Regents Approve SUU Nursing Program

Published: December 11, 2003 | Author: Renee Ballenger | Read Time: 2 minutes

Today, the State Board of Regents approved a bachelor of nursing program for Southern Utah University.

Weber State University will finish the courses for students currently in the two-year and four-year programs now offered on the SUU campus. SUU will begin offering its newly- approved four-year bachelor of nursing program beginning in 2005.

Steve Bennion, SUU President, exclaims: “The approval of the new four-year nursing program at SUU is great news! There is a growing shortage of nurses in southern Utah, throughout the state and nation.”

He continues, “This program will produce well-trained nurses to help meet the increasingly complex healthcare needs of the 21st century. The expression of interest from a large pool of prospective students is strong. The excellent faculty who has taught in the SUU/Weber Cooperative program will continue to teach in this program.”

Information on the new program will be available to prospective students in the near future. Donna Lister, nursing coordinator of the SUU/Weber program and the principal author of the new curriculum, notes: “ This is wonderful news! We have worked collaboratively with Dixie State College and have proposed a program that fits SUU and the University’s mission, and one that will meet the growing healthcare needs of our region and beyond. The cooperation with Weber State University has also been very positive.”

Bennion adds with elation, “I want to express sincere appreciation to the Regents and Commissioner Richard Kendell, SUU Trustees, southern Utah legislators, healthcare leaders, and the administrative team and nursing faculty on our campus for their hard work and support of this important program.”

Over a year ago Weber State University indicated its willingness to support SUU sponsorship of a nursing program. During the past year, SUU has developed a streamlined, traditional BSN program. Dr. Abe Harraf, SUU Provost, states: “It is a program that will enable students to begin and complete it in four years. The program is articulated so that Associate Degree RNs can enter the program and complete it in less than two years. Donna Lister and her associates on the nursing faculty have developed a very impressive curriculum, with strong support from Dean Harold Ornes of SUU’s College of Science.”

Bennion adds: “With two new hospitals in Cedar City and St. George, with outstanding SUU students who have long made such positive contributions to the health professions, and with remarkable teamwork with public policy leaders, healthcare administrators, faculty, students and university leaders, the teamwork on making this new degree a reality has been most encouraging.”

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