Our History, Vision, Mission, and Values
Our History
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East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
- 1911
ETSU Opens
ETSU is a state supported, comprehensive, regional university opened in 1911. ETSU was originally designated as a Normal School. - 1925
State Teachers College
Designated as a State Teachers College - 1943
East Tennessee State College
Designated as East Tennessee State College - 1951
Master’s Degrees
Master’s degrees offered - 1963
East Tennessee State University
Designated as a East Tennessee State University - 1972
Doctoral Degrees
Doctoral degrees offered - 1984
Center for Appalachian Studies and Services
The ETSU Center for Appalachian Studies and Services opened as a state Center of Excellence in 1984 - 2007
Gray Fossil Site
Another unique program is the Gray Fossil Site and Museum which opened in 2007 after the discovery of a vast fossil deposit that dates back from 4.5 to 7 million years ago. - 2009
New Bachelor of Arts Degree
The first- ever Bachelor of Arts degree in Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music was approved - 1911 to 2017
Board of Trustees
ETSU had been part of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) University and Community College System of Tennessee until March 24, 2017, when based on the Focus on College and University Success (FOCUS) Act of 2016, the universities in the TBR system became independent universities each under the governance of a Board of Trustees. The first meeting of the ETSU Board of Trustees (BOT) was held on March 24, 2017. This change in governance was recognized and approved by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) in March 2017 and a focused site visit was held May 15-17, 2017. This change was also reported to CCNE and the Tennessee Board of Nursing. A new 10-year strategic plan and budget model was approved by the BOT in March and June 2017, respectively. - 1927 to 2023
SACSCOC Accreditation
ETSU received its first SACSCOC accreditation in 1927 and is currently accredited through 2023. The university has a Carnegie Classification of R2: Doctoral University – High Research Activity.
Located in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Tennessee, ETSU and the surrounding region boast of mountains, lakes, a nationally recognized storytelling center, historic towns, the Birthplace of Country Music, and a mix of cities and rural communities. The university embraces the regional setting and has formed active community partnerships both to enhance its institutional effectiveness and to serve the region.
The main campus of the university, consisting of over 300 acres, is in Johnson City, a community of approximately 65,000 residents, with branch campuses in Kingsport and Sevierville, a location in Elizabethton, and two primary sites for the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy at Mountain Home Veterans’ campus. The university offers over 100 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs.
- 1911
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Academic Health Sciences Center
- 1988
Formation of the Division of Health Affairs
In 1988, the Colleges of Nursing, Medicine, and Public and Allied Health formed the Division of Health Affairs.
- 2005
New Degrees Offered
Approved in 2005, the College of Pharmacy offers the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, dual degree options with the Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master of Business Administration or Master of Public Health. The College of Public Health, the first accredited Public Health College in Tennessee, manages the Tennessee Institute of Public Health, a statewide public-private partnership created to improve the overall health status of Tennesseans. Students in the College of Public Health may select from bachelor’s degree programs in Environmental Health, Health Sciences, and Public Health as well as master’s degrees in public health and Environmental Health and doctorate programs in Community Health, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences.
- 2011
Recongnition as an AHSC
In 2011, the Division was recognized as an Academic Health Sciences Center (AHSC) at ETSU. Currently the AHSC stands as the only major academic health sciences center between Nashville, Tennessee and Roanoke, Virginia.
- 1991 to 2018
W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grant
In 1991, the AHSC received $6 million from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to improve health care delivery in rural communities. Emphasis continues to be placed on the concept of interprofessional, community-based learning. Within the Academic Health Sciences Center (AHSC) new initiatives include an expansion in interprofessional education (IPE) activities, an IPE pilot project, development of a university Interprofessional Education and Research Committee (IPERC), development of an IPE Strategic Plan, and groundbreaking for the Interprofessional Education and Research Center which will include increased space for simulation and standardized patient experiences, which opened in Summer 2018.
The Colleges in the AHSC include Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health. All degree programs in the AHSC, which are eligible for accreditation, have been accredited. The College of Medicine offers programs leading to the Doctor of Medicine as well as an interdisciplinary program leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Science, with concentrations in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Quantitative Biosciences. In the College of Health Sciences, student may pursue undergraduate degrees in Allied Health with concentrations in Allied Health Leadership, Cardiopulmonary Science, Radiography, Dental Hygiene, and Nutrition. Master’s degrees are available in Allied Health, Communicative Disorders with a concentration in Speech-Language Pathology, and Clinical Nutrition, and doctorates in Audiology and Physical Therapy.
