UAH College of Nursing honored as Center of Excellence in Nursing Education

HUNTSVILLE — The University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing has been selected by the National League of Nursing as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.

UAH joins 15 other nursing education programs, including teaching hospitals and clinical sites, in being honored by the organization.

“The faculty are committed to teaching excellence, and this award demonstrates our sustained efforts to educate students for entry into nursing practice, advanced practice nursing roles and leadership roles in evidenced-based nursing practice and research,” said Dr. Karen Frith, dean and professor of the UAH College of Nursing. “The award was based on achievement of the highest caliber outcomes, including student engagement, licensure and certification pass rates, faculty performance and community outreach.

“The award marks the second time the UAH College of Nursing has received the Center of Excellence designation.”

The honorees are recognized for sustained excellence in faculty development, nursing education research, student learning & professional development, and academic progression in nursing. Formal recognition for the awardees will take place Sept. 30 during the NLN Education Summit.

“NLN Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by role modeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence that nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community,” said NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone.

UAH is being recognized in particular for “creating environments that promote the pedagogical expertise of faculty,” along with Boston College, the Duke University School of Nursing, Fairfield University, Indiana University, Penn State and the University of South Carolina.

“It is no secret that it takes a village of scholars and visionary leaders to collaborate to co-create and sustain educational excellence,” said NLN Chair Kathleen Poindexter, interim associate dean of academic affairs at Michigan State University. “Those individuals – faculty, deans and administrators – deserve our deepest gratitude. NLN Centers of Excellence faculty and leadership have proven ready to share their expertise, best practices and insights with the entire nursing education community to enable more programs to qualify for the prestigious COE designation.”