GAMECOCK
The CONnection News and Views from the University of South Carolina COLLEGE OF NURSING
JANUARY 2016
No. 1 in the Nation For the first time in our history, we have achieved a No. 1 ranking by the US News & World Report. The current ranking is for our Graduate Online Nursing Programs. The College of Nursing has always been an innovator in nursing education, with one of the first Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in the country and an early adopter of flexible delivery models to graduate students. For the past 20 years, we have provided distant or online education to graduate nursing students, who often work full-time 12 hour shifts and have multiple other roles and responsibilities while attending graduate school.
Q&A with Dean Jeannette Andrews
Inside This Issue Students Corner...............2-3 Faculty & Staff Notes.....4-6 Alumni & Development...7 NO LIMITS........................8
So how did we become #1 in the nation? My colleague, Dean Les Hall from the School of Medicine, in his congratulatory note to our College stated, “I know this is not an accident, but rather the result of dedication and hard work.” His comments reinforce my own reflections in that it is no accident or serendipitous happenstance, but rather a very strategic visionary and operational plan orchestrated by our extraordinary team. In essence, we listened to our stakeholders – whether employers, our health system partners, our alumni, our students, our internationally/nationally recognized faculty and very competent staff, our national accreditors, and our professional organizations—to mold our program to be the very the best in the country. We have very purposively aimed for the highest quality, rigor, relevance, and flexibility for all of our students, regardless of their program. The US News & World Report rankings for best Graduate Online Nursing Programs use the following criteria to rank programs: student engagement, faculty credentials and training, national peer reputation, student services and technology, and admissions selectivity. Our team scored an overall 100 score in this year’s analyses. I want to especially thank our dedicated faculty, staff, and students for their commitment to making our program #1 in the Nation! I am so very proud of our entire “village” who made this happen. What a great way to start of 2016. Happy New Year!
Send Inquiries or Newsletter items to: Jan Johnson jnjohnso@mailbox.sc.edu
Jeannette O. Andrews PhD, RN, FAAN Dean & Professor j.andrews@sc.edu
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