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2005 - 2010 Strategic Plan
Prepare the next generation of nursing leaders
Be national leaders in the discovery and application of nursing knowledge
Promote academic excellence in the College and Profession of nursing by increasing the diversity of faculty, staff and students
Strengthen the College's intellectual and community vitality
Engage in strategic partnerships with the nursing and health care communities in Iowa, nationally and globally
The mission of the College of Nursing is to prepare the next generation of nursing leaders and to be a leader in the discovery, dissemination and application of nursing knowledge. As the only state supported higher degree program in nursing, the College has a mandate to supply the next generation of nurses for the state of Iowa. As one of eleven colleges in a Research Extensive university, the College of Nursing has a responsibility to support its research mission through national leadership in both innovative educational programs and generation of new knowledge.
The College of Nursing endorses the mission, vision and goals set forth in the University's strategic plan as full participants in the initiatives that will define the direction of the University in both the short and long range.
While the mission of the College to prepare the next generation of nursing leaders and be a leader in the discovery, dissemination and application of nursing knowledge is plain, the competing demands on resources make strategic planning challenging, at the very least. As the only state supported higher degree program in nursing, the College has a mandate to supply the next generation of nurses for the state of Iowa. As a vital participant in a Research One University, the College has a responsibility to be a national leader in both education and research. If resources were unlimited, there would be no issues. Given that resources are finite, however, strategic planning must walk the fine line, embracing both of these often competing mandates but not to the exclusion of either.
In the short term, there are two major issues that will warrant strategic decision very soon. The first has to do with the management of enrollment and the distribution of students among the pre- and post-licensure programs of study offered in the College of Nursing. The second has to do with the extent to which courses and programs are offered on-line as opposed to on-site. Given the unlikelihood that there will be state support for increasing the size of the faculty and offering more programs, the decision guiding the enrollment of students and the use of distance technology must be guided by (1) consonance with national directions, (2) the capacity to attract diverse students, (3) the return on investment of resources (e.g. cost per graduate), and (4) the extent to which the College's mission and mandate are served.
To guide the strategic planning process, the faculty endorsed the following assumptions at the Faculty Organization meeting of February 28, 2006.
1. As a Research Extensive institution, the College of Nursing's primary responsibility to the State of Iowa and the nation is to prepare nurse scholars and academics at the PhD level.
2. A companion responsibility of the College of Nursing is preparation of advanced practice nurses prepared to assume leadership roles.
3. The College of Nursing is the primary institution in the State of Iowa with the faculty and clinical resources needed to prepare advanced practice nurses and nurse scholars and educators.
4. While preparing a nursing workforce is a part of the College's mission, a major obligation is to ensure that other nursing programs in the State have adequately prepared faculty to educate sufficient numbers of front line providers.
5. As a Research Extensive institution, the College of Nursing is positioned to attract "the best and the brightest" into its applicant pool.
6. The major focus of academic programs in the College of Nursing should be post-baccalaureate education.
7. Since fiscal and human resources to deliver academic programs in the College of Nursing will not decrease substantially in the future, faculty resources will need to be redirected to preparation of advanced practice clinicians and nurse scholars.
Prepare the next generation of nursing leaders
Strategies:
1. Develop and implement an enrollment plan that acknowledges the unique role of the CON in generalist and specialist graduate education
2. Prepare future research scientists and university educators through support of the PhD and postdoctoral programs
3. Provide salaried RA positions on interdisciplinary teams for doctoral fellows
4. Expand the opportunity for Iowa registered nurses to pursue career advancement and leadership roles through access to distance learning programs in nursing at the graduate level
5. Expand young clinician programs and other enrichment learning experiences
6. Evaluate undergraduate curriculum to identify omissions and duplications, and adjust general education requirements to be comparable with other professional majors
7. Restructure clinical teaching to maximize students' experiential learning and problem-solving skills
Be national leaders in the discovery and application of nursing knowledge
Strategies:
1. Support the development of translational research initiatives, securing the collaboration of tenure track and clinical track faculty members
2. Enhance infrastructure/support for grant development and implementation
3. Position the College as a national leader iin genetics, informatics and child & family nursing
4. Pursue the development of funded Center of Excellence in Pain Management and/or Center of Excellence in Translational Science
5. Maintain excellence in geriatric nursing and in nursing systems administration, including leadership in the Center for Nursing Classification
6. Expand young scientist programs
7. Establish College of Nursing as #1 in Implementation Science
8. Develop an Implementation Science Initiative with the goal of moving the College of Nursing towards national preeminent leadership in the field
Promote academic excellence in the College and Profession of Nursing by increasing the diversity of the faculty, staff and students
Strategies:
1. Reallocate funds to establish an Office of Diversity, with faculty appointment for leadership, that will be accountable for guiding the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty, staff and student body
2. Hold accountable and reward members of the college community for improving the climate for diversity and supporting the retention of diverse faculty, staff and students
3. Create research and education partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities
4. Invest in programs of study that are more likely to recruit men and other underrepresented populations
Strengthen the College's intellectual and community vitality
Strategies:
1. Build an inclusive, respectful college community grounded in trust and open dialogue
2. Nurture creative leadership and outstanding performance
3. Encourage and reward participation in faculty and staff governance and service to the College
4. Increase the fiscal stability of the College through faculty practice, contract activities and fundraising
5. Facilitate current members of the clinical faculty to pursue practice doctorates to build faculty for a DNP
6. Recruit and retain junior and senior tenure track faculty with diverse academic preparation
7. Support developmental leadership opportunities to assure the vitality of faculty and advance the mission of the college
8. Build an infrastructure for communication and involvement with alums from the time of admission to the CON
Engage in strategic partnerships with the nursing and health care communities in Iowa, nationally and globally
Strategies:
1. Create sustainable relationships with rural hospitals for education, research and practice
2. Expand outreach education/training
3. Enhance consultation partnerships with specialty nursing
4. Partner with corporations and industry to develop new models of practice and reimbursement
5. Engage in public advocacy at state, national and global levels
6. Provide life-long learning and career enhancement opportunities for alumni and other Iowa nurses
7. Build capacity for faculty and student international exchange and study abroad
