UAH College of Nursing celebrates 50 years with Golden Anniversary Series of events in 2024-25

The College of Nursing (CON) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is celebrating 50 years of excellence during fall 2024 and spring 2025. The college invites its extended family – alumni, students, retirees, faculty, staff, friends and community partners – to join CON for its Golden Anniversary Series of events, culminating in the Golden Gala on April 5, 2025. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System (UAS).

“The UAH College of Nursing is so grateful to the visionary deans and faculty, staff, students and alumni who laid the foundation for this incredible college. As the current dean, I am fortunate to honor our past and to innovate for the future,” said Dr. Karen Frith, dean and professor, UAH College of Nursing.

“The lives of the citizens of North Alabama and southern Tennessee are enriched by having well educated nurses, nurse leaders, nurse educators, advanced practice nurses and nurse scientists who will lead us into the next 50 years.”

The Golden Anniversary Series ranges from family-friendly fun – “Fall in Love with CON” Family Hike on Nov. 10 and Storytime and Cookies with Santa on Dec. 7 – to an educational program open to the community – the Health Equity Symposium on Nov. 14.

More than 8,000 UAH alumni have graduated from the nursing program. The College of Nursing encourages these alumni as well as retirees to contribute to the Golden Anniversary by sending photos and memories from their college years to nursing@uah.edu. These vignettes will be shared throughout the festivities.

A History of Saving Lives

Since 1985, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) College of Nursing has presented the Let’s Pretend Hospital program for first-grade students in schools throughout Madison County.

Michael Mercier | UAH

The nursing program began in 1971 when the Alabama Legislature established the UAH School of Nursing. The first dean, Dr. Kathryn Crossland, was appointed in September 1971, and the first students were admitted to the professional nursing curriculum for the fall of 1972.

1974 was the first of many milestone years for the program: The first class of 36 students graduated, and the National League for Nursing granted the initial accreditation to the school’s baccalaureate program.

In the half century since, UAH’s nursing program has experienced significant growth, development and innovation. Highlights include the following:

1976 – The School of Nursing moved to its current building. The original building was designed to mimic the shape of the iconic nursing cap so popular at the time.

1978 – The UAS Board of Trustees approved the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. UAH graduated its first MSN students in 1980, and the program received initial accreditation from the National League for Nursing in 1982.

1980 – The school began a major curriculum revision which resulted in the development of a two-track option: Adult Acute Care and Family Nurse Practitioner.

1985 – UAH held the first Let’s Pretend Hospital, designed for first-grade students to reduce the fear and anxiety they may experience if they must be hospitalized or visit the emergency room. This collaboration with the Huntsville Hospital Department of Volunteer Services has evolved into a five-day event that serves some 2,300 students from schools throughout Madison County.

1987 – The School of Nursing was designated a College of Nursing.

1988 – The college added a third track in Home Health Care Administration. In fall 1995, that track was modified to become a broader Nursing Administration track. The track was revised again in 2005 and is now the Executive Leadership and Administration, offered online.

1994 – The college added an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track, now called the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program. Also, the college began offering the Family Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate.

1998 – The Adult Acute Care track was modified and updated, resulting in what is now called the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist track.

In 2005, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) College of Nursing began conducting annual disaster simulation drills to train for a wide range of public health emergencies. In 2023, the UAH Rotorcraft Systems Engineering and Simulation Center collaborated with the college to provide unmanned aircraft, custom-built payload module and flight operations.

Ann Marie Martin | UAH

2003 – The Nursing Education post-master’s certificate program began.

2005 – The college began conducting annual disaster simulation drills to train for such public health emergencies as weather disasters, accident-related situations, exposure to chemical or hazardous wastes, power or gas main leaks, and management of communicable disease outbreaks, which may require quarantine.

2008 – The Doctor of Nursing Practice program was approved, and the first class began that fall. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited the program in 2010.

2014 – An addition to the Nursing Building doubled its space to more than 98,000 square feet. Along with classrooms, seminar rooms, faculty and staff offices, it contained the new Simulation and Learning Innovation Center. This state-of-the-art facility provides a mock hospital for clinical experiences, including seven high-fidelity simulation laboratories with digital video and audio management systems, four medical-surgical suites, an ICU suite, and an obstetric/pediatric four-bed laboratory.

2014 – The undergraduate faculty engaged in a curriculum revision, resulting in a concept-based curriculum with technology-rich learning support and computer-based testing.

2017 – The RN-BSN curriculum revision was implemented with an accelerated format of five-week courses in the summer semester and seven-week courses in the academic year. This program began accepting students six times per year.

2019 – The Joint Nursing Science Ph.D. program with The University of Alabama began. It produced its first graduate in 2022.

2024 – The college added the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate and a nursing education concentration in the MSN degree.

As the UAH College of Nursing celebrates a golden milestone in 2024-25, its faculty, staff and students continue to pursue advances in health research, technology and education for the next 50 years.

Find a full list of Golden Anniversary activities and details on how to participate at uah.edu/nursing/50th-anniversary. Find social media links at uah.edu/nursing, and follow the college to hear about future innovations.