Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences is the winner of Barry University’s Engaged Department Award for 2019.
The curriculum of the nursing programs provides opportunities for experiential learning and civic engagement, with attention to population groups that tend to be marginalized.
Additionally, Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach by addressing the social determinants of health, including education and the physical environment.
The immense value of collaborative service connected to the curriculum is evidenced by the designated service-learning courses taught by several faculty members over the years.
From coordinating and performing health screenings for elementary- and middle-school children to welcoming high-school students to campus for a two-week immersive experience, the faculty members have been responsive to the needs of the community. Furthermore, Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing has assisted in creating and strengthening partnerships with the community, from local to global.
Since 2016, faculty members have been engaged in a major health and education initiative benefiting communities in the northwestern region of Haiti. And students have been involved through Alternative Spring Break trips to Haiti’s Northwest.
“The level of community engagement achieved by this academic unit is truly inspiring,” noted Vice Provost Dr. Christopher Starratt.
Dr. Carolyn Hart, chair of nursing, accepted the Engaged Department Award from Starratt at the sixth annual Community Engagement Awards Ceremony hosted by the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) on March 27.