Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Building

Nese College of Nursing named a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing has been named a Center of Excellence (COE) by the National League for Nursing (NLN).

The college achieved this recognition for “creating environments that promote the pedagogical expertise of faculty,” according to the league, exemplifying the college’s investment in its nurse educators and their professional growth. Penn State Nursing is the only school throughout the commonwealth to hold a designation in this category.

“Our educators are key to preparing the next generation of nursing leaders,” said Laurie Badzek, dean of the college. “We are honored to receive such prestigious recognition and we are proud to support our faculty and their development.”

Beverly Malone, NLN president and CEO, said, “NLN Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by role-modeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence that nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community."

Becoming a Center of Excellence is a voluntary process. Programs are required to be accredited and the NLN peer- review process aims to distinguish and recognize organizations that excel in sustaining excellence while pursuing their individual missions. The National League of Nursing began awarding COE designations in 2004 and currently there are fewer than a hundred nursing schools that have earned this recognition over the years.

The criteria used to define excellence in the category of “creating environments that promote the pedagogical expertise in faculty" include promoting excellence in teaching; advising and curriculum development; promoting innovation; and creation of a preferred future for the profession; while also supporting faculty development in building experiential learning opportunities and actively engaging in their communities.

“Our unique structure, delivering our accredited curriculum at 12 Penn State campus locations, plus the World Campus, means nearly 3,000 students enrolled in our college are being educated by world-class faculty,” shared Badzek. “Penn State Nursing is true to its mission, and students in our program can be assured they are learning from the best.”

The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing embodies the University's One Penn State 2025 mission by partnering with campuses across Pennsylvania to deliver its curriculum. Regardless of location, every student enrolled in nursing receives the same education. This model enables the University to support the nursing profession throughout the state, especially in rural areas, by preparing nurse leaders to deliver quality care everywhere.

Also being inducted with Penn State for the 2022-26 term are 15 other exceptional programs in higher education and teaching hospitals and clinics. The inductees will be formally recognized and honored during the 2022 NLN Education Summit at the Honors Convocation in September.

To learn more about the process and what it means to become a Center of Excellence, visit the National League of Nursing website .