Bellin College offers an array of health science-related degrees. In 1909, a nursing program was started by Dr. Julius Bellin, Founder of Bellin Hospital. Dr. Bellin wanted qualified nurses to work with him at the bedside. One hundred years later, Bellin College added its second degree and today, continues to grow and expand their program offerings to meet the changing and demanding needs of healthcare. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and each program has its own specialized programmatic accreditation. This document provides an overview of the accreditation process for each program offered.
Higher Learning Commission (HLC):
The Higher Learning Commission is a regional accreditor. Each time a new program is offered, the accreditation process begins with HLC. The College received initial accreditation for five years from the Higher Commission of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) in March 1989. A self-study and site visit occurred in Spring 1994, which resulted in continued accreditation for ten years. The site visit occurs based on the outcome of the previous visit and the next site visit was scheduled for 2003-2004.
In Spring 2004, a site visit occurred for reaffirmation of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and a request for authorization to grant a Master of Science degree in Nursing. In June 2004, the Commission granted ten years of continued accreditation with authorization to grant a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in Nursing (2004-2014). In 2014, Higher Learning Commission dropped its affiliation with the North Central Association and is recognized solely as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
In September 2008, a focus visit was requested for authorization to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in the Radiologic Sciences (BSRS) and to offer general education courses. Approval was granted in December 2008.
In 2009, HLC visited the campus located at 3201 Eaton Road in Green Bay WI to approve the building and determine that its size and amenities could support the college and future program growth. Approval was granted.
In 2014, HLC reaffirmed accreditation of Bellin College, and all current programs offered through 2024.
In 2015, the College requested a change visit to begin offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (BSDMS) and distance education courses and programs. The BSDMS is a bachelor’s degree with a compressed curriculum offered over three years to meet the staffing needs within the region. The expansion of distance education was evident with the changing needs of higher education. On February 12, 2016, approval was granted for both program requests.
Bellin College continues to expand and meet the needs of the region with additional educational offerings, including the 2018 HLC approved Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DSc PT), the first terminal degree offered at Bellin College. In addition, Bellin College also offered all the general education courses for all undergraduate degrees starting in fall 2018.
On January 28, 2020, HLC approved a 3-year bachelor’s degree in Radiation Therapy with the first cohort starting the fall of 2020.
The Board of Trustees approved adding a Sonography concentration in Cardiac on December 10, 2020. A change request was submitted to HLC. On December 15, 2020, HLC determined that no individual approval is needed for Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography - concentration in Cardiac. The change form submitted served as notification of the new program to HLC.
In spring of 2021, HLC approved three programs: a 3-year bachelor’s degree in First Assisting, (BSSA) on March 12, 2021; a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) on March 12, 2021; and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) on May 7, 2021.
On December 8, 2022, the Board of Trustees approved an additional graduate level nursing program, the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. The program was approved by HLC on October 18, 2023.
On March 3, 2023, HLC visited the secondary location at 2620 Development Drive and approved this site for education affiliated with Bellin College. This location is named the Michael Van Asten Campus. The Eaton Road campus is named the Resch Campus.
On April 8-9, 2024, Bellin College was reviewed by Higher Learning Commission for the 10-year Reaffirmation visit. The outcome was reaffirmation through 2033-2034, with a visit goal of spring 2034. The mid-cycle comprehensive evaluation is due in spring 2028 and the Quality Initiative is due will happen in years 5-9, 2029-2033. The next reaffirmation visit will be in 2033-2034.
In 2025, the Board approved the College to transition to trimesters. A report was submitted and approved by the Higher Learning Commission outlining the plan to transition on September 29, 2025. The college will transition to trimesters in the Graduate Programs in academic year in fall 2026 and the remaining programs in fall of 2027.
NURSING ACCREDITATION HISTORY
Wisconsin Board of Nursing:
The Wisconsin State Board of Nursing granted Bellin College initial approval to implement a baccalaureate program in nursing in April of 1984. The College submitted a comprehensive evaluation of the program to the Board of Nursing, and full approval was granted in February 1989 and continues today.
Specialized Nursing Program Accreditation:
An accreditation visit by the Council for Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs of the National League for Nursing occurred in April 1989. Accreditation for a period of eight years was received in October 1989. A four-year progress report was submitted in August 1993. A self-study and site visit again occurred in April of 1997. In July 1997, the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) granted continued accreditation for eight years (1997-2005).
In 2002, a decision was made to pursue accreditation with the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation, which is associated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). This accreditation review was completed in Spring 2003, and in October 2003, the College was awarded the initial, five-year accreditation (2003-2008). A CCNE visit was held in 2008, with a maximum of ten years of accreditation received (2008-2018).
In May 2002, a needs assessment, conducted by an independent marketing research firm, identified a significant need for graduate nursing education in the region. As a result, Bellin College Board of Trustees approved plans to proceed with a graduate program in November 2002. By July 2003, a decision was made to move forward to establish a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) with an administrator and an educator track. The emphasis in both programs was on nursing leadership.
