Rounds with Leadership: Shaping the Future of Doctoral Nursing Education
The Association of American Universities (AAU) released its latest data on admissions to PhD programs across disciplines, and the findings are alarming. Major universities across the country admitted 15% fewer students to research-focused doctoral programs in fall 2026, marking the second consecutive year of decline in the PhD student admissions
July 27, 2026
AACN Applauds the Selection of Dr. Courtney Aklin as Director of the National Institute of Nursing Research
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced the appointment of Dr. Courtney F. Aklin as the director of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). AACN applauds the selection of Dr. Aklin to lead the institute, which plays a pivotal role in the research training, career development, and the preparation of the next generation of nurse scientists.
July 27, 2026
Department of Education Clarifies Guidance on Professional Nursing Degrees
On July 10, the Department of Education (ED) provided additional guidance regarding Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes used to identify professional nursing programs.
July 15, 2026
Rounds with Leadership: Navigating Pathways into Nursing
Before the start of a new academic year, summertime can provide nursing school administrators with an opportunity to focus on strategic planning and operational efficiency. While much attention is focused on welcoming the next class of students, the months leading up to fall enrollment are the time to ensure that faculty, staff, clinical partners, and institutional resources are aligned to support student success from day one.
June 24, 2026
Rounds with Leadership: A Deeper Dive into the Data
Earlier this month, AACN released results of its 2025-2026 annual survey, indicating that enrollment in nursing schools was up across all program types, with one exception (PhD programs were down by 3%). Applications to these nursing programs were also up across the board, with one exception (master’s programs were down by 0.9%). In this month’s column, we highlight additional data points not previously reported to provide a closer look at AACN’s data collection efforts and spark ideas for informing research, scholarship, and program assessment.
AACN Joins with National Healthcare and Higher Education Groups in Legal Action to Recognize Nursing as a Professional Degree
AACN announced that it is taking legal action in response to the Department of Education’s (ED) final rule, published May 1, which excludes nursing from its definition of professional degree programs. AACN is joining with an interprofessional group of national organizations to preserve access to federal student loan funding for post-baccalaureate students, which is critical to protecting the nation’s health.
Rounds with Leadership: Aligning ACE with the AACN Essential
When the Essentials were initially endorsed, the AACN Board of Directors agreed to revisit the document at the five-year mark to ensure the content remained relevant. In keeping with this expectation, the 2026 edition of the Essentials was released on April 17, 2026, with updates reflecting AACN’s commitment to ensuring that competency expectations continue to meet the evolving needs of nursing education, clinical practice, and the communities we serve.
April 29, 2026
Rounds with Leadership: New Dimensions in Academic Leadership
Higher education leaders today must go beyond academics to manage financial pressures, public trust, workforce alignment, and evolving student needs, all while navigating increasing complexity and burnout. In response, AACN offers leadership programs to help nursing educators develop the skills needed to drive change and improve student and institutional success.
AACN Announces 2026 Election Results for its Board of Directors and Nominating Committee
AACN is pleased to announce the results of its 2026 election to fill seats on the AACN Board of Directors and Nominating Committee.
March 10, 2026
Rounds with Leadership: Strength in Numbers: Support Nursing as a Professional Degree
When the U.S. Department of Education (ED) decided last November to advance a proposed definition that did not include nursing as a professional degree—a move that would significantly limit federal student loan access for post-baccalaureate nursing students—the public response condemning this action was unequivocal and far-reaching.