New College of Nursing- A Statewide Precedent

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia recently authorized the new College of Nursing, a name change also approved by the Radford University Board of Visitors. This is the only public institution in Virginia to have a separate College of Nursing.

The College of Nursing is led by Interim Dean Wendy Downey, and has learning locations in Radford and Roanoke, Virginia.

“It feels like a monumental achievement for the College of Nursing in a 50-year history where we have gone in and out of being in a college, but never solely nursing,” Downey said. “I have heard from numerous alumni who have just said, ‘This has been a long time coming.’”

With nursing becoming a separate college, Radford University places the profession of nursing and nursing education at the level of prestige they deserve.

“I really feel like we are setting a new precedent for nursing, not only in the Commonwealth of Virginia, because we are the first public institution of higher education in Virginia to have a College of Nursing, but also in the U.S.,” Downey said.

The creation of this separate college emphasizes the importance of nursing and the need for well-educated and practice-ready nurses in the world. It also continues Radford University’s devotion to the consistent evolution of educational programs in response to the healthcare needs, delivery mechanisms and technology advancements in the region, Commonwealth, nation and world.