Higher learning
West Virginia University’s Interim Report
to the Higher Learning Commission
February 11, 2016
WVU has addressed the challenges identified in the 2014 HLC Visiting Team report. The summary below
highlights WVU’s efforts, paying particular attention to: first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates; a new General
Education Foundations program; Quality Matters certification and training; the hiring of a new Director of
Academic Excellence and Assessment; and clear evidence of ongoing assessment of programs. All efforts
outlined below integrate all three campuses, as well as foster a vibrant culture of assessment.
I. First-Time Nursing Pass Rates for the WVU Nursing
Program at WVUIT
The August 2014 Action letter requested that WVU’s 2016 Interim Report address the following:
3A: 1) The WVU Nursing Program on the WVUIT campus first-time pass rate is unacceptable. There
is a plan in place to address this. The report should include progress made and future planning to
avoid recurrence of this issue.
The first time NCLEX-RN passage rate in 2013 dropped drastically to 43.7 percent from the previous rate of
93.3 percent in 2012. The passage rate has since improved and additional efforts are being implemented to
address the issue.
A. Background
The West Virginia University School of Nursing (WVUSON) has offered a Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education (CCNE) accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree on the WVU Institute of
Technology Campus (WVUIT) since 1997 with the first graduating class in 1999. Prior to June 2008, WVUIT
had fiscal authority for the program, while WVUSON had academic authority. Diminished fiscal resources at
WVUIT resulted in low faculty salaries and increasing use of adjunct faculty. In 2006, the NCLEX -RN
passage rate was 56 percent, resulting in the WV Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nu rses
(RN Board) placing the accreditation of the program on provisional status, limiting admissions to the
program, and requiring a complete curricular analysis.
In 2008, WVUIT and WVUSON signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Appendix A) to allow for a cha nge
in administrative structure for the nursing program at WVUIT that gave WVUSON both academic and
administrative authority for the program. With this MOU, organizationally the WVUIT Department of Nursing
became a fourth department of the WVUSON. The budget for the program was established based on
WVUSON resource review, and WVUSON was given the authority for administering the budget. Recruitment,
hiring, and evaluation of faculty follow WVUSON policy. All faculty meet the criteria for national and state
accreditation agencies and WVUSON policies. WVUIT Department of Nursing faculty members have voting
privileges and are represented on committees. Salaries for faculty were raised to be equivalent to like ranks
at WVUSON. In addition to faculty salaries, funds were provided to purchase high fidelity simulation
equipment for the nursing skills lab.
After the change in administrative structure, the performance on the NCLEX-RN improved, increasing from
56.82 percent in 2006, to 89.5 percent in 2009. However, the passage rate continues to fluctuate and is
,Higher learning
impacted by the decrease in number of students graduating as a result of the restriction in admission
numbers.
B. Improvement Plan
The WVUSON has made significant progress in improving the NCLEX-RN pass rate at the WVUIT campus
through the implementation of a comprehensive improvement plan that included:
1. Updated skills lab and simulation center
A new nursing training center was established at Montgomery General Hospital in summer 2014 to be used
by WVUIT nursing students and staffed by WVUIT faculty. The training center includes a basic skills lab and
simulation center, which were moved to the new location prior to the start of the academic year. The center
includes six patient rooms, storage areas, a central nurses’ station and two large rooms for conferences
and debriefing. Three of the patient rooms are equipped for basic skills with manikins. Three additional
patient rooms are equipped with a high-fidelity SimMan, a high-fidelity child manikin, and a maternity
simulation manikin.
2. Comprehensive evaluation of courses to ensure consistency in teaching-learning
methodologies between the WVU Morgantown and WVUIT locations
The processes for annual course evaluation and annual curriculum evaluation were changed for the 201 4-15
academic year. Previously, courses offered at the WVUIT location were reviewed only by WVUIT nursing
faculty. This academic year, nursing courses at both locations are reviewed simultaneously by the
WVUSON BSN Curriculum Committee, which includes faculty from Morgantown and WVUIT.
Annual course evaluations, which include student evaluations, standardized test analysis, classroom test
analysis, faculty evaluation of strengths and areas for improvement, and faculty recommendations for
course changes, are presented to the committee by course coordinators from both campuses. The
committee reviews the evaluations and may offer additional recommendations for course improvement.
Annual curriculum evaluation by faculty members from both campuses also occurs at the end of the
academic year in preparation for the upcoming year.
