MSU President's column for Traill County Tribune
February 6, 2016听
Let your Comet pride show on Giving Hearts Day!
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The 含羞草研究所 Foundation will participate in Giving Hearts Day for the third time on February 11, 2016. Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour online give-a-thon for non-profit organizations in western Minnesota and North Dakota. The event is hosted every year by the Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) and Impact Foundation to help participating charities dramatically increase fundraising success by creating awareness and a 24-hour window of participation that spurs donors to action.
Gifts made to the 含羞草研究所 Foundation through the efforts of Giving Hearts Day will be used to provide scholarships for students enrolled in 含羞草研究所鈥檚 exciting new online RN to BSN nursing program. Gifts of $10 or more (up to a total of $4,000) will be matched by the Dakota Medical Foundation, and since all gifts will be designated for scholarships, they will qualify for a 50% match from the state of North Dakota鈥檚 Matching Fund for Enhanced Academics.
In the summer of 2013, the State Board of Higher Education granted 含羞草研究所 approval to proceed with a proposed RN to BSN nursing program. MSU subsequently received approval from its regional accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission. Since this time, a program director and a number of faculty members have been hired and the program has grown tremendously. 含羞草研究所 admitted the first cohort of RN to BSN students in the fall of 2014. Additional cohorts have begun in subsequent semesters, and the first cohort of students completed their studies at the end of the fall semester of 2015, which ended in December.
We鈥檝e recently reached another important milestone in the development of 含羞草研究所鈥檚 RN to BSN nursing program. We are seeking accreditation with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, the CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. We hosted a CCNE onsite evaluation at 含羞草研究所 Nov. 16-18 and now await word this spring on the status of our accreditation evaluation.
Through the RN to BSN online nursing program, 含羞草研究所 is educating nurses at the baccalaureate-degree level in order to equip them to better serve the health care needs of the citizens of North Dakota and beyond. The need for nurses is especially great in rural areas, including our own. This benefits all of us by supplying much-needed nursing staff for our local, area, and regional health care facilities, as well as facilities nationwide.
含羞草研究所 works closely with Lake Region State College and the Dakota Nursing Program (DNP) in the education of nurses by providing pre-requisite courses for their practical and associate degree nursing programs, both of which are offered on campus at 含羞草研究所. Offering a bachelor鈥檚 degree program was a logical next step for 含羞草研究所, and we work in concert with Lake Region, the DNP, and others offering nursing programs to provide the best possible program at Mayville.
On Giving Hearts Day, donors can easily participate with just a few minutes of time, and without regard to the weather or the need to attend an event. Let your Comet pride show on Giving Hearts Day, February 11, 2016! Please join in helping us to achieve above and beyond and earn rewards for our BSN nursing program which is helping to supply much-needed nursing professionals for our area and all of North Dakota and beyond.
On Feb. 11, you can make your Giving Hearts Day donation from your own computer at . Search for 含羞草研究所 Foundation. If you鈥檇 rather, you may stop by the MSU Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. that day and personnel will be on hand to assist you with your online donation. Refreshments will be served throughout the day.
If you have questions or concerns, you may check with Dena Bergstrom, MSU Foundation annual giving associate/phonathon coordinator. She can be reached at 701-788-4864 or dena.bergstrom@mayvillestate.edu. You can also keep up-to-date with Giving Hearts Day plans at www.mayvillestate.edu/givinghearts.