School of Nursing Named a Center of Excellence

The School of Nursing is one of six schools of nursing to be recognized as a Center of Excellence (COE) for 2014-2018 by the National League of Nursing (NLN) Board of Governors.

The School of Nursing is a first-time COE designee and will be officially recognized on Sept. 19 at the NLN's Annual Education Summit in Phoenix for creating an environment that enhances student learning and professional development.

"We are extremely honored to be recognized as an NLN Center of Excellence,” said School of Nursing Dean Michael L. Evans, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN. “We join some of the nation's top nursing programs in this group of the select few COE schools. This is a testament to our outstanding faculty, staff and students."

The NLN has invited nursing schools to apply for COE status every year since 2004. Health care organizations have also been eligible under a separate category since 2012. Applicants are judged based upon their ability to quantify sustained excellence in faculty development, nursing education research or student learning and professional development. Applicants must also have a proven commitment to continuous quality improvement. To date, 31 colleges and schools of nursing and four health care organizations have received COE designation from the NLN.

During their four-year COE designation term, School of Nursing faculty and administrators may advise and give direction to other colleges and schools of nursing seeking COE credentials. Nursing students may also participate in NLN’s Student Excellence Paper Competition where they can discuss their views about the meaning of nursing education excellence and how they may benefit from attending a COE nursing school.

"The NLN considers these institutions to be standard bearers of excellence role models whose faculty, deans, and researchers are available to share expertise, insight, knowledge, and experience to lift the entire nursing community to a higher level of achievement," said NLN CEO Beverly Malone, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN. "I look forward to publicly congratulating them for their impressive achievements at the Summit in September."