3. Appointment of an Academic Counselor
One WVUIT faculty member has been assigned to work with at-risk students as part of her workload
agreement. The responsibilities for this position mirror those held by a similar position at the Morgantown
location. Responsibilities include:
• Providing individualized academic counseling to students, with a focus on study and test-taking
strategies, time management, and stress management;
• Consulting with faculty to develop individualized study plans;
• Referring students to faculty for tutoring in specific content areas;
• Overseeing remediation for students who do not meet benchmarks on standardized tests;
• Making referrals to other campus resources;
• Consulting with students who fail the NCLEX-RN and assisting with the development of an
individualized study plan and referral to appropriate resources;
• Coordinating the NCLEX-RN review course that is taken in the student’s final semester of the
program; and
• Using a new standardized testing predictor tool (ATI PULSE) that can identify students at the
sophomore level and above who are at risk of not passing the NCLEX-RN.
,Higher learning
4. Change in the NCLEX-RN review course to individualize preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam
As part of the curriculum, students enroll in the NSG 486 course during the final semester, which focuses
on NCLEX-RN licensure exam preparation. Changes have been made to this course to emphasize student
accountability in preparing for the exam, as well as identifying individual students’ strengths and
weaknesses. In addition to reviewing content areas and taking practice tests, students develop a portfolio
of review materials and previous standardized test results, which allows them to identify and focus on
specific areas. Beginning in spring 2016, students will have access to a standardized testing predictor tool
(ATI PULSE) that graphically predicts NCLEX-RN success based on individual student test results. Students
also meet individually with an academic counselor to develop a customized review plan.
Students take multiple proctored exams in the computer lab that simulate the NCLEX-RN and a
comprehensive standardized exam that predicts the likelihood of passing the NCLEX-RN. A three-day, on-
campus NCLEX-RN review is conducted by STAT Nursing Consultants.
Students who do not meet the required benchmark of a 91 percent likelihood of passing NCLEX -RN on the
comprehensive exam are allowed to retest. Students who do not meet the benchmark on the
comprehensive exam may elect to enroll in online tutoring through ATI prior to retaking the comprehensive
exam. If they do not meet the required benchmark on the retest, they are required to complete an additional
online review with an individual tutor through ATI and do not successfully complete NSG 486 until the tutor
believes the student is ready to pass the NCLEX-RN.
5. New curriculum
A new WVUSON curriculum was implemented for the May 2014 graduating class. Juniors are now required
to take two semesters of adult health nursing; previously only one semester was offered. This additional
instruction has resulted in higher scores on the ATI content mastery test for adult medical surgical nursing.
Scores for all ATI content mastery tests at the junior level increased from previous years.
C. Progress Made
1. First-Time Pass Rates
In 2013, State Board RN NCLEX-RN first-time student pass rate at the WVU Nursing Program on the WVUIT
campus was 43.75 percent (which amounts to seven out of 16 students). After students retook the exam,
the 2013 pass rate was 81.25 percent.
The State Board of Nursing site visit in April 2014 resulted in the continued accreditation of the program,
with follow-up reports required for the WVUIT campus prior to each Board meeting. In compliance with the
Board’s requirement, progress reports have been submitted prior to each Board meeting (Appendix B). In
addition, a progress report is included with the annual report to the Board, due by August 31 of each year.
The table below gives NCLEX-RN pass rates for the past four calendar years.
WVUIT NCLEX-RN PASS RATES
Graduating Class 2012 2013 2014 2015
st
NCLEX-RN 1 Time Pass Rate at WVUIT 93.33% 43.75% 81.48% 69.2%
NCLEX-RN WVUIT pass rate all takers (first-time and repeat) 100% 81.25% 96.3% 84.6%
st
Number of WVUIT Students Taking the NCLEX-RN for the 1 Time 15 16 27 26
,Higher learning
There is concern regarding the latest pass rate and that, despite additional efforts implemented last year,
the first-time pass rate dropped again in 2015. Over the past few months, the WVUSON has implemented
additional measures. Additionally, the qualifications of applicants in the southern part of West Virginia are
lower than those who apply to the Morgantown campus. While the admissions criteria are the same,
students who attend the WVUIT campus tend to fall in the lower range of admitted students and
Morgantown students usually are in the higher range. To address this issue, the WVUSON is exploring
whether admissions criteria should be increased and will implement a revised strategy in the near future.
Moving the location of the WVU Nursing Program on the WVUIT campus to Beckley, WV from Montgomery,
WV may also draw a larger pool of applicants that are more qualified.
Attrition is an additional issue that was addressed in the past year. In the past, no students were failed,
which was taken as evidence of grade inflation. Since 2015, new standards have corrected the problem and
the program expects to see an impact on the first-time pass rate with the May 2016 graduating class.
