly scheduled meeting. If the program is based upon sound educational principles and is in compliance with the board's requirements as specified in §§215.2-215.13 of this title, then initial accreditation may be granted and an initial accreditation fee assessed per §223.1 of this title (relating to Fees).
   3. (3) Survey visits shall be conducted, as necessary, by staff until full accreditation is granted.

2. (b) Program Expansion.

   1. (1) Only nursing programs that have full accreditation are eligible to initiate or modify distance education initiatives.

   2. (2) The board's approval is necessary prior to:

      1. (A) implementation of an initial distance education initiative by any accredited nursing program;
      2. (B) implementation of additional distance education initiatives by a basic nursing program;
      3. (C) addition or deletion of courses to an existing approved distance education initiative by a basic nursing program; or
      4. (D) reactivation of a dormant or closed distance education initiative by a basic nursing program.
   3. (3) A basic nursing program intending to establish or modify a distance education initiative or a post-licensure nursing program intending to establish an initial distance education initiative shall submit a proposal using board approved guidelines.
   4. (4) A post-licensure nursing program with prior approval for a distance education initiative must notify the board prior to implementation when the program plans additional distance education initiatives or makes changes to the course offerings at existing distance education initiatives.
   5. (5) An expedited proposal approval process may be used for a basic nursing program's request to modify existing distance education initiatives.
   6. (6) Educational resources and services of the distance education initiative shall meet the same standards as those of the governing institution and shall meet the board's requirements as stated in §§215.2-215.13 of this title.
   7. (7) The dean/director shall appoint a coordinator who meets the qualifications of nurse faculty as stated in §215.7 (c) of this title (relating to Faculty Qualifications and Faculty Organization) to supervise the implementation of distance education initiative(s) which provide the entire program of study.
   8. (8) Documentation of notification to the Regional Council of the governing institution about plans for establishment or modification of distance education initiatives shall be provided to the board prior to implementation, as appropriate.
   9. (9) Evidence of approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and other regulating/accrediting bodies shall be provided to the board prior to implementation, as appropriate.

   10. (10) When a distance education initiative of a basic nursing program which provides the entire program of study has been dormant for more than two academic years, the director shall:

       1. (A) reactivate the distance education initiative by submitting a proposal for reactivation using the guidelines for proposals for distance education initiatives, or
       2. (B) submit a plan to close the dormant distance education initiative as outlined in subsection (d) of this section.
   11. (11) Distance education initiatives of basic nursing programs which have been closed may be reactivated by submitting a proposal for reactivation using the guidelines for proposals for distance education initiatives.

   12. (12) When a distance education initiative of a post-licensure nursing program which provides the entire program of study has been dormant for more than two academic years, the director shall:

       1. (A) notify board staff of plans to reactivate the distance education initiative, or
       2. (B) submit a plan to close the dormant distance education initiative as outlined in (d) of this section.
   13. (13) Distance education initiatives of post-licensure nursing programs which have been closed may be reactivated by submitting notification to board staff prior to reactivation.

3. (c) Transfer of Administrative Control by Governing Institutions.

   1. (1) A governing institution of a professional nursing education program which has Full Accreditation status may request permission from the board to transfer administrative control.

      1. (A) A governing institution that proposes to transfer administrative control of a nursing program to another governing institution accredited by a board recognized approval/accrediting body shall submit:

         1. (i) notice of intent to transfer administrative control in writing to the board 12 months prior to the anticipated date of transfer; and
         2. (ii) a written plan for closure of the nursing program as required by subsection (d) of this section.

      2. (B) The governing institution which will assume responsibility for the program shall submit a Proposal to Assume Administrative Control to the board six months prior to a regularly scheduled board meeting.

         1. (i) The proposal shall be completed under the direction/consultation of a registered nurse who holds at least a master's degree in nursing and who has teaching and administrative experience in the type of program being proposed.
         2. (ii) The proposal shall include information outlined in board approved guidelines.
         3. (iii) The proposal shall include documentation of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approval, as applicable.
         4. (iv) The proposal will be considered by the board at a regularly scheduled meeting.
         5. (v) The board may approve, may defer action, or may deny further consideration of the proposal.

   2. (2) Accreditation status of transferred nursing program(s).

      1. (A) If the governing institution that is assuming administrative control previously has been responsible for an accredited professional nursing program and does not intend to change the program of study then the professional nursing education program shall maintain its accreditation status.
      2. (B) If the governing institution that is assuming administrative control previously has been responsible for an accredited professional nursing program and intends to alter the program of study then that governing institution shall submit a proposal to change the program of study in accordance with §215.9(h) of this title (relating to Program of Study).
      3. (C) If the governing institution that is assuming administrative control has not previously been responsible for an accredited professional nursing program then that governing institution shall submit an application for initial accreditation in accordance with §215.3(2) of this title (relating to Program Development, Expansion and Closure).

4. (d) Closing a Program or Distance Education Initiative.

   1. (1) When the decision to close a program or a distance education initiative which provides the entire program of study has been made, the director must notify the board and submit a written plan for closure which includes the following:

      1. (A) reason for closing the program or distance education initiative;
      2. (B) date of intended closing;
      3. (C) academic provisions for students;
      4. (D) provisions made for access to and safe storage of vital school records, including transcripts of all graduates; and
      5. (E) methods to be used to maintain requirements and standards until the program or distance education initiative closes.
   2. (2) The program or distance education initiative shall continue within standards until all classes, which are enrolled at the time of the decision to close, have graduated. In the event this is not possible, a plan must be developed whereby students may transfer to other accredited programs.

Source Note:The provisions of this §215.3 adopted to be effective September 1, 1999, 23 TexReg 13070.