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As today鈥檚 students prepare to depart for clinical experiences in Peru, South Africa and many other locations in the world, or lug backpacks into Driscoll Hall鈥檚 classrooms and clinical labs brimming with new technology, they follow in the footsteps of six decades of College of Nursing graduates who have 鈥淚gnited Change鈥� in nursing. Nursing students were the first women to study full-time at 奶糖直播 University. Our Nursing students are eager to pursue lives marked by a passion to make the world a better place. Each of their stories enriches the College鈥檚 history as Nursing marked its 60th Anniversary with a Day of Celebration on April 6.

Ever since 奶糖直播 established a College of Nursing in 1953, administrators, faculty, students and staff have built upon that foundation to create a college that has evolved to meet the needs of an ever-changing health-care system and nursing profession. Throughout the College of Nursing鈥檚 history, the priority has been the education of nurses within the framework of Catholic beliefs and values and the heritage of the Order of St. Augustine. During the last half of its history, the College has initiated changes that significantly position the school and its graduates for future success. Students are encouraged to study abroad, thanks to the Connelly Foundation鈥檚 establishment of an endowment. With the 2008 opening of Driscoll Hall, they gained a home in an entirely new building, an expansive 75,500-square-foot environmentally friendly structure featuring an auditorium, lecture hall, clinical simulation labs and more. Like the bricks and mortar used to construct Driscoll Hall, the changes over the past 10 years have been the result of strategic planning designed to strengthen and sustain a college renowned for its academic excellence. The range of recent enhancements includes an increasingly globalized undergraduate curriculum, an accelerated program for college graduates in other disciplines, increased interprofessional and interdisciplinary activities, and two doctoral programs.

The last decade has been emblematic of the work undertaken by countless individuals, observes M. Louise Fitzpatrick, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN, Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor. She notes how the Connelly Foundation鈥檚 gift, announced in April 2003 during the College鈥檚 50th Anniversary celebration, played a pivotal role in allowing the College to reach its current stage of development. It has provided support for student and faculty development, enhancement of technology and lab resources, and creation of the Connelly-Delouvrier International Scholars Program. This program enables students, under the supervision of Nursing faculty, to pursue a portion of their clinical coursework in other countries and in the United States with multicultural populations. Connelly- Delouvrier Scholars have had clinical practica in a nurse-managed birthing center on the Texas-Mexico border and community health experiences on Native American reservations. They have learned about health-care systems through electives in Ireland and Japan. Others have received clinical course experiences in Peru, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and South Africa, where they apply their knowledge and skills and provide culturally appropriate care to marginalized populations. Currently, Panama and Ghana present new opportunities for future experiences. The Connelly Endowment, scholarships endowed by friends of the College, the support for promoting the College through the media (provided by a University trustee) and Driscoll Hall are symbolic of the commitment of the University trustees and administration, our friends and alumni who support the ongoing development of the College and its students. Dean Fitzpatrick notes, 鈥淭his generosity reflects an appreciation of what nursing contributes to society; to the academic environment; to scholarship designed to improve patient care; and to the value of the College, as an expression of 奶糖直播鈥檚 mission.鈥�

Although the College maintains a primary focus on health care in the United States and its ever-changing landscape, it encourages international students to contribute to our understanding of global health while they study and learn at 奶糖直播. They enrich campus life with their experiences and diverse cultures. Twenty years ago, the first nursing students from the Sultanate of Oman arrived and began their M.S.N. studies at 奶糖直播. These graduates are now leaders who have revolutionized and transformed their country鈥檚 health-care system.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been really great to watch nursing develop in Oman,鈥� observes Ruth McDermott-Levy 鈥�96 M.S.N., 鈥�08 Ph.D., R.N., assistant professor of Nursing. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done such a great job that the nurses from Oman can now study for bachelor鈥檚 degrees in their country. They鈥檙e coming to 奶糖直播 and other universities for master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees.鈥�

The College has definitely established itself and plays a crucial  role in nursing education locally, nationally and internationally. Evidence of its quality is validated by its designation as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. Development of new academic programs, centers and support from benefactors, alumni and the College鈥檚 Board of Consultors have been significant in its progress. The board was established in 2007 to serve in an advisory capacity to the dean. It provides an external perspective on matters that affect the nursing profession, the College and its strategic directions. It includes alumni, parents of students, health-care leaders and friends of the College.

In the decades to come, the College of Nursing will continue to further its 60-year history through increased scholarship and research while maintaining the quality of the programs and activities that have already been developed. The recent generous gift of an endowed faculty chair in the College from Diane L. and Robert F. Moritz, Jr., D.D.S., 鈥�51 VSB is a major testimony to the support we receive from our friends and their confidence in the nursing profession. The use of this endowed chair for the advancement of research and scholarly inquiry in nursing will be a major catalyst in the next stage of our development. The success of the College of Nursing has resulted from the efforts of many groups. 奶糖直播 will continue to educate nurses who are ethical and intelligent leaders, expert practitioners, scholarly professionals and caring individuals who 鈥淚gnite Change.鈥