Building Better Curriculum and Preparing for a Successful Site Visit: A Full-Day Professional Development Event
August 14, 2026 | St. Paul, MN
Join us at St. Catherine University for a comprehensive workshop that blends curriculum excellence with practical site visit readiness. Bring your accreditation questions for our experts to answer.
What is an ACEN Regional Workshop?
ACEN Regional workshops are educational offerings on specific topics related to maintaining ACEN Accreditation.
Key features of ACEN Regional Workshops:
- Educational Focus
The workshops cover important aspects like curriculum development, program assessment, and accreditation preparation for nursing programs. - Geographical Targeting
Each workshop targets specific states or countries, allowing for regionally-focused discussions and attendance. - Structure and Schedule
The workshops typically include registration, sessions with breaks, and optional opportunities for peer evaluator training. - Continuing Nursing Education
Workshops offer five (5) Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) contact hours for participation.
Event Details
When
August 14, 2026
8:00 AM to 3:15 PM
Where
St. Catherine University
2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55105, USA
Registration Fee
$375
(in-person only)
About the Event
Strengthening Curriculum, Outcomes, and Evaluation
8:30 AM to 11:45 AM
Gain practical strategies for ensuring curriculum coherence and supporting continuous quality improvement. This session takes a deep focus on the foundational elements of a high-quality nursing curriculum. Explore how end-of-program student learning outcomes (EPSLOs) and role-specific nursing competencies drive program effectiveness.
Through collaborative mapping activities, you will
- Refine your student learning outcomes (SLOs) for clarity and alignment
- Evaluate how curriculum instructional strategies support the achievement of EPSLOs
- Analyze how the assessment process is used to develop a strong Systematic Plan for Evaluation (SPE)
Preparing for a Site Visit—Insights for Educators and Evaluators
1:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Whether you're leading a nursing program through the accreditation process or volunteering as a peer evaluator, this session will provide concrete strategies, tips, and tools to foster your success.
- Review the essential elements of a well-documented and evidence-based accreditation narrative
- Explore common site visit challenges and how to address them
- Gain insights into the peer evaluator perspective
- Hear special emphasis on the roles and responsibilities for all involved and resources for success
What to expect
By the end of the day, you will be better equipped to support curriculum quality and confidently navigate the site visit process—whether as a program representative or a peer evaluator.
For maximum benefit, participants should bring a list of their end-of-program student learning outcomes, course syllabi, and the systematic plan of evaluation. Graduate programs should also bring a list of their role-specific nursing competencies for each program option. Also bring your accreditation questions!
This full-day event providing five contact hours will be conducted exclusively in-person. Lunch will be included.
Venue
St. Catherine University
Building: Mendel
Room: 101
NOTICE:
The ACEN does not have a hotel room block available for this event.
Please refer to the list below of nearby accommodations:
- Quality Inn St. Paul‑Minneapolis‑Midway– 2.8 miles
- Days Inn by Wyndham St. Paul‑Minneapolis‑Midway– 2.8 miles
- The Davidson – 3.6 miles
- Celeste St. Paul Hotel + Bar – 4.6 miles
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott St. Paul Downtown – 5 miles
Countdown to the Event
- Days2
- Hours22
- Minutes21
- Seconds56