UBTech Receive Accolades from Accrediting Agencies
After years spent preparing for their 2023 accreditations Uintah Basin Technical College is pleased to announce they have met strict qualities and standards required by two different accrediting bodies.
“All our programs and instructors are exceptional,” said UBTech President Aaron Weight. “Our student success is a tribute to the high-quality educational experiences at the College.”
The two accreditations – one administered by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and the other by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) – are held every six and eight years respectively. In early 2023, the years aligned leading UBTech to both accreditation visits.
These agencies are charged with ensuring the college and their nursing program meet stringent accreditation standards.
Educational institutions across the United States often undergo an accreditation process to ensure the institution is following policies, procedures, and other requirements. Accreditations provide students with the legitimacy of the institution and often provide confidence in their educational pursuits.
COE focuses on industry connectivity to ensure curriculum is aligned with local needs.
“We were successful in our COE visit,” said UBTech Vice President of Instructional Services Mark Dockins. “We anticipate receiving our COE accreditation in June, which enables UBTech to continue to provide high quality programs for another six years.”
The COE visit included seven highly trained educators who traveled to UBTech from as far away as Tennessee and Michigan to review the last six years of documentation proving the college met COE standards.
Dockins said the college received accolades. The visiting COE team members commented on how well UBTech celebrates students, recognizes their achievements, how well the institution is aligned with local industry, and creating company partners, said Dockins.
“It’s always a great learning experience,” said UBTech Director of Curriculum and Instructor Quality Diane Macdonald. “It helps us grow and get better.”
To meet accreditation requirements programs at UBTech must have 60 percent of students complete their programs, 70 percent of students placed in relevant employment, and 70 percent of students successful in obtaining and passing national and state testing to receive licensures.
These three areas are called Completion, Placement and Licensure or CPL. Students can have confidence they can complete, be hired, and are prepared for national and state tests.
After COE completed their visit, the ACEN team of three came to the campuses. Every eight years, UBTech seeks additional specific accreditation through ACEN for its Practical Nursing program.
ACEN accreditation indicates that a nursing program has met rigorous standards for educational quality and is recognized as meeting the needs of the nursing profession and the healthcare community.
Many nursing schools and programs seek ACEN accreditation to demonstrate their commitment to providing high-quality nursing education and improving their graduates’ employment prospects.
The ACEN team awarded UBTech’s Practical Nursing Program with four areas of strengths during the visit. The first area of strength included excellence in nursing education partnerships with local healthcare agencies who support the student experience via providing supplies and equipment used in the lab and simulation setting.
The second area of strength recognized the substantial physical resources within the lab and simulation facilities which students have access to. The third and fourth areas of strengths were the PN Program’s high success on NCLEX pass rates and program completion.
“It was a little stressful,” said UBTech Health Professions Director Andrelee Birchell. “But I’m so proud of the instructors who ensured we were prepared for these visits.”
“UBTech faculty and industry partners provide support resulting in outstanding educational experience for our students,” she said.
The health profession programs also received a written commendation from COE highlighting its significant mark of quality and excellence.
The ACEN site visit team spoke highly of the UBTech Practical Nursing Program. They were also complimentary towards the college, local industry partners, and our strong communities here in the Basin, said Birchell.
For the last two years, Best Value Schools recognized UBTech’s Practical Nursing program as the top LPN Program in the state of Utah. And this year, it was recognized by Nursing Process (another ranking platform) as the fourth-ranked Practical Nursing Program (out of 423 institutions) in the entire Western region.
