DACC nursing program regains national accreditation

Dona Ana Community College President Renay Scott announced the school’s nursing program is finally getting back its national accreditation.

“It’s all about the students,” Scott said.

The school lost it three years ago when the National League for Nursing Accreditation said the school lacked the proper student-to-faculty ratio. Dr. Scott says the college just wasn’t paying faculty a competitive salary.

“We had to commit to this program and make sure our nurse educators were receiving competitive pay so that they would stay with us rather then be attracted out to the hospitals,” Scott said.

Many people enrolled in the program dropped out or transferred to other schools. Eighty One of them are part of a class action lawsuit against the school. The suit claims Dona Ana Community College new of troubles but did nothing.

“The students were certainly devastated,” Attorney Joleen Youngers said.

Youngers, who represents those former students, says they weren’t notified until it was too late. She says this kept them from getting a good job.

“I’m pleased they received the national accreditation. We need a lot of nurses in this state and in this area,” Youngers said. “However, that doesn’t fix the harm for these students who were caught up in the loss of accreditation and as a result lost on average a year of their career as nurses.”

Dr. Scott now says the program will have national accreditation for the next five years.