- 1988
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College of Nursing
- 1911
The Memorial Hospital Program
The College of Nursing has its roots in the Memorial Hospital Program which began in 1911. In 1949, under the leadership of Miss Vesta Swartz, Director of Nursing and Education at the Hospital, and the hospital's nursing staff, the School of Nursing became formally affiliated with East Tennessee State College. The Hospital’s nursing program was closed in 1954 after the Tennessee Council for Nursing recommended the establishment of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree program at East Tennessee State College.
- 1967
Associate of Applied Science
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in nursing degree program at East Tennessee State University was established in 1967. Originally located in the Bristol area as a result of a pilot associate degree program, the program moved to the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) campus in 1982.
- 1978
Reorganization
In June 1978, a plan for the reorganization of the university was approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents and became effective in August 1978. Under the reorganizational plan, the departments of associate degree and bachelor’s degree programs were no longer under the administration of the College of Health but were under the newly formed School of Nursing (SON) and the direction of a new nursing dean.
- 1988
Division of Health Sciences
In 1988, the School of Nursing, along with the College of Medicine and the School of Public and Allied Health, became part of the Division of Health Sciences. In March 1989, the SON faculty plan for the reorganization of departments was approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The two program- based departments were reorganized into three departments. These three departments, Professional Roles/Mental Health N u r s i n g, Adult N u r s i n g, and Family/Community Nursing were developed to meet present and future needs of the SON in research, service, and teaching. Both associate and baccalaureate degree nursing programs operated within the new departmental structure. In 1993, the School of Nursing became the College of Nursing (CON) to better reflect the educational, service, and scholarship mission of the programs.
- 1997
Community-Based BSN Curriculum
In 1997, the College of Nursing implemented a new community-based baccalaureate-nursing curriculum designed to better prepare B.S.N. graduates for practice in the changing health care delivery system. The B.S.N. curriculum was revised, again, in 2003, to meet the Tennessee Board of Regents’ mandate to limit all baccalaureate degree programs to 120 credit hours. The most recent revision to the baccalaureate curriculum was completed in spring 2014 and implemented in fall 2014 in order to update knowledge, quality, and safety standards and technology/informatics related information. In response to national and state mandates to focus nursing education at the baccalaureate and graduate levels, the college began to phase out its A.A.S. degree program in fall 1997. In that year, an evening/weekend option in the R.N.-B.S.N. program was first offered in Johnson City and in Greeneville and Johnson City in 1998. The last group of associate degree students graduated in December 1999.
- 1995 to 2001
Post-Master's Certificate Programs
The Post-Master's Certificate Program in Advanced Nursing Practice was approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in 1995. This program is designed to prepare registered nurses who already have a master's degree in nursing for specialty practice as Family, Adult, Gerontological, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. An 18-credit-hour, interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management program was approved and initiated in 1997. Courses in this program are co-listed and co-taught by faculty from the colleges of Nursing, Business and Technology, and Public & Allied Health. In fall 2001, a 22-credit-hour interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program in Gerontology was approved and initiated. Faculty from the colleges of Nursing, Public & Allied Health, Business and Technology, Education, and Arts & Sciences teach courses within this unique certificate program.
- 2006 to 2009
Online RN-BSN
The RN-BSN program was transitioned into an online program in fall 2006 with advising cohorts available in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Knoxville and Sevierville, TN. In 2009 the College of Nursing introduced the Dual Degree program with Walter’s State Community College. This option allows an ADN student to enroll and begin ETSU nursing courses prior to graduating from the community college and ultimately completing their BSN in a shorter period. Currently there are Dual Degree program arrangements with six community colleges in east Tennessee.
- 2001 to 2015
Ph.D. Degree Program
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program had its beginning as a Doctor of Science in Nursing (D.S.N.) degree program, approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents in March 2001 and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in November 2001. The first class was admitted in summer 2002. The College of Nursing received significant federal funding in July 2002 from the Division of Nursing, Department of Health and Human Services to implement the doctoral program. From the onset, the D.S.N. degree program was primarily a research degree, and in keeping with the national trend to designate research degrees as the Ph.D. and practice doctorates as Doctor of Nursing Practice, the D.S.N. degree designation was changed to a Ph.D. by the Tennessee Board of Regents, effective fall 2007. In 2009, the program was converted to an online and blended format with 3 on ground intensive sessions per year. The program prepares students for careers as nurse scientists and emphasizes research that will improve the health of diverse population groups. In 2011, the College of Nursing introduced the DNP program, the second doctoral program in the college. This program is the first DNP program in the Tennessee Board of Regents system. Students can choose from the MSN-DNP or BSN-DNP options. Nurse practitioner concentrations exist in Family, Adult-Gerontological, and Psychiatric Mental Health. A fourth concentration in Executive Leadership is also available. The format of the program is online and blended with 2 intensive sessions per year. The program prepares nursing leaders for practice and administrative roles.
Changes in the DNP program included a post-DNP certificate program were approved in spring 2015.
