College of Nursing

CON continues to emphasize teaching/learning excellence, fostering scholarships integrating current and contemporary initiatives, demonstrating behaviors that support sustainability efforts and resource management, and actively engaging the external community.

Enhance Teaching/Learning Excellence

Ongoing goals:

Increased the number of courses, as well as faculty/instructional academic staff (IAS) who are prepared to teach hybrid and online courses.
CON Evaluation Committee continued to use results of data for continuous quality improvement (CQI).
Use of holistic admission in undergraduate options and graduate emphases with the goal of recruiting/retaining high-quality students and increased diversity.
Foster a culture of civility and professionalism for faculty/academic staff and students that demonstrates the college's "Values in Action," via a welcoming ceremony, transition workshop for graduating seniors, student leadership teams, etc.
Successful Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) re-accreditation site outcome with the maximum of 10 years granted to undergraduate and graduate program.
Piloted a community health clinical course in Peru May-June 2011.
Admitted second class of MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students in summer 2011.
Hosted the CCNE initial site visit for the new DNP (April 4-6, 2011).

Foster Scholarship

Awarded four doctoral awards to qualified instructional academic staff enrolled in doctoral study.
Encourage faculty presentations at international and national conferences.
Encourage multiple faculty/IAS presentations held at local, state, regional and national conferences (MNRS, WNA, STTI, AORN).
Continued growth in the number of faculty/IAS refereed publications and awards for scholarship.

Integrate Current Realities/Contemporary Initiatives and Future Challenges into Nursing Education

Continued undergraduate quality improvements incorporating American Association College of Nursing (AACN), Baccalaureate Essentials and Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) recommendations for nursing education.
Reviewed graduate program emphases for above quality improvements, along with rapid societal changes in role of Clinical Nurse Leader and Nurse Educator.
Continued development of teaching, practicing and valuing cultural competency by faculty/IAS and students.
Accelerated goal of increasing awareness of global realities via international initiatives in India and Peru.

Demonstrate Behaviors that Support Universal Sustainability Efforts and Resource Management

Empowered employees and students to exercise green principles whenever possible (lab classes reusing supplies for practice experiences; recycling supplies for student practice from local agencies; aiming to reduce paper use via online exam).
Continued goal of exploration of faculty/IAS electronic portfolios to reduce paper use for personnel action.
Created a sustainability bulletin board and mini awards for ideas to move the college toward sustainability goals. Actively engage external community of interest in College of Nursing initiative.

Actively Engage External Community in College of Nursing Initiatives

Continued to increase the role of the Board of Visitors via consultation role in the curriculum and program development; clinical teaching/learning strategy.
Held successful 19 th Annual Nightingale Award event to recognize excellence in nursing practice.
Established Web master and team effort to improve college web site to be more "user friendly" and current.
Held a January 2011 Graduate Program Open House to promote all emphases with a keynote presentation on the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) emphasis to build understanding for the CNL role. Outcomes included 48 attendees.
Published the annual issue of CONtact Magazine (alumni publication) in both print and online. Launched magazine during Nurses Week and included a "Happy Nurses Week" broadcast email campaign to all college alumni, which resulted in significant numbers of alumni updating their alumni profiles.
Hosted the college's 40th anniversary celebration, which included a presentation on leadership by Distinguished Alumni Colonel Carolyn Jolitz '84 BSN.
Publicity related to the college's 40th anniversary, our reaccreditation and our exponential growth earned the college a "shout out" from University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly at the May 2011 Board of Regents meeting.
Continued efforts related to publicity regarding CCNE re-accreditation, alumni award with 5,000-plus graduates.