Skip to content
Chancellor's Blog

Chancellor's Blog

Chancellor Austin Lane

Menu
  • Chancellor Home
  • SIU.edu
Menu
nursing students look at supplies

Nursing and beyond

Posted on August 8, 2019July 22, 2020 by John Dunn

The Illinois Board of Higher Education’s approval of a nursing program at SIU Carbondale is a major achievement. It speaks not only to the hard work for which we are known, but also to many of our priorities. Here are a few:

Enrollment: We anticipate that the nursing program will enroll 300 students by its fourth year – a significant, definable boost tied to a single new program. Nursing is just one strategy among many, but it clearly demonstrates our ability to take bold steps to address enrollment over time.

Community and region: Strong communities require strong health care to serve, attract and retain their members. The nursing program will address a critical need across the region, reinforcing our commitment to the economic well-being of Southern Illinois. The university also benefits as we work to attract faculty and staff wanting to make sure they have access to quality health care.

Partnership: The nursing program did not happen based on the university’s interest alone. Southern Illinois Healthcare, under the exceptional leadership of President and CEO Rex Budde, was a key advocate for the program – and also a key investor. Other health care and community leaders spoke out or wrote letters on behalf of the program. I have no doubt that this outpouring of support was a major factor in the program’s approval. I am deeply grateful.

Persistence: The approval of the nursing program by the IBHE was a near-final step in a long and sometimes challenging process that involved our faculty, the community, the president, the Board of Trustees, the IBHE and others. The process required a lot of attention to detail as well as patience and determination – both Saluki attributes that we are known for at SIU. I would especially like to commend Interim Provost Meera Komarraju and Scott Collins, director of the School of Health Sciences, for their diligence and hard work.

Other newly approved programs

The IBHE also approved three other programs that will yield enrollment and benefit the region. Two are also in health care: a doctorate in physical therapy and a doctorate in occupational therapy. The third is in business analytics.

All of these programs are in high demand fields. They will attract students to SIU and serve significant needs in our region and beyond.

I’m very proud that we are moving forward to be entrepreneurial in our thinking and to adapt our program offerings to address the needs and interests of students and our greater global society. This gives me even more confidence in our strong future as a leading doctoral research institution.

Subscribe

Receive the Chancellor's Blog in your email.

Name

Email


Contact the Chancellor

Share your feedback and questions.

Categories

  • Academic excellence
  • Alumni, friends and community
  • Campus Life
  • Chancellor Carlo Montemagno
  • Chancellor John M Dunn
  • Health and safety
  • Higher education
  • Kudos
  • Recruitment and retention
  • Saluki students
  • Statements
  • Uncategorized
  • Vision 2025

Archives

  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018

RSS SIU News

  • SIU’s Tenney lecture to focus on interdisciplinary teaching of math, art and science
  • SIU students win national business competition
  • SIU student’s research may lead to better control of invasive pythons
  • SIU celebrating Black History Month in February with guest speakers and more
  • SIU’s Valentine’s Day Craft Sale invites public, vendors

CONTACT US
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 | P: 618-453-2518 | E: universitycommunications@siu.edu

©2023 Chancellor's Blog | Built using WordPress and Responsive Blogily theme by Superb