Please see below for a table of the attrition pattern at the WVUIT campus.
WVUIT PATTERN OF ATTRITION
Starting Year Number of Total completing Percent Graduating years NCLEX-RN
student starting the program within attrition 1stonly /
6-8 semesters 1st & 2nd
FALL 2009 17 15 12% All in 2012 93.3% / 100%
FALL 2010 21 16 24% All in 2013 43.75% / 81.25%
FALL 2011 33 30 10% 27 in 2014, 3 in 81.48% / 92.69%
2015*
FALL 2012 25 25 0% 23 in 2015, 2 will 69.23% / 84.61%
graduate in 2016**
FALL 2013 24 18 25% 17 will 2016, 1 will
graduate in 2017***
FALL 2014 19 13 32% Due to graduate
2017
FALL 2015 23 End of fall 2018+
*Of the three students graduating a year late, two had to repeat a nursing course and one stopped out for personal reasons.
All but one of the students repeating a nursing course passed NCLEX-RN the first attempt.
**Of the two students graduating a year late, one had to repeat a nursing course and one stopped out for military leave.
***One projected to be a year late had to repeat a nursing course.
+Four failed first nursing course, two plan to return and repeat fall 2016. One additional student transferred to Morgantown.
2. Specialized Accreditations
At its March 2015 meeting, the WV RN Board recognized that the NCLEX-RN passage rate is above the 80
percent benchmark in two of the last three years but continued the provisional status of the WVUIT nu rsing
program with required quarterly progress reports addressing NCLEX-RN improvement issues. The same
action was required of all other programs in the state that met the 80 percent benchmark in two of the last
three years. Accreditation status and required progress reports are determined on an annual basis.
A Continuous Improvement Plan Report (CIPR) was submitted to CCNE in June 2014 for the BSN program
for all campuses, including WVUIT. The CIPR is required of all accredited programs, and was submitted five
years into the 10-year accreditation cycle. The report documented that the NCLEX-RN pass rate met the
CCNE standard of 80 percent for all test takers (first time and repeat) for the most recent calendar year. The
program continues to be fully accredited by CCNE through June 2019, with the next site visit scheduled for
fall 2018.
West Virginia University’s Interim Report
to the Higher Learning Commission
February 11, 2016
WVU has addressed the challenges identified in the 2014 HLC Visiting Team report. The summary below
highlights WVU’s efforts, paying particular attention to: first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates; a new General
Education Foundations program; Quality Matters certification and training; the hiring of a new Director of
Academic Excellence and Assessment; and clear evidence of ongoing assessment of programs. All efforts
outlined below integrate all three campuses, as well as foster a vibrant culture of assessment.
I. First-Time Nursing Pass Rates for the WVU Nursing
Program at WVUIT
The August 2014 Action letter requested that WVU’s 2016 Interim Report address the following:
3A: 1) The WVU Nursing Program on the WVUIT campus first-time pass rate is unacceptable. There
is a plan in place to address this. The report should include progress made and future planning to
avoid recurrence of this issue.
The first time NCLEX-RN passage rate in 2013 dropped drastically to 43.7 percent from the previous rate of
93.3 percent in 2012. The passage rate has since improved and additional efforts are being implemented to
address the issue.
A. Background
The West Virginia University School of Nursing (WVUSON) has offered a Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education (CCNE) accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree on the WVU Institute of
Technology Campus (WVUIT) since 1997 with the first graduating class in 1999. Prior to June 2008, WVUIT
had fiscal authority for the program, while WVUSON had academic authority. Diminished fiscal resources at
WVUIT resulted in low faculty salaries and increasing use of adjunct faculty. In 2006, the NCLEX -RN
passage rate was 56 percent, resulting in the WV Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nu rses
(RN Board) placing the accreditation of the program on provisional status, limiting admissions to the
program, and requiring a complete curricular analysis.
In 2008, WVUIT and WVUSON signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Appendix A) to allow for a cha nge
in administrative structure for the nursing program at WVUIT that gave WVUSON both academic and
administrative authority for the program. With this MOU, organizationally the WVUIT Department of Nursing
became a fourth department of the WVUSON. The budget for the program was established based on
WVUSON resource review, and WVUSON was given the authority for administering the budget. Recruitment,
hiring, and evaluation of faculty follow WVUSON policy. All faculty meet the criteria for national and state
accreditation agencies and WVUSON policies. WVUIT Department of Nursing faculty members have voting
privileges and are represented on committees. Salaries for faculty were raised to be equivalent to like ranks
at WVUSON. In addition to faculty salaries, funds were provided to purchase high fidelity simulation
equipment for the nursing skills lab.
