UAH Nursing tapped by NLN as 2022 Center of Excellence in Nursing Education

Courtesy NLN COE in Nursing Education

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, announced that the UAH College of Nursing has been selected by the National League of Nursing (NLN) as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.

Sixteen nursing education programs across the academic spectrum of higher education, as well as leading teaching hospitals and clinical sites, have been named 2022 NLN Centers of Excellence by the NLN. The honorees are being 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 during the 2022 NLN Education Summit at the Honors Convocation on September 30.

“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,” says 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 NLN COE in Nursing Education is designed for schools of nursing and health care organizations that have achieved a level of excellence in a specific area. Through public recognition and distinction, the program acknowledges the outstanding innovations, commitment and sustainability of excellence these organizations demonstrate.

The UAH CON is being recognized in particular for “creating environments that promote the pedagogical expertise of faculty,” along with honorees Boston College, the Duke University School of Nursing, Fairfield University, Indiana University, Pennsylvania State University 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,” says 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.” NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone notes as well, “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.”

Since 2004, the National League for Nursing has invited nursing schools and programs to apply to achieve COE designation, based on their ability to demonstrate in concrete, measurable terms their sustained excellence in faculty development, nursing education research, student learning and professional development and academic progression in nursing. For more information about the program and application requirements, visit NLN.org. For more information about the 2022 NLN Education Summit, visit Summit.NLN.org.