UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation Recognized for Exceptional Academics

By UT Arlington University Communications

Posted on July 31, 2015, July 31, 2015

The University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation has been designated a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing, the nation's foremost organization for nursing faculty and leaders in nursing education.

UT Arlington is one of only 12 nursing schools in the country to earn the designation this year.

The College of Nursing and Health Innovation achieved the honor by demonstrating sustained, evidence-based and substantive innovation in the category of "Creating Environments that Enhance Student Learning and Professional Development," the organization said. The designation, which extends through 2019, also acknowledges UT Arlington's ongoing research to document the effectiveness of its innovations, for setting high standards and showing commitment to quality improvement.

"Our success is wonderful testimony to the consistent high aspirations of our faculty and staff as we work to support the learning and professional growth of the students in all of our nursing programs," said Anne Bavier, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Innovation.

"Whether through traditional classroom or through online instruction, substantive innovation, continuous quality improvement and excellence are the common threads that run through all of our programs," Bavier added. "Our deep respect for our 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students permeates everything we do as educators and ultimately is manifest in the excellence of their work.

"The national honor comes as the College is becoming a premier health science institution with expanded research in the areas of kinesiology, healthy aging, rehabilitation medicine and physiology and increased interdisciplinary collaborations with fields in engineering, science and social work.

"This designation further cements the reputation of our College of Nursing and Health Innovation as one of the premier colleges in the nation and further underlines the top national rankings gained by the College over the last year, placing it among the very best in Texas and the nation," UT Arlington President Vistasp M. Karbhari said. "The College is setting new standards of excellence, and this designation reflects the leadership of our nursing students, faculty and staff in shaping a model health science unit that is committed to improving health for all.

"President Karbhari added: "Dean Bavier and her faculty members are known around the world for their innovative teaching strategies, community engagement and initiatives that foster rigorous scholarship for lifelong learning. Their visionary leadership is enabling the University to establish itself as a leader in the health sciences with strong collaborations with hospitals and health care facilities not just in Texas, but across the nation and globe.

"The National League for Nursing will recognize Centers of Excellence on Oct. 2 during the organization's annual education summit. Dean Bavier will be installed as president of the League on the same day. Among the list of current, and newly designated, institutions are Clemson University, The Ohio State University, Duke University, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams congratulated UT Arlington on the honor, noting that the College of Nursing and Health Innovation will award more than 3,000 degrees this year to graduates seeking careers or advancement in the health sciences.

"The UT Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation is the largest source of degreed nurses in the North Texas region and a significant source of highly educated nurses today for communities across the United States," Williams said. "I applaud the University's commitment to innovative and effective education, and we recognize that the health care partnerships UT Arlington has forged across Texas and beyond contribute to our thriving economy.

"The National League for Nursing began awarding Center of Excellence designations to nursing schools in 2004. The League represents 33,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members, including nurse educators, education agencies, health care agencies and members of the public.