School of Nursing Committees

The standing SON committees are: (1) Community, (2) Undergraduate Curriculum, (3) Graduate Curriculum, (4) Assessment and Evaluation, (5) Teaching and Learning, (6) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, (7) Initiative for Vital Practice, (8) Deans and Directors, and (8) Search and Screen. Each SON committee meets a minimum of twice a semester and more frequently, as needed. Continuous quality improvement proposals that are approved by a committee are sent directly to Community for review, discussion, and voting.

SON students are invited and encouraged to join SON committees as student representatives at the beginning of each new academic year. See below for details about each committee and their 2021-22 goals and functions. Please contact Stacey Boatright at boatrigh@up.edu with questions.

Community

Committee Purpose: Serves as the decision-making body of the SON. Provides a mechanism by which issues pertaining to the SON may be managed in an efficient, creative, and effective manner. Provides a brave and safe forum that promotes radical listening, open communication, free expression, and the exchange of ideas among faculty, staff, and students, as well as enhances the SON’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion goals with shared accountability. Provides an organizational process to support the professional growth and development of faculty, staff, and students.

2021-22 Chair: Dr. Corey Pressman

2021-22 Committee Goals & Functions:

Goal #1: Support the implementation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change.

Function:

1. Provide forums to enhance and support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Goal #2: Provide the Community with timely information about initiatives, issues, development activities, and proposals.

Functions:

1. Manage the SON Community Moodle Page.
2. Facilitate SON Community meetings.
   
   

Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

Committee Purpose: Responsible for leading the monitoring, structuring, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement of the undergraduate programs of study in the SON: BSN and IHW. The committee monitors content and structure of curriculum, the sequence of the program of study, and the courses taught. The committee oversees curricular fidelity and integrity, and ensures professional standards are integrated in the curriculum. 

2021-22 Chair: Fall 2021 - Dr. Halina Wyss. Spring 2022 - Dr. Nicole Auxier.

2021-22 Committee Goals & Functions:

Goal #1: Support the implementation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change.

Function:

1. Ensure that all undergraduate curricular decisions are made through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Goal #2: Lead the monitoring and continuous quality improvement of the BSN program of study.

Functions:

1. Monitor the content, structure, and sequence of the BSN program of study and propose improvements.
2. Ensure the BSN program of study reflects current, relevant professional nursing standards and guidelines.
3. Evaluate BSN program assessment practices and policies.

Goal #3: Lead the monitoring and continuous quality improvement of the IHW program of study. 

Functions:

1. Monitor the content, structure, and sequence of the IHW program of study and propose improvements.
2. Ensure the IHW program of study reflects current, relevant standards and guidelines.
3. Evaluate IHW program assessment practices and policies.
   
   

Graduate Curriculum Committee

Committee Purpose: Responsible for leading the monitoring, structuring, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement of the graduate-level programs of study. The Committee monitors content and structure of curriculum, the sequence of the program of study, and the courses taught. The Committee oversees curricular fidelity and integrity, and ensures professional standards are integrated in the curriculum. 

2021-22 Co-Chairs: Dr. David Fuentes and Stacey Boatright

2021-22 Committee Goals & Functions:

Goal #1: Support the implementation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change.

Function:

1. Ensure that all graduate curricular decisions are made through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Goal #2: Lead the monitoring and continuous quality improvement of the DNP program of study.

Functions:

1. Monitor the content, structure, and sequence of the DNP program of study and propose improvements.
2. Ensure the DNP program of study reflects current, relevant professional nursing standards and guidelines.
3. Evaluate DNP program assessment practices and policies.
   
   

Assessment and Evaluation Committee

Committee Purpose: Ensure that SON assessment and evaluation practices align with and reflect best education and meet our diverse needs. Assess student readiness for practice and licensure/certification and performance on licensure/certification exams. Provide accreditors with evidence of rigorous, effective programs.

2021-22 Chair: Dr. Nicole Auxier

2021-22 Committee Goals & Functions:

Goal #1: Support the implementation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change.