After the change in administrative structure, the performance on the NCLEX-RN improved, increasing from
56.82 percent in 2006, to 89.5 percent in 2009. However, the passage rate continues to fluctuate and is
,Higher learning
impacted by the decrease in number of students graduating as a result of the restriction in admission
numbers.
B. Improvement Plan
The WVUSON has made significant progress in improving the NCLEX-RN pass rate at the WVUIT campus
through the implementation of a comprehensive improvement plan that included:
1. Updated skills lab and simulation center
A new nursing training center was established at Montgomery General Hospital in summer 2014 to be used
by WVUIT nursing students and staffed by WVUIT faculty. The training center includes a basic skills lab and
simulation center, which were moved to the new location prior to the start of the academic year. The center
includes six patient rooms, storage areas, a central nurses’ station and two large rooms for conferences
and debriefing. Three of the patient rooms are equipped for basic skills with manikins. Three additional
patient rooms are equipped with a high-fidelity SimMan, a high-fidelity child manikin, and a maternity
simulation manikin.
2. Comprehensive evaluation of courses to ensure consistency in teaching-learning
methodologies between the WVU Morgantown and WVUIT locations
The processes for annual course evaluation and annual curriculum evaluation were changed for the 201 4-15
academic year. Previously, courses offered at the WVUIT location were reviewed only by WVUIT nursing
faculty. This academic year, nursing courses at both locations are reviewed simultaneously by the
WVUSON BSN Curriculum Committee, which includes faculty from Morgantown and WVUIT.
Annual course evaluations, which include student evaluations, standardized test analysis, classroom test
analysis, faculty evaluation of strengths and areas for improvement, and faculty recommendations for
course changes, are presented to the committee by course coordinators from both campuses. The
committee reviews the evaluations and may offer additional recommendations for course improvement.
Annual curriculum evaluation by faculty members from both campuses also occurs at the end of the
academic year in preparation for the upcoming year.
3. Appointment of an Academic Counselor
One WVUIT faculty member has been assigned to work with at-risk students as part of her workload
agreement. The responsibilities for this position mirror those held by a similar position at the Morgantown
location. Responsibilities include:
• Providing individualized academic counseling to students, with a focus on study and test-taking
strategies, time management, and stress management;
• Consulting with faculty to develop individualized study plans;
• Referring students to faculty for tutoring in specific content areas;
• Overseeing remediation for students who do not meet benchmarks on standardized tests;
• Making referrals to other campus resources;
• Consulting with students who fail the NCLEX-RN and assisting with the development of an
individualized study plan and referral to appropriate resources;
• Coordinating the NCLEX-RN review course that is taken in the student’s final semester of the
program; and
• Using a new standardized testing predictor tool (ATI PULSE) that can identify students at the
sophomore level and above who are at risk of not passing the NCLEX-RN.
,Higher learning
4. Change in the NCLEX-RN review course to individualize preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam
As part of the curriculum, students enroll in the NSG 486 course during the final semester, which focuses
on NCLEX-RN licensure exam preparation. Changes have been made to this course to emphasize student
accountability in preparing for the exam, as well as identifying individual students’ strengths and
weaknesses. In addition to reviewing content areas and taking practice tests, students develop a portfolio
of review materials and previous standardized test results, which allows them to identify and focus on
specific areas. Beginning in spring 2016, students will have access to a standardized testing predictor tool
(ATI PULSE) that graphically predicts NCLEX-RN success based on individual student test results. Students
also meet individually with an academic counselor to develop a customized review plan.
Students take multiple proctored exams in the computer lab that simulate the NCLEX-RN and a
comprehensive standardized exam that predicts the likelihood of passing the NCLEX-RN. A three-day, on-
campus NCLEX-RN review is conducted by STAT Nursing Consultants.
Students who do not meet the required benchmark of a 91 percent likelihood of passing NCLEX -RN on the
comprehensive exam are allowed to retest. Students who do not meet the benchmark on the
comprehensive exam may elect to enroll in online tutoring through ATI prior to retaking the comprehensive
exam. If they do not meet the required benchmark on the retest, they are required to complete an additional
online review with an individual tutor through ATI and do not successfully complete NSG 486 until the tutor
believes the student is ready to pass the NCLEX-RN.
