December 2015 Deans Update

Dear Alumni & Friends, It is hard to believe that I have been in my role as Dean of the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines for over a year. During this time, I have enjoyed working with the College’s faculty and staff, learning the stories of our students, and getting to know the Grand Forks community. It has been an exciting year thus far as the departments and the college have accomplished a great deal. This fall, CNPD was pleased to offer two new online programs, the Masters in Nutrition with Specialization in Nutrition Education and Counseling, and the Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW). We are excited to offer educational opportunities to students who may not be able to receive their degree on campus. The University of North Dakota CNPD Department of Nursing has received initial accreditation for its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The CCNE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency that contributes to the improvement of the public\u27s health by ensuring the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing education. 2015 was also a year of celebration as the Recruitment/Retention of American Indians into Nursing (RAIN) Program celebrated 25 years of assisting American Indians in actualizing their nursing dreams. The Nurse Practitioner Program also celebrated its 20th Anniversary of education at UND and nationally, we celebrate 50 years of Nurse Practitioner education. The College’s mission has an emphasis on serving the health needs of the rural communities in North Dakota and the region. We continue to strive to meet our rural health mission through a number of initiatives including hiring a Rural Health Visiting Scholar. This December, Dr. Angeline Bushy, will travel to UND to work with faculty to integrate rural content and student experiences across the three areas of curricula. Dr. Bushy is a renowned rural health expert and will be assisting the College in further developing its rural health mission with return visits during the spring semester. I hope that you enjoy the first edition of our e-newsletter. It is our goal to keep our alumni and friends updated on current college affairs. We plan to send out an e-newsletter each semester but if you would like to stay attune to the most recent events, please like our Facebook and follow us on Twitter. I would love to hear from you, so I hope you also reach out to me at gayle.roux@UND.edu or at 701.777.4555. Have a wonderful holiday season! Best, Dean Gayle Rou