The graduate program enrolled its first students in September 2004. An accreditation review by the CCNE occurred in February 2006 and in October 2006, and the College was awarded the five-year accreditation (2006-2011). The first MSN class graduated in 2007. In October 2008, CCNE awarded the maximum 10-year accreditation to both the baccalaureate and masters nursing programs (2008-2018). The Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education returned in 2018 for a comprehensive visit.
In Spring 2011, the Bellin College Board of Trustees approved a Family Nurse Practitioner Track. A substantive change was submitted to CCNE, and in the fall of 2011 approval was granted. The first cohort of students entered in Fall 2012. In May 2015, the first class graduated from the Family Nurse Practitioner Track.
In the spring of 2018, CCNE awarded the maximum 10-year accreditation to both the baccalaureate and masters nursing programs (2018-2028). A full programmatic visit will be in 2028.
With the change to nursing education to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), the college Board of Trustees approved the program on May 14, 2020. Work began to seek HLC approval which was granted on March 12, 2021. CCNE visited the college for the DNP program on February 22-24, 2023, and in fall of 2023, accreditation was approved for 5 years with the next onsite evaluation occurring in spring of 2028.
On December 10, 2020, at the Board of Trustees meeting, the board approved to convert the BSN program from a 4-year BSN degree to a 3-year BSN degree.
On December 8, 2022, the Board of Trustees approved an additional graduate level nursing program, the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. The program was approved by HLC in October 2023. The substantive change report for CCNE was submitted in 2024 with a follow up visit in 2025-2026.
The mid-cycle report was submitted in October 2024 and is still pending.
MEDICAL IMAGING ACCREDITATION HISTORY
Joint Review Committee of Education in Radiologic Sciences (JRCERT):
The School of Radiologic Sciences was a two-year certificate program offered through Bellin Health System. In 1988, the program was granted full accreditation by the Joint Review Committee of Education in Radiologic Sciences (JRCERT). Subsequently, the program is the result of a Transfer of Sponsorship from Bellin Health System to Bellin College in March of 2011. The new program design changed the previous terminal credential from a two-year certificate program to a 48-month Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences (BSRS) program at Bellin College. Statewide surveys were conducted to assess the need for the bachelor’s program. Results demonstrated high interest among the employer and technology communities.
In August 2015, JRCERT awarded the maximum 8-year accreditation to the Bachelor of Science degree in Radiologic Sciences (2015-2023). JRCERT reviewed the Bachelor of Science degree in Radiologic Sciences on April 27-28, 2023, and was approved for 8 years, with the next visit in 2031.
JRCERT reviewed the Radiation Therapy Program (BSRT) for initial accreditation in April 27-28, 2023. On Jun 20, 2023, the BSRT program was granted the maximum years of accreditation allowed as a new program, which was three years. A comprehensive visit will be in 2026.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP):
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is a programmatic postsecondary accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CAAHEP carries out its accrediting activities in cooperation with 25 review Committees on Accreditation and approved the Sonography program on September 24, 2018.
The sonography program had a visit from CAAHEP on August 21-22, 2023, for review of the current vascular, abdominal, and obstetrics/gynecology program and initial accreditation for Pediatric cardiac program. The adult cardiac program received initial accreditation on March 18, 2022. On January 18, 2024, notification was received for continued accreditation for vascular, abdominal, and obstetrics/gynecology program with the next visit in 2029. Initial accreditation for Pediatric Echo program through 2029 and Adult Cardiac Echo program through 2027.
On January 29-30, 2024, CAAHEP reviewed the Surgical Assisting program. The maximum accreditation was given for 5 years, through January 2029. Results were approved with a visit in fall 2027. Higher Learning Commission visited the College on September 8 & 9th for the approval of an associate degree in science for Surgical Technology, approval was received on November 17, 2025.
PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAMS
Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DScPT) and Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT):
The DSc PT program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The DScPT is a 66-credit program with 26 credits from the DSc program and the 40 credits from the Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) does not accredit the Fellowship Program.
The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) initially approved the Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) fellowship program August 27, 2018. The Accreditation Council on Orthopaedic and Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship Education (ACOMPTE) approved the OMPT fellowship program as of April 16, 2020. The next visit was held February 28, 2024, and the program was accredited for five years, January 15, 2030.
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT):
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE) is an accrediting agency that is nationally recognized by the US Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CAPTE grants specialized accreditation status to qualified entry-level education programs for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. CAPTE completed their visit for the DPT program on November 4-6, 2024, and the first cohort graduated in May 2025. Initial accreditation was granted on April 29, 2025, through Fall 2029.
A complimentary grid is attached as of the published date of the policy. It is used by college community as a quick snapshot of upcoming accreditation visits. It is updated in real time by the Institutional Effectiveness (IE) Department and the most up to date version can be found by contacting IE.