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IHL board approves statewide nursing accreditation recommendations after annual report shows staffing and clinical placement gaps
Summary
The Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Board approved accreditation recommendations for Mississippi nursing programs after hearing an annual report that documented enrollment trends, faculty vacancies, clinical placement pressures and graduate outcomes.
The Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees voted to approve board staff recommendations on accreditation for Mississippi nursing degree programs following a presentation of the system’s annual nursing report.
The report, presented by Dr. Melissa Temple of the IHL Office of Academic and Student Affairs — Nursing Education, reviewed licensure, program and workforce data for the 2023–24 academic year and recommended initial, full or continuing accreditation with conditions for several programs. "As the regulatory authority for accreditation of schools of nursing in the state of Mississippi, the Office of Academic and Student Affairs Nursing Education oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of new and existing schools of nursing," Temple told trustees.
The nut graph: The report showed mixed signs — an increase in graduate-prepared nurses and overall program pass rates above the national average, alongside declines in active RN licenses and a persistent vacancy picture in hospitals and long-term care. Board staff told trustees that four schools (representing five programs) were recommended for continuing accreditation with conditions and monitoring; the board approved the recommendations as presented.
Key findings and board action
Temple said Mississippi had 25 institutions with nursing schools offering 41 degree programs. Enrollment and admissions trends were nuanced: admissions declined slightly for the third consecutive year with 3,847 admissions in 2023–24 compared with 3,865 the prior year, while overall enrollment in fall 2024 rose to 5,888. Temple noted that associate and baccalaureate programs turned away more than 700 qualified applicants because programs lacked capacity.
Workforce data presented in the packet showed 1,520 RN vacancies reported by hospitals and long-term care facilities for 2023 and a reported need for 406 additional RNs over the next two years. Temple said RN turnover reported by hospitals was 21.2% in 2023.
The report also documented faculty vacancy trends: IHL data showed a decline in the faculty vacancy rate from 33% to 22% in fall 2024 after several years of increasing vacancies. Temple said Mississippi programs continued to post licensure pass rates above the national average and that first-time NCLEX test takers increased over the prior three years.
Temple and board staff described clinical-placement pressures as a growing challenge, including out‑of‑state programs placing students in Mississippi clinical sites: more than 2,100 such placements in 2023–24, of which 44% were non‑Mississippi residents. The packet itemized compensations some programs pay preceptors, with amounts cited up to $800 per preceptor per student.
Board actions and process clarity
Board staff recommended approval of accreditation actions and Temple presented conditions and monitoring steps for programs that had not met one or more state or national requirements. Trustee Teresa Hubbard made the motion to approve the accreditation recommendations; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. The item passed.
Why this matters
Trustees were asked to approve follow-up timelines, including development of performance improvement plans by June 30 where required and submission of follow-up reports. Those conditions are intended to align program improvements with state and national accreditation standards and to preserve student progression and licensure eligibility.
The board did not adopt additional policy changes during the discussion. Trustees invited staff to continue reporting workforce and clinical‑placement metrics at future meetings so the board can monitor capacity and the impact of placement constraints on program access.
Ending
Board staff will return with required follow‑up reports and timelines for programs placed on continuing accreditation with conditions. Trustee Hubbard closed the item after the vote; no further substantive discussion was recorded on accreditation at this session.
