Nursing programs have always been a side program for many universities. This is because not a lot of funding or attention was paid to the field. However, this is quickly changing thanks to the nursing shortage. Universities are now moving to increase enrollment by creating a larger nursing program. Penn State is taking it even further by now recognizing nursing as its own entire school.
This means Penn State has given the school of nursing its own dean. They stated that this is because they have experienced a huge increase in enrollment. The nursing school was originally part of the College of Health and Human Development.
The school experienced a 22 percent rise in baccalaureate enrollments and a 34 increase in graduate enrollments. Currently, the school has over 1400 students in 10 different locations. There is also a World Campus where 157 students currently attend.
This is a great move by Penn State especially considering that the rest of the larger school already have the nursing school as a separate division. This will allow them to focus as a single unit which will let them have more control. This will in turn increase funding and allow the school to accept even more students.