Function:

1. Evaluate School of Nursing efforts in implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion action steps.

Goal #2: Evaluate BSN, IHW, and DNP program data and make recommendations for changes to Undergraduate and Graduate Curriculum Committee Chairs and Program Directors. 

Function:

1. Ensure BSN exams and individual exam items adhere to: (1) recognized and accepted psychometric standards, (2) current health research and knowledge, and (3) nursing regulations and standards.

Goal #3: Monitor the achievement of key BSN, IHW, and DNP program effectiveness outcomes.

Functions:

1. Monitor the achievement of the SON program completion rate benchmark of 70% for the most recent calendar year (January-December) for the BSN, IHW, and DNP programs.
2. Monitor the achievement of the SON RN licensure rate benchmark of an annual 80% first-time NCLEX pass rate for the BSN program.
3. Monitor the achievement of the SON certification rate benchmark of an annual 80% first-time NBHWC certification exam pass rate for the IHW program.
4. Monitor the achievement of the SON certification rate benchmark of an 80% first-time national NP certification exam pass rate for the DNP-FNP program.
5. Monitor the achievement of the SON employment rate benchmark of 70% of BSN, IHW, and DNP graduates employed at 6 months post-graduation.
6. Monitor the achievement of the SON benchmark of 100% of students passing their final practicum course for the BSN, IHW, and DNP programs.
7. Monitor the achievement of the SON benchmark of 100% of graduating students meeting all degree requirements for the BSN, IHW, and DNP programs.
8. Monitor the achievement of the SON program effectiveness benchmarks of 90% of graduating students satisfied with preparation, 90% of graduating students would recommend the SON to others, and 5% of graduating students gave a professional presentation or published during their program for the BSN, IHW, and DNP programs.
   
   

Teaching and Learning Committee

Committee Purpose: Responsible for leadership in the discussion, development, and implementation of tools, projects, programs, and protocols that enhance faculty’s ability to teach in ways that foster optimal student learning. This committee is also responsible for issues of faculty welfare.

2021-22 Chair: Dr. Janet Banks

2021-22 Committee Goals & Functions:

Goal #1: Support the implementation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change (DEIAPC).

Function:

1. Provide mandatory foundational learning opportunities for faculty and staff of the School of Nursing grounded in racial and social justice to contribute to an anti-racist culture of equity and inclusivity. (DEIAPC Goal 3)

Note: This goal and function is shared with the DEI Committee.

Goal #2: Manage SON faculty development activities.

Function:

1. Include DEI into faculty and staff annual self-evaluations.
   
   

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Committee Purpose: Responsible for the implementation and evaluation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change (DEIAPC).

2021-22 Chair: Dr. Layla Garrigues

2021-22 Committee Goals & Functions:

Goal #1: Enhance commitment to meeting our school’s DEI goals for students, faculty, and staff with shared accountability with the university. (DEIAPC Goal 1)

Functions:

1. Create a dashboard on the School of Nursing (SON) website to reflect DEI goals and progress.
2. Host ongoing student focus groups.

Goal #2: Engage in radical listening to raise up the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices and others who are often silenced and unheard. (DEIAPC Goal 2)

Functions:

1. Manage the anonymous bias reporting system for students that was implemented in Spring 2021.
2. Amplify BIPOC and LGBTIA+ voices.
3. Mandatory training on brave spaces and radical listening for faculty to strengthen academic advising for SON students.
4. Provide more space for students to reflect and share in the classroom and in simulation.
5. Continue to create brave spaces for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students.

Goal #3: Support the implementation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change (DEIAPC).

Function:

1. Provide mandatory foundational learning opportunities for faculty and staff of the School of Nursing grounded in racial and social justice to contribute to an anti-racist culture of equity and inclusivity. (DEIAPC Goal 3)

Note: This goal and function is shared with the Teaching & Learning Committee.

Goal #4: Broadly share the work of the UPSON Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Committee. (DEIAPC Goal 10)

Functions:

1. Encourage student participation on SON Committees.
2. Highlight the work of the DEI Committee.

Note: More information about the DEI Committee is available here.

