The Indiana University Board of Trustees and the Purdue University Board of Trustees approved agreements to realign the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne campus. This realignment created two separate universities: Indiana University Fort Wayne and Purdue University Fort Wayne. The university trustees determined that Indiana University Fort Wayne would manage the health science programs on the Fort Wayne campus.
The changes in university alignment created the need for a team of faculty and leaders from the Fort Wayne campus, which was previously aligned with Purdue University School of Nursing, to engage in a year-long transition process with the Indiana University School of Nursing. In addition to learning the faculty governance, school policies and curriculum structures the Fort Wayne faculty had to continue to teach out the Purdue University curriculum to the students who had already begun that program. This was a challenge that required flexibility, stamina, grace, inquiry, professionalism, and ongoing communication.
The Fort Wayne faculty and staff, led by Associate Dean Dr. Christopher Coleman, met the challenge and provided high-quality instruction for students in two different nursing programs concurrently. Successfully achieving this transition is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the commitment of the Fort Wayne faculty and staff. We are so proud to have leaders and colleagues who are willing to dig in and do the hard work it takes to promote change, improve outcomes and prepare the next generation of nurses.