St. Joseph, Mo. —Missouri Western State University has established a new School of Nursing and Health Professions.

The change was approved by Missouri Western’s Board of Governors in a telephone poll Tuesday.

“Our health-related programs are extremely well respected and warrant a ‘school’ designation,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “The change recognizes the important role these programs have at Missouri Western, and will enhance the already strong external relationships our nursing and health professions programs have with Mosaic Life Care and other health industry organizations.”

The School of Nursing and Health Professions will be housed within the College of Professional Studies and will be led by an associate dean. The School will include Missouri Western’s master’s degree program in nursing and undergraduate programs for nursing, health information management, physical therapist assistant and the new population health management degree, established by a gift from Mosaic Life Care.

“The number of faculty, number of students, and number of graduates annually from programs in the existing Department of Nursing and Allied Health are similar to the numbers in the current Craig School of Business and the School of Fine Arts,” said Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “School designation recognizes the excellence these programs have achieved and positions us well to reach new heights.”

Dr. Kathleen O’Connor, dean of professional studies, says the programs in the School of Nursing and Health Professions are complex and require extensive management.

“School designation will help us recruit an effective leader for the associate dean position who can provide strong oversight of the student admissions processes, regulatory expectations, clinical affiliations, and other factors that make these programs unique,” Dr. O’Connor said.

The search for the first associate dean of nursing and health professions is expected to begin immediately.