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Dean’s Message — “It takes a College”

Kathleen Ann Long, PhD, RN, FAAN

The remarkable efforts of our faculty, students, staff, alumni, supporters and partners truly make our College successful. Never has this been more apparent than during our recent Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation review process. I am exceedingly proud of all members of our College community. We worked together in the preparation for the CCNE review and the results are stellar.

The College’s BSN and MSN degree programs received full ten-year reaccreditation and our new DNP degree program received the best possible five-year initial accreditation. There were no compliance concerns identified for any of our degree programs. This result reaffirms our belief in the quality of our College’s educational programs.

The self-study preparation process allowed us to identify areas for continuous quality improvement and work as a true team—faculty, staff, students, alumni, clinical partners and administrators—and this yielded our desired result. Further, I think it helped all of us to refocus on the “big picture,” founding Dean Smith’s vision of a College offering intellectually challenging nursing education. A College that not only prepares graduates as excellent clinicians but instills in each the ability and commitment to improve practice.

I know that so many of you share my sentiment when I say “It’s great to be a Gator Nurse!” Please share in our pride and please accept my deep appreciation for all you did to support us in our accreditation process.