- 2014 to 2016
Revised BSN Curriculum
In fall 2014, the BSN program implemented a newly revised curriculum, which was fully implemented in fall 2016 and includes improved integration of the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice and other professional standards. A new format for the RN-BSN program was initiated in fall 2016. A seven-week term for the RN-BSN program was implemented in fall 2016, which allows for five terms across the year. In fall 2016, the College of Nursing initiated of an accelerated BSN program at Wellmont (currently Ballad Health) Holston Valley Medical Center, an off-site location. A cohort accelerated BSN program was initiated in fall 2016 at a location about 20 miles from the main campus to assist a health system to attract and hopefully recruit new nurses upon graduation due to their current nurse shortage.
The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree program was approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in 1990 and the first class was admitted in fall 1991. The program was designed to prepare nurses for advanced practice; graduates were eligible to take a national certification examination in the specialty field for which they are prepared. The college offered the Family, Adult, Gerontological, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialties and a specialty in Nursing Administration. The ETSU on-ground MSN program graduated the final students in 2013. This program was closed due to the national trend to offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program as the terminal nursing clinical degree. In fall 2004, the College of Nursing initiated the M.S.N. – Regents Online Degree Program (M.S.N. – RODP). This degree was offered collaboratively by ETSU and the five other universities under the auspices of the Tennessee Board of Regents, including: Austin Peay State University; Middle Tennessee State University; Tennessee State University; Tennessee Technology University; and the University of Memphis. M.S.N. degree concentrations available included Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Advanced Practice, and Nursing Informatics. - 2011 to 2017
DNP Discontinuation
The MSN program was discontinued with the implementation of the DNP program in 2011. The last student graduated in 2014 and a letter was sent to CCNE in summer 2016. This delay in notification was due to the CON understanding that the Clinical Nurse Leader concentrations was still viable since the DNP proposal indicated that only the nurse practitioner MSN concentration would be deleted with the start of the DNP program. In 2016, the CON learned that the THEC had terminated the MSN program, thus the notice to CCNE. The CON continued to participate in the Tennessee eCampus, a separate MSN program administered by the TBR and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) until August 2017, when due to the governance change, chose to restart the MSN solely at ETSU.
- 1911
Our Vision, Mission, and Values
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Vision
To be the best College of Nursing in the state and region, nationally recognized in improving health through the innovation and integration of teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, service, and practice.
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Mission
The mission of the College of Nursing (CON) is to facilitate the health of the community through excellence and innovation in nursing education, research, scholarship, creative activity, service, and practice.
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Goals
- Provide highest quality nursing education programs.
- Provide BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD graduates to address nursing workforce needs.
- Provide culturally diverse and international opportunities for students and faculty.
- Engage in faculty, staff, and/or student research and scholarly activities that improve health and advance nursing knowledge.
- Deliver innovative health care in partnership with communities.
- Influence systems and policies, through professional leadership and collaboration, to improve individual and community health.
- Engage in interprofessional education, research, service, scholarship, and health care delivery.
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Values
We Value:
- Professional interactions that demonstrate caring, respect, and compassion for others.
- Diversity and inclusivity, embracing the full scope of human cultures, ethnicities, and identities.
- Excellence in fulfilling the intellectual work of the college through collaboration and cooperation.
- The nursing profession’s global contributions to social justice and to the holistic health of individuals, families, and communities.
- Stewardship and accountability in the use of resources
- Innovative leadership modeled through effective shared governance principles
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Philosophy
We are committed to excellence with focus on the four pillars of professional nursing: education, scholarship/research, service, and practice. We believe that the four concepts foundational to the nursing metaparadigm: nursing, person, environment, and health, guide us in our commitment to excellence. Leadership contributions transform the lives of students and build bridges to a healthier world.
Nursing: ETSU CON believes that the profession of nursing is a holistic health care discipline that is essential to society.
Person: ETSU CON believes persons are holistic individuals, populations, and/or aggregates with commonalities and differences. We respect the dignity of all as we practice the art and science of nursing.
Environment: ETSU CON believes environment is a dynamic multidimensional phenomenon that influences health which exists internally and externally to the person. Nursing seeks to support the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations within local, regional, and global contexts.
Health: ETSU CON believes that through leadership, scholarship/research, education, and practice, we promote and restore health, facilitate healing, improve the ability to cope with illness, reduce suffering, and support persons during the life cycle. We recognize the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. We acknowledge factors specific to this region’s Appalachian heritage which influences health and are manifested in disparities related to rural, urban, and underserved populations; the increasing diversity of our populations; the high morbidity and mortality rates for many conditions; and access concerns for primary, secondary, and tertiary health care in the region and state.
2024.07 v. 42 | Assistant Dean for Finance & Administration