ACEN evaluators impressed by academic credentials of TCC nursing faculty
FORT WORTH, Texas (Aug. 18, 2016) – Tarrant County College recently was awarded full reaccreditation for its nursing program from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). TCC is the only ACEN-accredited associate degree program in Tarrant County and one of only three in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment and speaks volumes about the quality of the education that Tarrant County College is providing our nursing students,” said Trinity River Campus President S. Sean Madison, Ed.D. “This noteworthy achievement would not have been possible without the passion, expertise and experience of our nursing faculty and the Health Care Professions program leadership.”
TCC met all six accreditation standards that were verified during the ACEN evaluators’ three-day intensive site visit in February 2016. The site visit included visits to clinical sites and classrooms and meetings with TCC administrators, faculty and the public. ACEN will conduct its next evaluation of the program in 2024.
In 1967, TCC’s nursing program began with approximately 25 students on South Campus at what was then called Tarrant County Junior College. The college relocated the program to Trinity River Campus East: Center for Health Care Professions in 2011. TCC’s nursing faculty, which includes 41 full-time instructors and 12 adjunct instructors, all hold at least a master’s degree. Additionally, 13 faculty are certified in specialty areas, two have doctorate degrees and four are pursuing doctorate degrees.
Approximately 550 students currently are enrolled in the nursing program, which doubled in size over the last six years to meet the increasing need of the community and in response to the nursing shortage. The nursing program graduation rate averages 85 percent. In 2015, only two community colleges had more students sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN® exam) in the state of Texas than TCC.
“Our students and the community can be confident that TCC will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that we continue our upward trend of graduating students who pass their exam on their first attempt,” said Nursing Program Director Deann Mitchell, Ph.D., R.N. “Additionally, they can count on us to attract and retain faculty who are exceptionally qualified to educate our students. They set expectations daily that surpass basic nursing education standards so that our reputation remains intact for graduating students with the skills necessary to join experienced nursing staffs and immediately meet the critical needs of patients.”
For more information about the nursing program, visit tccd.edu/nursing.
