The National League for Nursing has named Washtenaw Community College the Center of Excellence for its unique nursing program, the first institution from the state of Michigan to earn the title.
Washtenaw’s nursing program is one of the 16 nursing programs among the leading teaching hospitals and clinical sites across the nation to earn the honor of excellence.
“To be the first in the state of Michigan – and one of only a handful of two-year colleges in the nation – to receive this honor is something that WCC should be exceptionally proud of, and we’re all so thankful to the Nursing faculty, staff and administration that has built such a tremendous program,” President Rose B. Bellanca said.
“When they (students) graduate, they’re going to have that Center of Excellence in Nursing icon associated with their diploma, and that’s significant. Prospective employers can be assured that they were educated in one of the top-tier programs in the country,” she added.
The program, started by the National League in 2004, selects Centers of Excellence on basis of research in nursing education, professional development, and student learning.
“Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by role modeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence that nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community,” NLN CEO Beverly Malone said.
National League’s selection committee lauded Washtenaw’s nursing program designed in collaboration with Eastern Michigan University.
It was further impressed with the program created by the two institutions catering bachelor’s degree-prepared nurses by allowing them to complete five semesters at Washtenaw and then transferring to Eastern Michigan to complete a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.