5. New curriculum
A new WVUSON curriculum was implemented for the May 2014 graduating class. Juniors are now required
to take two semesters of adult health nursing; previously only one semester was offered. This additional
instruction has resulted in higher scores on the ATI content mastery test for adult medical surgical nursing.
Scores for all ATI content mastery tests at the junior level increased from previous years.
C. Progress Made
1. First-Time Pass Rates
In 2013, State Board RN NCLEX-RN first-time student pass rate at the WVU Nursing Program on the WVUIT
campus was 43.75 percent (which amounts to seven out of 16 students). After students retook the exam,
the 2013 pass rate was 81.25 percent.
The State Board of Nursing site visit in April 2014 resulted in the continued accreditation of the program,
with follow-up reports required for the WVUIT campus prior to each Board meeting. In compliance with the
Board’s requirement, progress reports have been submitted prior to each Board meeting (Appendix B). In
addition, a progress report is included with the annual report to the Board, due by August 31 of each year.
The table below gives NCLEX-RN pass rates for the past four calendar years.
WVUIT NCLEX-RN PASS RATES
Graduating Class 2012 2013 2014 2015
st
NCLEX-RN 1 Time Pass Rate at WVUIT 93.33% 43.75% 81.48% 69.2%
NCLEX-RN WVUIT pass rate all takers (first-time and repeat) 100% 81.25% 96.3% 84.6%
st
Number of WVUIT Students Taking the NCLEX-RN for the 1 Time 15 16 27 26
,Higher learning
There is concern regarding the latest pass rate and that, despite additional efforts implemented last year,
the first-time pass rate dropped again in 2015. Over the past few months, the WVUSON has implemented
additional measures. Additionally, the qualifications of applicants in the southern part of West Virginia are
lower than those who apply to the Morgantown campus. While the admissions criteria are the same,
students who attend the WVUIT campus tend to fall in the lower range of admitted students and
Morgantown students usually are in the higher range. To address this issue, the WVUSON is exploring
whether admissions criteria should be increased and will implement a revised strategy in the near future.
Moving the location of the WVU Nursing Program on the WVUIT campus to Beckley, WV from Montgomery,
WV may also draw a larger pool of applicants that are more qualified.
Attrition is an additional issue that was addressed in the past year. In the past, no students were failed,
which was taken as evidence of grade inflation. Since 2015, new standards have corrected the problem and
the program expects to see an impact on the first-time pass rate with the May 2016 graduating class.
Please see below for a table of the attrition pattern at the WVUIT campus.
WVUIT PATTERN OF ATTRITION
Starting Year Number of Total completing Percent Graduating years NCLEX-RN
student starting the program within attrition 1stonly /
6-8 semesters 1st & 2nd
FALL 2009 17 15 12% All in 2012 93.3% / 100%
FALL 2010 21 16 24% All in 2013 43.75% / 81.25%
FALL 2011 33 30 10% 27 in 2014, 3 in 81.48% / 92.69%
2015*
FALL 2012 25 25 0% 23 in 2015, 2 will 69.23% / 84.61%
graduate in 2016**
FALL 2013 24 18 25% 17 will 2016, 1 will
graduate in 2017***
FALL 2014 19 13 32% Due to graduate
2017
FALL 2015 23 End of fall 2018+
*Of the three students graduating a year late, two had to repeat a nursing course and one stopped out for personal reasons.
All but one of the students repeating a nursing course passed NCLEX-RN the first attempt.
**Of the two students graduating a year late, one had to repeat a nursing course and one stopped out for military leave.
***One projected to be a year late had to repeat a nursing course.
+Four failed first nursing course, two plan to return and repeat fall 2016. One additional student transferred to Morgantown.
2. Specialized Accreditations
At its March 2015 meeting, the WV RN Board recognized that the NCLEX-RN passage rate is above the 80
percent benchmark in two of the last three years but continued the provisional status of the WVUIT nu rsing
program with required quarterly progress reports addressing NCLEX-RN improvement issues. The same
action was required of all other programs in the state that met the 80 percent benchmark in two of the last
three years. Accreditation status and required progress reports are determined on an annual basis.
A Continuous Improvement Plan Report (CIPR) was submitted to CCNE in June 2014 for the BSN program
for all campuses, including WVUIT. The CIPR is required of all accredited programs, and was submitted five
years into the 10-year accreditation cycle. The report documented that the NCLEX-RN pass rate met the
CCNE standard of 80 percent for all test takers (first time and repeat) for the most recent calendar year. The
program continues to be fully accredited by CCNE through June 2019, with the next site visit scheduled for
fall 2018.
