D Faculty are:

 sufficient in number to accomplish the mission, goals, and expected program outcomes;  academically prepared for the areas in which they teach; and

 experientially prepared for the areas in which they teach.

Elaboration: The full-time equivalency (FTE) of faculty involved in each program is clearly delineated, and the program provides to CCNE its formula for calculating FTEs. The overall faculty (whether full-time or part-time) is sufficient in number and qualifications to achieve the mission, goals, and expected program outcomes. Faculty-to-student ratios ensure adequate

supervision and evaluation and meet or exceed the requirements of regulatory agencies and professional nursing standards and guidelines.

Faculty are academically prepared for the areas in which they teach. Academic preparation of faculty includes degree specialization, specialty coursework, or other preparation sufficient to address the major concepts included in courses they teach. Faculty teaching in the nursing

program have a graduate degree. The program provides a rationale for the use of any faculty who do not have a graduate degree.

Faculty who are nurses hold current RN licensure. Faculty teaching in clinical/practicum courses are experienced in the clinical area of the course and maintain clinical expertise. Clinical expertise may be maintained through clinical practice or other avenues. Faculty teaching in advanced practice clinical courses meet certification and practice requirements as specified by the relevant regulatory and specialty bodies. Advanced practice nursing tracks are directly overseen by faculty who are nationally certified in that same population-focused area of practice in roles for which national certification is available.

Program Response: Faculty numbers

Faculty numbers are sufficient to accomplish the mission, goals and expected program

outcomes. Faculty data found in the program information form provides information on full-time, part- time/adjunct and total faculty numbers, as well as FTE’s. As part of quality improvement and

strategic planning, the School of Nursing set a goal of reducing the proportion of part-time faculty to 20% through full-time hires. The rate is at 24% at the present time We have a sufficient number of faculty to cover all of the DNP courses but are currently seeking an additional faculty to teach in the informatics courses, one of which is a required course in the DNP curriculum. As part of ongoing faculty recruitment in the school we keep track of applicants as well as our graduates with potential for filling future vacancies. Although we have adequate numbers to support our current 10 areas of concentration in our DNP we would consider adding others areas if we are able to recruit faculty with the requisite expertise and credentials; for instance a Pediatric Acute Care NP. The School of Nursing is fortunate to draw adjunct and part time faculty from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and our other partners. They provide a source of expert lecturers and preceptors with the variety of skills needed to support our program outcomes. At the same time we compete for faculty and clinical placements with eight colleges and universities in our own and contiguous counties; four of these institutions offer the DNP and two the PhD in nursing. Nurse practitioner faculty in some

specialty areas have been especially difficult to recruit. The shortage of nurse practitioner faculty candidates is expected to ease over time as UPMC makes more clinical placements available for NP students with a goal of recruiting our graduates. We expect this will keep more nurse practitioners in the area and connected to the school. The growing reputation of the School and the introduction of the DNP have opened up new and exciting avenues for faculty recruitment.

Faculty/student ratios

Faculty-to-student ratios ensure adequate supervision and evaluation and meet regulatory requirements. On a yearly basis the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing requires that we show proof of compliance with national nursing standards in regard to faculty student ratio in nurse practitioner clinical courses and that clinical teachers have academic preparation for the areas in which they supervise clinical students, maintain national professional certification in the appropriate area and maintain clinical expertise through clinical practice or other avenues. We are consistently in compliance with all six of our nurse practitioners areas.

Faculty Academic Preparation

Faculty are academically prepared for the areas in which they teach. Ninety-six percent of the full-time faculty are doctorally-prepared and the remaining have a master’s degree. Faculty hold advanced practice certifications where appropriate and nurse practitioner faculty meet NTF 2012 guidelines. Newly hired full-time faculty are required to have an earned doctorate. Faculty teaching assignments are made by area of concentration and may cross programs. All doctorally prepared faculty in the School (full-time, part-time and adjunct) are eligible to teach didactic and clinical

courses in the DNP program whether on-site or on-line. A masters prepared RN with the required clinical expertise and credentials may also teach in tandem with a doctorally prepared and credentialed RN faculty member. We actively encourage adjunct appointments for our regular

preceptors and lecturers. To be appointed as adjunct faculty, the applicant must apply, show proof of the appropriate education and credentialing and have a letter of support from a faculty member who has knowledge of their professional work and expertise. For reappointment adjuncts must document their service to the school We recruit many of our adjunct faculty from the UPMC system and their Office of Advanced Practice Providers has recently proposed a clinical career ladder. Advancement on this ladder is made by meeting such criteria as precepting, lecturing and publication all of which are consistent with our requirements for adjunct appointment in the school of nursing. We anticipate that his will enhance our adjunct faculty recruitment.

We recently completed a revision of our DNP Capstone Project Guidelines (Appendix 9) and required that the capstone committee members consist of at least two University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing doctorally prepared faculty; at least one must be an RN. The capstone chair holds a full or part time faculty position. The other faculty member may be employed full or part time or hold an adjunct appointment. Optional members may be added who have relevant expertise or access to the setting where the project can be carried out. This allows students to access expertise of individuals with a variety of backgrounds (statistics, informatics, pharmacology and policy). It also provides a mentoring opportunity for faculty working toward promotion and/or tenure. Finally, with the growth in our DNP enrollment it increases the number of qualified faculty available to mentor students through our required capstone project.

Faculty Experiential Preparation

Faculty are experientially prepared for the areas in which they teach. All faculty members who are nurses hold current RN licensure, evidence of which is on file in the office of the dean. Non- tenure stream faculty are required to spend 10% effort in a scholarly or clinical practice area unless excused from this requirement, e.g., enrolled in doctoral studies, time supported by research funding, administrative duties, and so forth (Policy # 422: Faculty Practice). Faculty teaching in advanced practice clinical courses meet certification and practice requirements as specified by the relevant regulatory and specialty bodies including NTF; copies of specialty certification certificates are kept in the Office of the Dean.

II-E. Preceptors, when used by the program as an extension of faculty, are academically and