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Mission & Philosophy of the College

Vision
Transforming health care through innovative education and research.

Mission
Develop nurse leaders who are empowered to generate, explore, and apply nursing knowledge for evolving healthcare environments.

Purpose
The purpose of the college is to provide education and service and engage in research and scholarship. A comprehensive approach to collegiate nursing education is manifested in the undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programs of the college. More specifically, the faculty aims to provide: (1) education to prepare beginning and advanced practitioners for diverse populations; (2) opportunities for advancing nursing science; (3) education for practicing nurses to maintain, improve and expand their competencies; and (4) service and expertise to the broader community of health care consumers. Fulfillment of the purpose of the college occurs through consistent attention to the beliefs which the faculty holds about people, the environment, health and nursing as well as beliefs about nursing education.

Philosophy of Governance
A shared governance model supports the actualization of the vision of the College “for transforming health care through innovative education and research” through the College’s mission to develop “leaders who are empowered to generate, explore, and apply nursing knowledge for evolving health care environments”. Faculty research/scholarship, teaching, practice, and service are the underpinnings of  the vision and mission.

The College’s shared governance originates from an in depth study of the literature supporting shared governance. The College views shared governance not as a particular design or format but rather as a dynamic that is centered on operationalizing the four (4) critical principles of fully empowered organizations: Partnership, Accountability, Equity, Ownership.

Partnership implies faculty, students, staff, administration and the Dean work together to achieve the goals of the College. Accountability stems from commitment to a College of the whole and to the outcomes to be achieved through the proposed model of shared governance. Equity derives from the vital and important contributions that each individual member of the College community brings to the work of the College. Ownership arises from each member of the College community also having a stake in the development of nurse leaders. Shared governance fully involves faculty in actualizing the College’s vision and mission thus enhancing the quality of academic life within the College. (Porter O’Grady, 2001)