LAC 46:XLVII.3537. Procedure for Restructuring an Existing Undergraduate or Graduate Nursing Education Degree Program into/within Higher Education (Formerly §3534)

A. Phasing-out an Existing Nursing Program (refer to §3531) 1. Notification of intent for restructuring an existing undergraduate and/or graduate nursing education degree program(s). A letter of intent shall be submitted to the board to phase out an existing undergraduate and/or graduate nursing education degree program and phase in a new nursing program not less than one year prior to the planned implementation date. Two copies of the letter are to be submitted. 2. Termination of an Existing Undergraduate and/or Graduate Nursing Education Degree Program(s) a. A plan shall be submitted to the board to phase out the existing undergraduate and/or graduate nursing education degree program(s) to include: i. a dateline for final admission of students to the existing program; ii. a plan for the normal progression of students in the existing program; iii. a contingency plan for students who cannot follow the normal progression sequence in the existing program (i.e., failures, illness, etc.); and iv. the projected date of graduation for the final class of the existing program. b. All board's standards shall be maintained by the existing undergraduate and/or graduate nursing education degree program(s) until all students have transferred to another program or graduated. c. All students shall have assistance with transfers to the new nursing programs or to another program of choice. A list of the names of these students shall be submitted to the board. d. The undergraduate and/or graduate nursing education degree program(s) and the parent institution shall develop and implement a systematic plan for maintaining student records in accordance with retention policy of the institution. e. The following records of the existing undergraduate and/or graduate nursing education degree program(s) shall be retained: i. students' applications to the program (when applicable); ii. students' final academic transcripts; iii. graduate clinical transcripts; iv. all curricula plans offered, including catalog course descriptions; and v. rosters of all graduation classes and dates of graduations. f. The board shall be notified of the arrangements for the administrative control and safe storage of the permanent program and student records. B. Phasing-in a new nursing program (refer to §3533).