What is the National Education Alliance™?
The National Education Alliance (www.NationalEducationAlliance.com) is a partnership among colleges, universities, hospitals, businesses, and healthcare associations throughout the United States to develop and provide nursing-degree programs to alleviate the nation’s nursing shortage.

How is the National Education Alliance related to Rue Education?
The National Education Alliance leverages content and services provided by Rue Education – the nation’s largest provider of independent study systems for nurses – to support healthcare continuing education programs promoted by degree-conferring institutions, hospitals, professional associations, and private employers.

Why should I partner with the National Education Alliance?
The National Education Alliance has developed relationships to meet each organization’s unique challenges:

• Colleges and Universities: Rue Education specializes in distance education for adult learners. By joining the National Education Alliance, colleges and universities gain the advantage of Rue’s marketing and student acquisition programs while leveraging their own branding to increase admissions - at no additional cost to the institution.
• Hospitals and Healthcare Providers: As research continues to point toward the growing importance of degreed nurses in the care-giving process, providers are increasingly challenged to establish the means for LPNs and RNs to develop within their profession. By offering an opportunity to support this career development, the National Education Alliance helps healthcare providers distinguish themselves as a “preferred employer,” which allows them to retain the best employees and ultimately improve the quality of patient care.
• Nursing Associations: The National Education Alliance has established multiple community outreach initiatives to bolster nursing associations in their commitment to provide professional development. For example, Putting Nurses First^SM is an initiative that provides financial incentives for nurses to pursue their associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing. Putting Nurses First is designed to reduce the financial burdens of pursuing higher education through a series of grants and scholarships.
• Staffing Firms: Through a relationship with the National Education Alliance, selected staffing firms can enhance their recruitment and retention strategies and expand their market presence. The National Education Alliance funds grants and scholarships, which are promoted under the staffing firm’s name. Nurses who accept these funds can then pursue their education through the National Education Alliance college and university partners.

How does a partnership work with the University and the National Education Alliance?
Partnerships with universities are simple in design. To effectively launch a university partnership, separation between the parties must be maintained. The partnerships are not based on financial consideration, and therefore, are not classified as a contractual relationship. Our intent is to establish a “Memorandum of Understanding” with each university and promote the institution’s brand in our marketing efforts. Under this arrangement, our customers pay us directly for our products and services and pay the university directly for its degree offering.

What is Rue’s online learning strategy and how does it impact the level of student interaction?
Our online learning model is based on the Rue Total Learning System™, which provides a blend of content and academic support designed to match each student’s learning preferences. In addition to self-paced study (online and offline), Rue’s clinical workshops offer hands-on training, while tutor-led classes provide assignment and progress accountability. To facilitate social interaction, students become part of a comprehensive global mentor connection. This social community combines academic advisors and nurse educators providing online support, plus informal “study buddies,” and course-specific study groups.

How does Rue monitor student progress?
Rue Education’s learning management system is supported by an active student monitoring system that is capable of identifying at-risk students so that appropriate assistance can be provided. For example, should a student have difficulty progressing from one reading assignment to the next, a tutor will reach out to the individual and determine if additional one-on-one attention is necessary. A student also can request assistance and the tutor will respond appropriately.

How can we be sure that Rue’s online learning programs meet accreditation standards?
Because Rue Education is a publishing company, our program curriculum does not fall under the same review process as typical academic programs. However, the American Council on Education (ACE) has reviewed the credit-by-examination options supported by Rue’s curriculum and has recommended that universities award equivalency credit to individuals passing specific examinations (e.g., Humanities, Social/Behavioral Science, Natural Sciences). ACE recommendations are followed by more than 2,900 institutions nationwide.

Do we have the right to approve all materials before they are distributed to students?
Yes. You will be able to approve any materials intended for students prior to distribution by Rue. This includes promotional materials, application and registration forms, surveys, course demonstration sites, letters, invitations, conference materials, and more.

Does Rue guarantee the success of its programs?
Yes. Rue Education provides a written guarantee that states that students who properly complete a Rue Total Learning System will pass their exam. In the event that a student fails an exam, if certain conditions are met, Rue will provide tutoring or pay for the repeated exam. If a third exam is failed, Rue will refund the cost of the course system.

Does the National Education Alliance™ and Rue help students with the cost of distance education?
Yes. We sponsor grants and endowments to help healthcare employees of hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions, as well as graduates of LPN schools, to cover the cost of earning their RN degree.