An Observer on a site visit team is a representative from a nursing program beginning its initial or continuing accreditation review process.
The Observer accompanies the peer evaluators on a site visit team during the review of a nursing program’s accreditation site visit. The Observer experience offers immersive engagement in site visit activities, such as attending interviews with college administrators, faculty, staff, and students; reviewing documents in the evidence room; touring educational and clinical facilities; and observing the site visit team’s interactions.
A site visit team may have only one observer and that observer may not have any conflicts of interest as defined by ACEN Policy #1 Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest.
All host programs must agree to have an observer accompany the site visit team.
The ACEN cannot guarantee that all requests will be honored nor will all requests be approved due to the variability in the number of scheduled site visits. However, requests to have an observer accompany a site visit team will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Programs that agree to host an observer will receive priority.
Neither the ACEN nor the host nursing program is responsible for any expenses (e.g., travel, lodging, meal, etc.) incurred by the observer in connection with observing the site visit team process.
All expenses must be borne by the observer and/or the observer’s governing organization/nursing program.
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by providing specialized accreditation for all levels of nursing education and transition-to-practice programs.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
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