SON: Connections - Fall 2004

Headlines | Briefly | From the Deans Desk

Creating Futures in Nursing

Based on Careful Planning, the School of Nursing Launches an Effort to Build Endowments for Students and Faculty
By Lia Unrau

In 1921 when founding dean Elizabeth Sterling Soule first embarked on developing a nursing curriculum, she envisioned a school that would provide quality nursing education and serve its c o m m u n i t y. More than 80 years later, the UW School of Nursing has successfully embraced and expanded on Soule's original vision, and is in the midst of preparing for the next 80 years of the s c h o o l 's leadership and growth.

On Oct. 15, the UW School of Nursing faculty, staff and students celebrated the public kickoff of the University of Wa s h i n g t o n 's most comprehensive fund-raising effort to date-the $2 billion Campaign UW: Creating Futures-to strengthen four key priorities: students, faculty, programs and facilities.

Under the leadership of Eli and Rebecca Almo, owners and operators of ERA Care Communities, and UW School of Nursing Campaign Advisory Board co-chairs, the school announced a $24 million fund-raising effort to address its core priorities: to enhance undergraduate and graduate education, enhance and expand the school's ability to recruit and retain outstanding faculty, and expand research and community outreach.

" We are so fortunate to have the country 's No. 1 ranked nursing school right here in the Northwest," say the Almos. "But we need this campaign to stay on top of nursing leadership in education and research, so that UW School of Nursing students, staff and faculty have the resources they need to succeed and make valuable contributions to health care and to our communities. In the course of our business, we see the increasing demand for skilled nursing care, particularly for older adults, as well as the need for innovative research."

Through careful planning, Dean Nancy Woods and school leadership identified the key areas where support will make the greatest impact on the future of nursing education, research and care.

"Leadership. It's the key to any successful campaign," says William H. Gates Sr., UW regent and chair of Campaign UW: Creating Futures. "Eli and Rebecca Almo, together with Dean Wo ods, exceed anyone's definition as able leaders. Their shared vision, their passion for nursing, and their 'can do' attitude prompted them to increase their campaign goal twice already!"

The eight-year campaign began in June 2000 with a "quiet phase" focused on leadership support. At the midway point this summer, the school had raised more than $12 million toward its goal. Campaign support for student scholarships and fellowships will increase access for top students to the school's programs-currently more than 75 percent of the student body has financial need. The campaign will also support a state-of-the-art learning laboratory, where students will practice with the latest technology and equipment in a realistic environment.

"A scholarship from UW Nursing enabled me to complete my education," says Sandra Dyer BSN '59. "We wanted to give something back," say she and her husband, Peter Dyer, who in addition to financial support, give their time as honorary co-chairs on the nursing Campaign Advisory Board. "We feel that supporting the next generation of nurses is a significant investment in the health of our communities, on so many levels."

The school also seeks to strengthen its faculty core with the creation of two endowed chairs and four endowed professorship positions. Endowed faculty positions in geronotology and infant mental health, for example, will attract preeminent educators and researchers, while other endowed positions will both attract and retain star faculty.

"We have always been impressed with the devotion nurses have for their profession," say UW alumni Bob and Jean Reid, honorary co-chairs of the nursing Campaign Advisory Board.

"We also understand the need to prepare nurses for the challenges of today's rapidly changing health care system as well as the urgency about addressing our shortage of nurses and nursing faculty. " The School of Nursing receives only 30 percent of its support from state funding, and federal support and private contributions provide for programs above and beyond the school's budget, making every gift of support important. The school is focused on what it needs to serve its students, the region's communities and the world, Woods says. "Since its start, the School of Nursing has been an outstanding example of academic excellence. Now we are establishing an international reputation for quality in programs, faculty and research, and this campaign will secure our ability to make a difference in the quality of nursing care."

Did you know...

Since 1984, the UW School of Nursing has led the nation's nursing schools in rankings and surveys of America's "Best Graduate Schools" and "Top Nursing Schools."
The school has 32 endowed scholarships and four endowed fellowships established by alumni, faculty and friends. The school can make about 26 awards to an undergraduate class of 160, and award four fellowships to some 300 graduate students.
The school has five endowed professorships and no endowed chair positions for faculty.
More than 75 percent of the student body needs financial support.

School of Nursing Campaign Priorities

STUDENT SUPPORT

Add 25 endowed undergraduate scholarships to increase access to programs
Add 25 endowed graduate fellowships to increase access to specialty and doctoral programs
Program support for Citizens of the World, which provides student learning and care-providing experiences in underserved regions of the world
Establish a Center for Excellence in Nursing Education, including rebuilding a state-of-the-art learning laboratory
Provide support for distance learning and technology beyond the classroom

FACULTY SUPPORT

Create two endowed chairs to help attract and retain world-class faculty
Add four endowed professorship positions to help attract and retain world-class faculty

PROGRAM SUPPORT

Expand and strengthen research and community outreach
Help build the endowment for the school's five centers of excellence:
- Center for Women's Health and Gender Research
- de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging
- Center on Infant Mental Health and Development
- Center for Advancement of Health Disparities Research
- Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Clinical Education and Research

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