1965

The year of 1965 marked the beginning of another exciting and rich development for the nine year old University of South Florida. This was the year that the Florida Legislature authorized the establishment of the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

1973

After eight years of hard work the new College of Nursing was ready to begin hiring faculty and accepting students. Dr. Gwendoline R. MacDonald, who had been serving as a consultant, was appointed the first Dean of the University of South Florida College of Nursing in February. Nine faculty members were recruited, a curriculum was developed and 41 students were ready to begin learning! And so began the charter class.

Unfortunately, a building dedicated solely to the College of Nursing was a long way off so Dean Macdonald began negotiations and five mobile classrooms were acquired. They are still fondly referred to as "the trailers”.

Within the first year, 12 registered nurses who were graduates of hospital or community college nursing programs were also admitted to the college and began to earn a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing.

1975

Only 18 months after these admissions, the program received a full eight year accreditation from the National League for Nursing. This was a great accomplishment for such a new program. In 1975, the charter class of 41 students received the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing.

1976

In 1976, the College moved from the trailers to a new building in the Medical Center and the nursing program was expanded to St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Ft. Meyers.

1978

By 1978, a master’s degree program was authorized and in 1980, the charter class of 16 students was admitted to Adult Health Nursing.

Within a year, the College received federal funding to begin a specialty in Gerontology Nursing. Other graduate specialties were added: Psychiatric/ Mental Health, Public Community Health and Oncology.

1987

Dr. Judith A. Plawecki was appointed Dean in 1987. With the faculty’s heightened interest and productivity in scholarship and research, the Office of Research was established.

Federal funding was received to begin a specialty in Family Health nursing.

1997

The journey continued with the opening of the Nurse Managed Clinics: the Center for Elder Health, the Judeo- Christian Health Clinic and Brandon Outreach Clinic. These began in conjunction with the Tampa Bay community and the USF Department of Family Medicine. A doctoral program was then authorized with the charter class of 7 PhD. students admitted.

Dr. Patricia A. Burns was appointed Dean in 1997. Her vision moved us forward on yet another creative journey that included teaching innovations to provide quality learning opportunities to move students forward such as Distance Learning along with web-based and web-blended courses.

Another focus included both short and long range plans for development, thus, the establishment of:

• The Lewis and Leona Hughes endowed chair in Nursing Informatics
• The Lyle and Beatrice Thompson Endowed Professorship in Oncology
• The George and Marian Miller Center for Virtual Learning Center
• The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Center for Advanced Nursing Education
• More than 30 scholarships were created by friends of nursing and nursing faculty

2001

With a national shortage of nurses, the College’s undergraduate enrollment expanded to 150 students each year, and a unique model, known as the Clinical Collaborative was born in 2001, with 5 Clinical Teams.

Other innovative programs were initiated:

International Education in Nursing

Disaster and Bioterrorism

B.S. to PhD.

Clinical Nurse Leader

Doctorate in Nursing Practice

The overall plan included the acquisition of approval and funding to provide adequate space for the growth occurring over a 30 year period. Dean Burns began this endeavor with a well thought out plan. After lengthy discussions, challenging presentations, some frustration and an incredible amount of hope, the college received approval to expand and improve facilities.

2003

Then in 2003, Groundbreaking Ceremonies were held for a new College of Nursing Building.