Initiative for Vital Practice Committee

Committee Purpose: Aims to reduce the incidence and effects of perceived stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout among the SON Community, thereby improving professional quality of life and workplace motivation. Research and propagate evidence-based best practices for both individuals and organizations.

2021-22 Chair: Dr. Corey Pressman

2021-22 Committee Goals & Functions:

Goal #1: Support the implementation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change.

Function:

1. Provide experiential learning opportunities that support a sense of “belonging” versus “fitting in.”

Goal #2: Monitor and help to improve the professional quality of life and workplace motivation among SON faculty, staff, and students.

Functions:

1. Measure SON faculty and staff professional quality of life and workplace motivation. Provide a report to the SON Community regarding the ProQOL and Motivational Scale data collection and analysis.
2. Learn about and become trained in relevant modalities and frameworks.
3. Lead the implementation of strategies to improve professional quality of life and workplace motivation for SON Community.
   
   

Deans and Directors

Committee Purpose: This Committee provides a forum for UPSON Deans and Directors to continuously monitor, share information about, and address the needs of UPSON programs, teams, and essential functions. This Committee also leads the UPSON Strategic Plan development and implementation.

2021-22 Chair: Dr. Casey Shillam

2021-22 Goals/Functions:

Goal #1: Support the implementation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change (DEIAPC).

Functions:

1. Commit to recruiting BIPOC and other historically underrepresented and first-generation students by making presentations more accessible, working closely with the Office of Admissions to inform our recruitment strategies, and increasing access to the annual UPSON Nurse Camp. (DEIAPC Goal 5)
2. Improve efforts to support retention of BIPOC and other historically underrepresented and first-generation students by improving academic advising, strengthening and supporting our peer mentorship program, and increasing access to study groups and tutoring. (DEIAPC Goal 6)
3. Collaborate more closely with the Office of Development and the Financial Aid Office to create more scholarship opportunities for BIPOC and other historically underrepresented and first-generation students. (DEIAPC Goal 7)
4. Intentionally recruit and retain BIPOC and other historically underrepresented and first-generation students for leadership positions and professional development opportunities such as UPSNA leadership, research with faculty, and conference attendance opportunities. (DEIAPC Goal 8)
5. Provide equity in access to financial assistance for meeting nursing program requirements (including but not limited to supplies, immunizations, uniforms, make up clinical hours, etc.). (DEIAPC Goal 9)

Goal #2: Evaluate needs of all programs to prioritize resource allocation and support.

Function:

1. Monitor, share information about, and address the needs of the:
   • BSN program
   • IHW program
   • DNP program
   • Center for Clinical Excellence
   • Simulated Health Center
   • Harrington Health Clinic
   • Dean Team
   • Operations Team
   • Student Services Team
   • SON Assessment and Accreditation
   • SON Faculty Research and Scholarship
   • SON Faculty Workload Team

Goal #3: Complete SON 3-year Strategic Plan by end of AY21-22

Functions:

1. Determine which elements of the 2016-2021 UPSON Strategic Plan may need to be continued in the 2022-2025 UPSON Strategic Plan.
2. Engage the UPSON faculty, staff, and students, as well as the UPSON community of interest, in the strategic planning process.
3. Finalize the 2022-2025 UPSON Strategic Plan.
   
   

Search and Screen Committee

Committee Purpose: Responsible for reviewing application materials from candidates (internal candidates should be treated the same as external candidates) and recommending to the dean the candidates to interview. 

2021-22 Chair: Dr. Joane Moceri

2021-22 Committee Goals & Functions:

Goal #1: Support the implementation of the SON DEI Action Plan for Change (DEIAPC).

Function:

1. Commit to the intentional recruitment, hiring, and retention of BIPOC and other historically underrepresented and first-generation faculty and staff. (DEIAPC Goal 4)

Goal #2: Establish search and screen operations to support different program needs (i.e. graduate, BSN simulation, off-campus clinical, IHW tenure-track, etc.)

Function:

1. Identify exceptionally qualified faculty candidates to ensure faculty vacancies are filled by May 2022.