Lebanon (American University of Beirut) Hariri School of Nursing programs internationally reaccredited for quality education
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science (MS) programs of the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing (HSON) at the American University of Beirut have been granted a second reaccreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for another 10 years, extending to December 2032.
The HSON is the first school outside the US to be accredited by CCNE, when it was accredited in 2007, followed by a reaccreditation in 2012 for 10 years. The Middle East’s first nursing school, HSON follows the American model of nursing education and practice with the mission to promote and maintain the highest educational standards of excellence, integrity, and professionalism in nursing.
The CCNE was recognized by the US Secretary of Education as a national autonomous accrediting agency that contributes to the improvement of the public’s health. Based in Washington, DC, it serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. With the aim to support the continuing improvement of the nursing education, its accreditation is based on a self-regulatory process that encourages continuous self-assessment by nursing programs.
The CCNE reaccreditation attests to the continued quality and integrity of the baccalaureate and graduate programs at HSON, in addition to the school’s effective educational practices.
“This is indeed another milestone attesting to our continued efforts in promoting excellence in nursing education at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, and globally,” said Dr. Laila Farhoud, professor and interim dean at HSON. “It is a major achievement for HSON that attests to its quality, having during the last period gained its independent status in 2018 and launched soon after that its PhD program, reflecting the congruence of the mission, goals, and expected learning outcomes with those of the university.”
Chair of the CCNE Board of Commissioners Elizabeth Ritt stated in her announcement of the reaccreditation of both programs that the Board determined that the programs met all four accreditation standards. These are criteria that determine the performance of the program; namely, mission and governance, institutional commitment and resources, curriculum and teaching-learning practices, and assessment and achievement of program outcomes.
“HSON faculty, staff, administration, students, and alumni have worked hard as a team, and this has contributed to the success of HSON and to it continuing to meet the accreditation standards,” added Farhoud. “These standards were met through the curricula that are continuously updated to meet the essentials of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and trends in nursing education; high-quality teaching and research of the faculty; and our structured evaluation process to monitor programs, faculty, and students.”