Dear Alumni,

As we start this academic year of 2006-2007, we have much to celebrate and to share with our alumni! The enrollment in the College is at its highest level in its history. We are currently at 1,211 students, a 16 percent increase and we still retain the status of the second largest college in the University next to Liberal Arts & Education. The largest growth is noted in the McAuley School of Nursing with 933 students, 823 of whom are in the undergraduate program.

Our graduate program has also seen marked growth with now over 110 students. With the significant nursing shortage, we were pleased to welcome 100 students to the first nursing course in Detroit and were approved to admit up to 50 pre-licensure students to our Grand Rapids program in partnership with Aquinas College and Saint Mary’s Health Care. We also experienced growth in our accelerated nursing program with 62 students beginning that program in May. We currently now have a waiting list for our undergraduate pre-licensure program, the first time in the history of our School. We have plans to increase our numbers, but will need approval first from the Board of Nursing.

One of the challenges is increasing the number of faculty needed to allow expansion. While we welcomed several new faculty this year—Assistant Professor Patricia Thomas, Instructor Suzanne Keep, Instructor Gwen Smith, Instructor Thelma Phillips, and Assistant Professor Kate Walters—there is still a need for more faculty. In light of this, the MSON launched a new masters’ track in nursing education with an adult health specialty option. Professor Kate Walters is the coordinator of that program, which was successfully funded from a HRSA grant from the Division of Nursing, authored by Judith Lewis, associate dean/chair, McAuley School of Nursing (MSON) and principal investigator of the grant. We also have plans to further expand the graduate program with development of a clinical nurse leader track, which will be a MSN in Nursing Leadership.

The rest of the College also shows growth. This fall, we started a 5-Year Accelerated Physician Assistant Program, a unique program in partnership with the department of Biology. We have 27 students currently in this program, and welcomed Program Coordinator Rachel DeWitt ’04, who is a former high school science teacher. The graduate PA program also admitted 45 new students this fall, with now over 109 students in the program. Nurse Anesthesia also experienced a record number of applicants to the program and admitted 30 new students this fall.

The Health Services Administration (HSA) program has approximately 90 students in the program, and is positioned for strategic growth in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. The graduate HSA program is preparing for candidacy in the CAHME accreditation process, and will be completing its self-study in this academic year. A new marketing approach is also being implemented to highlight the business of health care and the need for more individuals moving into this area for the undergraduate programs. As you can see, there is a tremendous amount of growth and good news with a strong retention rate of current students, and an excellent caliber of students selecting health professions careers. As alumni, you can be proud of the strong tradition of excellence that you have set for the next generation of health professionals!

The Alumni Council is re-energized this year with several new members, and will be continuing its program of a mentoring project with students within the College. As well, there are several other initiatives under way to promote more engagement and involvement of our alumni with the College. We now have the Alumni Wall of Fame, featuring the awardees from the various programs for the past years. This “Wall of Fame” is displayed prominently in the new College of Health Professions Administrative wing. Please stop by to see the recognition of our alumni who demonstrate the excellence that the University of Detroit Mercy College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing are known for.

This academic year, our strategic focus will be in four core areas: targeted enrollment growth, enhancement of faculty scholarship and research, technology integration, and long-term sustainability of the McAuley Nurse Managed Health Center. We are currently developing plans for a simulation and technology (with electronic medical record interface) center that will need funding and resource support. While our faculty have markedly increased in scholarly productivity this past year, that will be a strategic focus to grow in the next year. Additionally, we have several large grants we are planning to submit.

As alumni, we need your continued support to ensure that we have additional resources to deliver quality programs.  We thank you for your current support and encourage your continued participation in activities in the College and support for initiatives in scholarships, faculty research, and technology integration that will continue to prepare excellent practitioners, administrators and leaders that continue to make a significant difference in the health care needs of our community.

Suzanne Mellon
Dean, College of Health Professions
McAuley School of Nursing