Section R. 338.10303 - Initial program approval; procedureRule 303. The following requirements are established for initial approval of a program of nursing education:
(a) The sponsoring agency shall submit all the following to the board:(i) A letter of intent to initiate a program of nursing education.(ii) A feasibility study that demonstrates all the following, with supporting documentation relative to the proposed program location:(A) Need for the program.(B) Need for graduates of the proposed program.(C) Availability of students.(D) Impact on all existing nursing education programs in a 50-mile radius of the proposed program. The applying institution is responsible for surveying schools within the radius to determine the perceived impact the proposed program will have on the availability of the existing program's clinical placements, faculty, and student recruitment.(E) Ability of proposed clinical education sites to provide students with clinical experiences that meet course outcomes, provide students the opportunity to practice skills with individuals or groups across the life span and meet the requirements of R 338.10307(5), (6), (7), and (8). Evidence must also include documentation of the effect on other schools utilizing the proposed clinical facilities and letters of intent from the proposed clinical education sites, signed by the chief nursing officer, or an equivalent position, outlining the plan to accommodate all the sponsoring agency's students.(iii) Evidence that the mission of the sponsoring agency is consistent with the philosophy and purpose of a program to prepare students for the practice of nursing.(iv) Evidence that the sponsoring agency shall provide funding and other support for the nursing education program that meets all the following requirements: (A) A 5-year budget in which the first 2 years of the budget do not include tuition and the remaining 3 years of the budget includes tuition.(B) A financial statement prepared by an independent certified public accountant or auditor, a bank line of credit, or a surety bond that equals the total tuition for all students who have been enrolled for 2 years.(C) Submission of evidence that the sponsoring agency shall provide appropriate physical facilities and other support services for the nursing education program, in conjunction with other departments in the sponsoring agency, including faculty, administration, and student participation in governance of the sponsoring agency, a grievance or complaint process, counseling, academic advising, career placement, financial aid, and learning resource centers or a library.(v) Evidence of approval to provide financial aid for students, under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 USC 1070 to 1099d. If the sponsoring agency is unable to submit evidence that it is approved to provide financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 USC 1070 to 1099d, until after the board approves the program, the program, with board approval, may submit the evidence to the department before enrolling students to the program.(vi) A sponsoring agency that is an institution requiring approval from the department's proprietary schools unit, or its successor agency, to conduct a nursing education program or to confer a particular degree or certificate on the graduates of the program shall submit to the board a copy of the approval. A proprietary school shall possess a state-issued license, be in operation for 2 years, offer health-related programs, and demonstrate student success with results that meet or exceed state or national averages.(vii) Proposed number of students to be enrolled in the program annually, the number of times that enrollment periods are held per year, and the dates when enrollment periods are held annually.(viii) Proposed first date of admission of students to the nursing sequence of the program.(ix) Plans to recruit and employ a program director and other nursing faculty members sufficiently in advance of admitting students to the nursing sequence to ensure consistency in the planning and implementation of the curriculum. The plan should include a timeline for recruitment and disclose recruitment resources. If already appointed, the names and qualifications of the director of the program and other nursing faculty members must be provided.(x) The sponsoring agency shall provide evidence of a tuition policy in which students pay as they proceed through the program either by semesters, terms, units, or other time frame as specified by the sponsoring agency. The sponsoring agency shall also provide evidence of a refund policy that adheres to the refund policies of applicable state, federal, and accrediting agencies.(xi) Evidence that students possess the necessary prerequisite education before admission to the program. The program shall not be the provider of the prerequisite education, unless it is a state-approved higher educational institution or has the approval of this state to offer prerequisite courses.(xii) A student contract or enrollment application that outlines the nursing education program's admission requirements, a tuition refund policy that complies with paragraph (x) of this subdivision, a withdrawal and failure policy, and academic progression and program completion requirements.(xiii) History of sponsoring agency.(b) Following board approval of the required documentation in subdivision (a) of this rule and before admitting the first cohort, the program director shall submit a self-study report to be approved by the board. The report must set forth evidence of plans for and compliance with the following: (i) History of sponsoring agency.(iii) Conceptual framework.(iv) Curriculum to include end of program student learning outcomes and course student learning outcomes.(v) Course descriptions and outlines.(vi) Detailed plan of study that includes all of the following:(A) Program plan of study including all required courses.(C) Credits per course including theory, laboratory, clinical and simulation hours.(vii) Signed clinical contracts for clinical placements.(viii) Evaluation methods and tools.(x) Director and nursing faculty credentials.(xi) Student policies and support services.(c) The board shall require a site visit to the program by a board-approved nurse site reviewer. The report of the site visit must be prepared by the nurse site reviewer and provided to the board and the sponsoring agency. The program may admit students after the board determines that all deficiencies noted in the report are sufficiently resolved.(d) After the first cohort has been admitted and during the initial approval period, the program director shall submit an annual nursing education program report to the board. The nursing education program report must include information about each of the following:(i) Admission, progression, and retention of students.(ii) Student achievement on the required licensure NCLEX examination.(iii) Systematic program evaluation results, including analysis of end of program student learning outcomes and program outcomes, including but not limited to, NCLEX pass rates for first time takers, program completion rates and employment rates.(v) Nursing faculty qualifications, assignments, and any nursing faculty exceptions.Mich. Admin. Code R. 338.10303
1989 AACS; 2003 AACS; 2017 AACS 2017; 2018 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2022 AACS; 2024 MR 9, Eff. 5/8/2024