College of Nursing and Health Professions hosts 25th anniversary celebration

Aug. 20, 2007 -- The College of Nursing and Health Professions at Arkansas State University will host its 25^th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Aug. 30, from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Reng Student Services Center/Student Union. Friends and alumni of the college are invited to attend the “birthday party” celebration, which will feature cake, t-shirts, door prizes, and various displays, according to Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the college.

Nursing as an academic discipline at ASU had its inception in 1968, when an associate degree program was established. Conforming to the structural pattern then extant at the university, nursing began as an independent division. While the associate degree program met the needs of many students, various other students entering the program expressed a preference for baccalaureate nursing education. In addition, registered nurses expressed concern about the lack of opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing at ASU.

Consequently, the baccalaureate program was introduced in 1973, and the structural unit became the Division of Nursing. In 1975, the Division of Nursing was elevated, becoming a School of Nursing. In 1979, the Board of Higher Education approved the reorganization of the unit as a College of Nursing, with a dean as its administrative head.

In 1982, further restructuring within the university took place, resulting in the formation of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Nursing was joined by Medical Technology and Radiologic Technology, both transferred from the Department of Biological Sciences, and Health Services Administration, transferred from the Institute of Technology and Management. The Dean of Nursing became the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Many new programs have been added since that time, including the relocation of Communication Disorders from the College of Education in 1997 and the transfer of the Department of Social Work from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2003.

For more information, contact Susan Hanrahan, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, at (870) 972-3112.