NLN Designates Four Centers of Excellence in Nursing EducationTM for 2007-2010

Announcement to Be Made at Special Presentation during
NLNs Annual Education Summit in Phoenix, September 26 -29

Centers Selected for Creating Environments that
Promote Student Learning and Professional Development

September 28, 2007 — New York, NY — In a special presentation during its annual four-day Education Summit, the National League for Nursing this morning announced the four schools of nursing to receive the organizations prestigious designation as a Center of Excellenceâ„¢ (COE) for 2007-2010. Three of the four – Community College of Philadelphia, Department of Nursing; the University of South Dakota, Department of Nursing; and Villanova University College of Nursing – were in the inaugural group designated in 2004. After a rigorous review of their applications, these schools were approved by the NLN Board of Governors to continue their designation. The fourth school named this year is Saint Xavier University School of Nursing in Chicago.

The presentation took place at the Phoenix Convention Center, during the NLN memberships Annual Business Meeting.

All four schools were lauded for creating environments that promote student learning and professional development, one of several categories for which schools of nursing can apply. Since 2004, the NLN has designated 11 schools of nursing as COEs based on their sustained excellence in promoting the pedagogical expertise of faculty, advancing the science of nursing education, or promoting student learning and professional development. They must also have a proven commitment to continuous quality improvement.

"It was past time for the nursing education community to recognize those schools whose faculty are doing the outstanding work that sets them apart from others," said Dr. Beverly. Malone, CEO of the NLN. "It is our hope that by publicly acknowledging these best academic practices, we will succeed in setting the bar higher in nursing schools across the board to ensure that those entering the profession will be as well prepared as they can for the 21st-century health care needs of the American people."

In keeping with the NLN mission to continually advance excellent nursing education, throughout the three years that schools carry the COE designation, they are expected to be available to other schools seeking to move their own programs toward distinction. Summed up NLN chief program officer Dr. Terry Valiga, "Through the Centers of Excellence designation, nursings most exciting programs are made known to the entire academic community and inspire other schools to strive for excellence."

For more infomation about the NLN Centers of Excellence in Nursing Education program, visit www.nln.org/excellence/coe/index.htm.

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities during the week of the Education Summit, please contact Jane Calem Rosen, communications consultant to the NLN at 201-906-7339 or email or email janeruth@aol.com. Following this week, please contact Karen R. Klestzick, chief communications officer of the NLN, at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education offering faculty development, networking opportunities, testing and assessment, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 23,000 individual and 1,100 institutional members.