As we reflect on the past academic year, I am proud to share several significant accomplishments that continue to strengthen the mission and momentum of our College of Nursing. Together, our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners have advanced initiatives that expand access to nursing education, support student success and address the healthcare workforce needs across our state.
One of our most encouraging achievements has been the continued growth in student enrollment. Undergraduate enrollment increased by 11% across our five divisions, demonstrating the strong reputation of our programs and the growing demand for highly skilled nursing professionals. This growth reflects the dedication of our faculty and staff, whose commitment to academic excellence and student support continues to attract talented students from across the region.
In alignment with our commitment to serving greater Nebraska, the college also established new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with several high schools in Greater Nebraska. These partnerships are designed to strengthen the educational pipeline into nursing by creating clearer pathways for students to pursue healthcare careers close to home. By engaging students earlier and building meaningful relationships with local school districts, we are helping address future workforce shortages while expanding opportunities for rural students.
We also were honored to receive a transformational $1.5 million gift from the Bedford Falls Foundation dedicated to student scholarships. This investment in our students will have a lasting impact by reducing financial barriers, increasing access to nursing education, and helping future nurses focus on academic and clinical success. We are deeply grateful for this generous support and the confidence it represents in the future of nursing education.
Another historic milestone was graduating our inaugural class in the Mary Eliza Mahoney Mentoring Program (MEMMP). Celebrating the achievements of these students marked an important moment for the college as we continue to develop innovative strategies to support our students and prepare graduates to transition into the workplace.
Operationally, the college successfully completed the third phase of its organizational restructuring initiative. This work has strengthened collaboration across divisions, improved operational efficiency, and positioned the college for long-term sustainability and strategic growth. The dedication and adaptability of staff and faculty throughout this transition has been exceptional.
To better serve prospective students and respond to increasing demand, the College of Nursing in Omaha transitioned to a twice-yearly admissions cycle, marking the third division to expand access. The change also creates flexibility for applicants while allowing the college to respond more effectively to workforce and community needs.
The Morehead Center for Nursing Practice implemented an 80/20 Innovative Practice Model. The model is designed to intersect with clinical practice, which allows faculty to practice 80% of the time and develop integrated practice-based skills development and student mentorship. In addition, we have plans to deploy our mobile unit to bring health care directly to communities that need it most.
Despite a challenging funding climate over the past year, our faculty and students have achieved significant milestones in research and scholarly activities. Notable accomplishments include securing a $4 million Rural Nebraska Nurse Fellows Program, a 50k palliative care invention study and a $125,000 patient-centered research initiative, alongside publishing 104 peer-reviewed articles and submitting 42 proposals with a total value of $57.5 million to various sponsors.
Finally, we were pleased to introduce two new staff awards recognizing excellence in service, innovation and commitment to the college community. Staff members play a vital role in the success of our students and programs, and these awards provide an important opportunity to celebrate their invaluable contributions.
These accomplishments reflect the extraordinary work taking place across the College of Nursing each day. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this successful year and to our continued mission of transforming lives through education, research and practice. The future of our college is bright, and I look forward to all we will achieve together in the year ahead!