School of Nursing history

Northern Arizona University

1962 – current

The nursing program was established in 1962 as an organized unit of faculty of the Arizona State College (named in 1945) granting the associate degree in nursing. The associate degree nursing program, under the direction of Ms. Frances Hegglund, received its first full accreditation from Arizona State Board of Nursing in 1963. The Department of Nursing at that time was part of the College of Arts and Science. Ms. Bea Evans continued as the department chair through academic year 1970-1971.

In 1966, the Arizona Board of Regents approved the changing of Arizona State College to university status. The name was changed to Northern Arizona University. In 1972, a new center was opened on south campus. A new college, first named the College of Integrated Studies was approved to provide liberal arts programs for the south center. This College was later named the College of Public and Environmental Services. The Department of Nursing was housed in these Colleges under the direction of Dr. Phyllis Adkinson and Dr. Roberta Clegg.

In 1973, the baccalaureate faculty of the Department of Nursing came together for the first time and the baccalaureate program was developed. This program was designed as a career ladder program and today is known as the RN to BSN completion program.

Under the direction of Dr. Roberta Clegg, a grant was submitted for the construction of a building for nursing education. In 1974, the President of Northern Arizona University received notice that the Federal Government had approved the grant in the amount of $969,332.00 for the construction of a building for nursing education. With matching state funds the total amount available for construction and other costs was $1,356,500.00.

In 1974, under the direction of Dr. Roberta Clegg, the Associate Degree in Nursing Program received full accreditation from the National League for Nursing (NLN). At that same time, the baccalaureate program was established and received provisional accreditation from the NLN. In 1975, the baccalaureate program received full accreditation.

In 1981, under the direction of Ms. Mary Walsh, the nursing faculty made a unanimous decision to begin immediately to phase out the Associate Degree in Nursing Program. The last class graduated in the Spring of 1983.

The School of Health Professions was established on July 1, 1982 under the direction of Dean, Richard Borden by uniting several existing health professional programs. Nursing, located in a College of Public and Environmental Service, was split off from that College. The result was a new academic unit – the School of Health Professions, which consisted of the Departments of Physical Therapy, Dental Hygiene, and Nursing.

In 1983, under the direction of Dr. Sally Ruybal, the phase out of the associate degree was completed and the baccalaureate program was expanded to include a pre-licensure baccalaureate program. The baccalaureate program received continuation of full accreditation status.

The School of Health Professions was renamed the College of Health Professions (CHP) in 1991 and housed the Departments of Dental Hygiene, Health Education, Physical Education and Recreation, Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Speech, Pathology and Audiology.

In 1995, the Department of Nursing received approval for implementation of the Master in Science program in nursing with a Rural Health Specialist track and a Family Nurse Practitioner track.

In 1997, The Department of Nursing did not seek re-accreditation with NLN, but applied for re-accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Both the baccalaureate and masters programs received full accreditation.

The College of Health Professions was reorganized into a School of Health Professions (SHP) and a School of Nursing in 2005 and housed in the Consortium of Professional Schools

The School of Nursing and the School of Health Professions were reunited into a College of Health and Human Services in 2007.