2020 Strategic Plan Goal 4 Outcomes

Continuously improve and maintain facilities to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff.

Frontier Nursing University Turns Full Focus on Versailles Campus After Donating Hyden Property to Leslie County

On September 20, FNU announced that it donated its campus in Hyden, Kentucky, to Leslie County. The gift included all land and buildings, a value of nearly two million dollars. The property, which was home to FNU since its founding as the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery in 1939, was accepted by the County with hopes it would be used for the good of the community. The decision to make the goodwill offer was made by the FNU Board of Directors at its meeting on July 22.

“We are proud of our roots in Leslie County, and it will always be our treasured birthplace,” FNU President Dr. Susan Stone said. “This gratitude and respect for our birthplace led the Frontier Nursing University Board of Directors to make the decision at our July Board Meeting to honor Mary Breckinridge and the history of our institution by offering the Hyden, Kentucky, campus to Leslie County as a gift of goodwill. The county officials have graciously accepted this gift on behalf of the people of Leslie County, and we are confident that they will do wonderful things to support the community with the property.” The move allowed FNU to devote its full attention to the completion of the campus in Versailles, Kentucky, so that it would be ready for on-campus activities once it was safe to do so post-pandemic.

FNU Board Recognized for Leadership During Campus Transition

In December, the FNU Board of Directors was recognized for its leadership by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). The Board, which is led by Board Chair Dr. Michael Carter, DNSc, DNP, FAAN, FNP/GNP-BC, received honorable mention for the AGB John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership. The award embodies the vision of AGB by recognizing boards that are indispensable, strategic partners with their institutions, helping to advance student success and well-being and enhance institutional vitality.

FNU’s Board of Directors was recognized in particular for its leadership during the process of purchasing and rebuilding the Versailles campus.

“We received more than 35 entries for the award, all of which were compelling and competitive,” AGB President and CEO Henry Stoever said in a letter announcing the recognition. “The selection committee was challenged to select only six boards from such a strong group. While Frontier Nursing University’s board was not selected as one of the award recipients this year, the selection committee believes that your submission deserves special recognition for its contributions to the larger community. We appreciate your board’s ongoing commitment to good governance.”

“The decision to leave the long-time home of the university was an emotional one for the FNU community, including many of us on the Board of Directors. However, the duty of the Board was to do what was best for the university and its mission,” Dr. Carter said. “It has been a long journey, difficult at times, but ultimately rewarding and in the best interests of FNU students and health care in the United States.”

Versailles Campus Ready for Safe Return

While campus activities were put on hold with the arrival of the COVID-19 Pandemic in March 2020, the preparation of the Versailles campus continued throughout 2020. By the end of the year, the building renovations and new construction projects were complete with only a few exceptions that were on track to be completed early in 2021. Those included the construction of a pavilion near the dining hall, a bridge replacement, and a paved access way for delivery trucks that would route them away from the central campus area.

Among the many highlights of the scenic rural campus is a 5K walking trail which will be completed in 2021 with the assistance of a trail-design firm. While these finishing touches were being made, the student dormitories, classrooms, offices, and lab rooms were being finalized in preparation for the eventual return of students, faculty, and staff to campus. FNU leadership has consistently placed the top priority on the health and safety of all involved, being mindful of the number of students and faculty who travel from all over the country for on-campus events. As 2020 came to a close, the approval of COVID-19 vaccines gave hope for a return to campus sometime in 2021.

“While we are eager to be able to welcome students, faculty, and staff back to campus as soon as possible, we are committed to waiting until we are confident that it is safe to do so,” FNU President Dr. Susan Stone said. “We will continue to follow CDC, national, and local guidelines to assist in our decision-making process.”

In lieu of campus activities such as Clinical Bound and Frontier Bound, FNU developed virtual events that proved to be very successful and well-received by their participants (see story on page 11). With no students on campus, most FNU staff have been working from home since the start of the pandemic but will resume an on-campus presence once it is deemed safe to return.