OSHAWA, Ont. - The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), a collaborative program at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) has been granted candidacy by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.
There are two stages to the process: candidacy and full accreditation. In order achieve candidacy, every detail of the program must undergo a rigorous review process. Full accreditation cannot be achieved until the first class has graduated, and all Ontario nursing schools must be accredited in order for students to write Registered Nursing exams.
"We've passed candidacy, which is a big milestone for a brand new school," said Carolyn Byrne, dean of Health Sciences at UOIT.
The review team noted this program is truly collaborative, providing a unique college and university partnership that could serve as a model for other programs. They indicated that students appreciate the personalized attention and that the program has a governance structure that encourages both student and faculty involvement.
"I feel very fortunate to work with faculty who are committed to student success, innovation in teaching and learning and to cultivating strong partnerships with providers of health care in the Durham Region," said Judy Robinson, dean of the School of Health and Human Studies at Durham College. "The strength of the curriculum is reflected in the ability of the nursing students to balance the biological sciences with the humanistic paradigm of caring to address the needs of clients in a more comprehensive way."
Faculty was commended for their focus on developing a research capacity in such a new school and for their strong community partnerships.
"The reviewers commented on the outstanding connection to, and support from, the health care industries," said Byrne. "The support from our community members has allowed for a unique collaboration between the college and university - a strength that makes it one of a kind in Ontario."
The faculty was also applauded for its strong interdisciplinary focus combining biomedical course work with courses from the caring curriculum.
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About Durham College
For 37 years, Durham College has been committed to providing job-focused programs, accomplished professors, quality-driven innovation, student success and superior accountability. Our college has ranked first in provincial indicators for student satisfaction in the GTA for six years running, and at an 87.5 per cent grad employment rate, we have the highest ranking of the six GTA colleges. We've got over 6,000 students enrolled this fall in almost 100 programs. For more information, visit our website at www.durhamcollege.ca, or call 905.721.2000.
For more information, please contact:
Tania Henvey
Communications and Marketing
905.721.3111 ext. 2513
tania.henvey@durhamc.on.ca
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